Preview....memorizing article for Journey

To my loyal readers...

I'm blessed to be in the process of publishing my first article in Journey Magazine

I thought I'd give you my list of how I memorize/meditate on scripture ahead of time... believe me when it's in print. I'll share this again with the rest of the article!! I've been working diligently the past 6 weeks to memorize God's Word, and I'd love to hear your additions to WAYS you use to get it in your brain for the long term. I've finished Psalm 103 and am 8 verses into Psalm 71, and have really found memorizing in the shower each day is my best protection to memorizing. 

Here's part of my article as it is today...


Memorizing is important to people at Emmaus, the challenge is figuring out strategies to make it a regular discipline.  Here are some ideas that are helpful.

• ·         Use hand written notecards or print verse cards.
• ·         Make them prominent in your life (on mirrors, by the sink, in the car).
• ·         Use first letter cards (of each word) to practice a verse.
• ·         Use audio files or music to hear the Words.
• ·         Make up motions, actions, or find images to go with the concepts in the verse.
• ·         Play games.  Erase words on a small white board. Jump with each word. Cover words.
• ·         Attach memorizing to a task like showering or washing dishes.
• ·         Choose verses that you NEED and memorize by theme.
• ·         Choose to memorize in NKJV because of the cadence and rhythm of the words.
• ·         Listen to Seeds Family Worship. They have produced  7 CDS of scripture set to music for adults and children.   Each CD has a theme: Courage, Faith, Encouragement, the Character of God…
• ·         Memorize scripture with your kids and take turns reciting.
• ·         Find a system or program like AWANA or verses with your Bible study.
• ·         Use the Fighter Verses from Desiring God (cds, notecards, and an app).
• ·         Use the Navigators topical programs. 
• ·         Listen to scripture, YouVersion (an app) will read it, or Faith Comes by Hearing has scripture as an mp3 file (kids or adult) . 
• ·         Post Scripture in your home where you do repetitive tasks.
• ·         Make the posted scripture beautiful artwork.
• ·         Print and frame scripture texts.
• ·         Write and post scripture with dry erase markers on mirrors/windows, a white board, a shower wall, or a frame with colored paper in it.
• ·         Use a computer program like Biblememory.com (You can measure your progress by typing speeds, get email reminders, print your own cards, join a community working on the same verse/passage, and you can choose your translation!)
• ·         Join a blog: Do Not Depart.com (and Facebook group) to encourage memory work.  They choose a passage to work on over several months.  They provide tons of resources to make it easy. (They’ve done Romans 8, Sermon on the Mount, and now Psalm 71). 
• ·         Watch a YouTube video of someone reciting an entire book of the Bible.
• ·         Set a goal and create a plan to memorize a passage or collection.

Everything mentioned above and MANY more examples are in the links at the end of this article.

Need more motivation?

·         I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart. 

Psalm 40:8 (NLT)

·         This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.  Joshua 1:8

·         All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness   2 Timothy 3:16

·         How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.  Psalm 119:9

Online Resources:  http://www.livebinders.com/play/play_or_edit?id=403242  www.whisperingtheword.blogspot.com, and http://pinterest.com/sarah_poling/spiritual-disciplines/