This whole Toolbox mini series has been about reading and understanding your Bible, so now it’s time to enhance all the learning you’ve done. Have you taken a moment to think about all the benefits of having the word of God memorized? Don’t let this question intimidate you! Let it inspire you instead. When we have Bible verses committed to memory, we can capture thoughts better, notice worldly red flags quicker, and guide those we love. The list of happy byproducts goes on. This is why I created 4 Tips to Memorizing Scripture.
CLICK TO PLAY: EPISODE 24
Toolbox Mini Series Links:
In this blog post/podcast episode, I’ll walk you through 4 tips to memorizing scripture. Within each tip, I’ll give you three examples of how you can make it work for you. This gives you an opportunity to customize your experience that complements your life phase. This is one of five episodes in our Toolbox mini series that’s all about tips for spiritual growth. Let’s do this!
- EP 20: 5 Elements of a Consistent Bible Study
- EP 21: 4 Prayers for During Bible Study
- EP 22: 4 Apps to Help You Understand the Bible Better
- EP 23: 10 Newly Released Bible Studies
- EP 24: 4 Strategies to Memorizing Scripture
Backstory
A little backstory: From accepting Christ at an early age, I had always known the importance of knowing the Bible well. I knew that the more verses I learned by heart, the better I’d be able to combat toxic thoughts, tell others about Jesus with confidence, and coach myself up in times of struggle. I’m working on instilling this into my kiddos too, so shout out to my parents for putting emphasis on this importance!
There have been many times in my life where I’ve had to lean on scripture and preach truth to myself over and over again until it felt like I wasn’t treading water while holding a barbell over my head. When my son, Rhett, got diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 3, I was the exact replica of that meme where some asks how you’re doing, and you’re giving two thumbs up while submerged in murky water. To that I say Psalm 54:4, “God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my life.”
When horrible nightmares haunt me, Psalm 91:5-6, “You will not fear the terror of the night, the arrow that flies by day, the plague that stalks in darkness, or the pestilence that ravages at noon.” When nightmares come after my kids, Sloane in particular, Psalm 56:3 is what she puts on repeat, “When I am afraid I will trust in you.”
When I’m praying favor over my family, my husband’s work, the Busy Christian Mom podcast, 1 Chronicles 4:10, “Jabez called out to the God of Israel, ‘If only you would bless me, extend my border, let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm, so that I will not experience pain.’ And God granted his request.”
And when I need to remind myself of who I am I say the Busy Christian mom credo, because all of that is backed by the Bible, “I am the daughter of the King. I am chosen forgiven redeemed. I am loved, and I belong. I am bold, brave, and strong. I am seen. I’m accepted. I am able. I’m protected. Through Him I can do anything because I’m the daughter of the King.” Check out episodes 2-15 to hear the breakdown of all those scriptures.
Reality Check
Knowing what the bible says tells us everything we need to know about who God is, what He does, and and who we are in this big love story called the Bible. If we’re not actively reading it, and writing it on our hearts, we are leaving ourselves open to fall for what the world says. I don’t want that for me, and I certainly don’t want that for my kids, do you? If we don’t tell them how God sees them, the world will tell them. If we don’t point them to the cross and God’s moral compass, the world will tell them what’s right and what’s wrong. Knowing God’s word will set us up for success, and these 4 tips to memorizing scripture will help you.
Ready for some tough love and a hard truth? Leave your excuses at the door. Whatever your struggle is with learning God’s word, I have been there. I have worked through it, and now I have strategies that work! I have used these methods 4 tips to memorizing scripture for years. Bonus, these methods work for when you need to memorize anything! I used these for college exams, teaching in public education, and more! Read this post/listen to this podcast episode with an open mind and willingness to just try.
Tip 1: Write it Out
Get those flair pens, glitter gel markers, pretty fineliners, or your iPad ready! Tip #1 of the 4 tips to memorizing scripture is to write it out. Brain science shows us that when we write it down, odds are better for remembering. Yes, this works for your grocery list too.
The Journal Method
The journal method is just that; good ol fashion pen and paper (or iPad and Apple Pencil). Take whatever verse you’re wanting to remember, and write it out. There are a lot of right ways to do the journal method.
- Three pass method: write it three times in a row
- Daily writing: write your verse every day
- Fun fonts: bubble letters, script, opposite hand, all lower case, trace, etc…
Each time you write it out, think about what the verse is saying. What did the verse mean then? What is the impact it has now? What does this scripture personally meant to you? As you answer these questions, the verse will sink in sooner.
The Mirror Method
Take your favorite Expo markers, grab your verse, and write it on your mirror. Each day when you go to brush your teeth, fix your hair, or check that banging soccer mom outfit, read the verse. There are a few ways you can switch up the mirror method.
- You can keep the verse on your mirror until it’s memorized, and then write a new one
- If you’re memorizing a longer verse or a couple of back to back scriptures, add a new line each week. This will string them together in a way your brain can remember better
- Rotate verses. If you’ve got a few, random verses you want to memorize quickly, rotate out the verses a week at a time. Over the course of a couple of months, you’ll have these committed to memory
Who doesn’t love a good Expo marker that glides over a surface? My kids love the mirror method, and feel like little rebels writing on their mirrors in marker. Who says you can’t write on the walls?! This is how my girls memorized the Busy Christian Mom Credo. I wrote it on their mirror for them, and asked them to read it whenever they brush their teeth. It took no time at all before they memorized these truths about who they are in Christ. Woohoo!
The Notecard Method
Write down the verse you want to memorize onto a notecard. Take that notecard wherever you go. Literally. The verse notecard is your new travel buddy. Put it in your car, and at stop lights, read your verse. Bring it into your office and prop it up by your computer screen. Every time you go to get up or sit back down, read your scripture. Put that notecard in a ziplock baggie and read it in the shower. Each day you do this, you’ll be closer to your goal of memorizing the verse. Bonus: you can keep the stack of notecards you make throughout the year, punch a hole in them, and put them on a loop.
Tip #1 of the 4 Tips to Memorizing Scripture has the three embedded methods of the journal, the mirror, and the notecard. remember that there are a ton of right ways to do the write it out tip for memorizing scripture. My pro tip would be for you to try them each out for a month, and see which writing method you like best in this season. Hint: what works for you in this life phase may need some tweaking and varying as you go.
Tip 2: Say it Aloud
Writing it down is powerful, and tip 2 of the 4 tips to memorizing scripture is similar: Say it Aloud. There is brain science that backs up hearing things you’re wanting to remember. When we activate different parts of our brain with the information we want to learn, our brains do better at remembering. Here are three, of many, ways to memorize scripture with tip 2, saying it aloud.
Sing it Out
You don’t have to be the songbird of the century for the sing it out method to work. The Bible says make joyful noises. So, whether your noise comes out a beautiful Celine Dion 5 octave tear jerker that leaves the audience applauding for an encore, or if your lalala comes out more like a squawk squawkity squawk, you still did it right. Put down your preconceived notion of what joyful noise should sound like, and replace it with what realistically sounds like you. If you’re doing your best, you’re doing it right.
Fact: Your brain remembers song and music. Let me prove it. Let’s play a game. You finish the lyric. If you get five out of five, you get a gold star and an A+ from me. I’ll sing a lyric, then pause. When I pause, you sing the next line.
- Happy birthday to you.
- So I throw my hands up. They’re playing my song. The butterflies fly away.
- Yo I tell ya what I want, what I really want.
- I know that I can’t take no more, it a’int no lie. I want to see you out that door.
- Jingle bells. Jingle bells. Jingle all the way.
Well, how’d ya do? My guess is you got at least a couple. Which means, if you can remember the lyrics to a song from the 90s, then you can memorize scripture and Bible stories through song. It’s time to bust out those children’s ministry songs because they work. Good news! There are so many amazing Christian artists out there, and they get their material from, you guessed it, the Bible. Here are some ideas you can do right now:
- Trade secular music for Christian music. Google the phrase “Bible verses found in the song ___ by ___” You’ll get some hit there, and you can go look up the scripture in your Bible to see the similarities.
- Ask your children’s ministry leader for a list of songs they sing with the kids on Sundays. Bonus: There are likely YouTube videos that go along with this
- Make up your own song! If you’re feeling jazzy, but if you don’t love that option, go with the first two.
Here’s an example from childhood that I learned from preteen church camp. It’s the Fruit of the spirit song. The fruit of the spirit’s not (insert fruit and hand motion). Repeat 3x followed by “You might as well hear it, that can’t be a fruit of the spirit because the fruit is: love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.” The song goes on forever, and it’s now engrained in my brain.
Rhyme Time
The second method built into tip 2 of our 4 tips to memorizing scripture is Rhyme Time! This works great for short verses, and it’s fun getting creative too. Psalms and Proverbs are a great place to start. Here are a couple of examples:
I mentioned Psalm 56:3 earlier in the episode, and here’s how I came to memorize it. I was spending the night at my childhood best friend’s house, shout out Emily, and we were about to fall asleep. The topic of conversation switched to nightmares (I have them often, always have). Emily looked at me and said, “My mom taught me this verse to say for whenever I get scared. ‘When I am afraid I will trust in thee. Psalm 56:3′”. This short, sweet, rhyme has stayed with me for over three decades now, and I’ve taught it to my kids.
Another way for the rhyme time method to work could be to take the spirit behind what verse is saying to make it rhyme. I’ll give you an example from Proverbs that has served me well. This example comes in handy for those middle school year and beyond when mean girls are being mean girls. We’ve all dealt with people who don’t like you for no apparent reason. So instead of turning into a rage monster looking for revenge, this rhyme time example has helped me pause, take a step back, and not mismanage the situation by sinning.
Truly search your heart on this, don’t take scripture out of context when you’ve been the one in the wrong. Maybe it’s because you took their starting position, got promoted over them, or won the challenge. Proverbs 9:8 says, ” So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you.” If mean people are just going to be mean, oh well.
So I took this verse, and taught myself to say, “Haters gonna hate, Proverbs 9:8.” I still giggle at this, because there were times in my life where I would just let my blood boil. When really, I could’ve saved that mental real estate and just said, “Haters gonna hate, Proverbs 9:8.” So, if you’ve got a middle school kiddo…maybe put this one in rotation.
Talk to the Wall
The third method built into tip 2 of the 4 tips to memorizing scripture is to talk to the wall. This is just a silly name for a silly way to say scripture aloud. If you’re the goofy type, need a laugh, or want to have fun with your kids, this is a good method to try. Here’s the backstory:
I have been coaching team sports in some capacity since 2005. Once of the biggest headaches for coaches, if it doesn’t get fixed, is the team not communicating on the field or court. You can’t be out there with them during the game, so you’ve got to find a way for them to get comfortable talking to each other. I’ve got quite a few methods of doing this to improve team communication, all typically end in laughter, but we’ll just go with this one today. Talking to the wall.
I would have my athletes literally go find a wall if we were indoors, or we’d make an imaginary wall if we were outside (I’m already giggling at how silly this can look sometimes). They job was to spend one minute talking to the wall about whatever they wanted. Then, you change prompts to things you’d like them to focus on more, and finally they’d all be loosey goosey enough afte a few minutes to then run a drill with successful communication. Here’s how this works for a Bible verse:
- Find a wall, mirror, your dog, your kid, God, something you’re going to intentionally talk to
- Say your verse out loud, on repeat for one minute
- Pause and think about the meaning of the scripture for one minute
- Say your verse out loud, on repeat for two minutes
- Spend one minute talking to God about the verse
Give this a try a couple times a day for a few days, and you’ll notice a drastic improvement in your memorizing this particular verse. That covers tip 2 of the 4 tips to memorizing scripture, Say it Aloud.
Tip 3: First Letter
Tip 3 of the 4 tips to memorizing scripture is pretty popular, so let’s break it down and give you three methods within this tip to go with it. Tip three is the first letter method. I like to use this method if it’s a longer verse, or a list of things. You take the first letter of each word int eh verse or list, and you write them down. These letters serve as cues to help prompt you through the text.
Bookmark Method
You can use your favorite digital creator app like Canva and print on cardstock, or you can make these the old fashion way with handlettering and paper. Write down the first letter in whatever pretty font inspires you, and cut out your bookmark. Pro tip: write out the full verse on the backside of the bookmark, just in case your brain needs some more detailed prompting.
You can put it in your Bible, your Bible study book, your latest fiction book, or wherever you’re reading the most. Every time you go to pick up that book, before you read, go through your verse three times. Then, you pick up wherever you left off in your book. When you move your bookmark after your reading time is over, read your book mark three times through again, and then close your book.
Jewelry Method
Another way to use tip 3 of the 4 tips to memorizing scripture is the jewelry method. Have you seen those cute bracelets with the letter beads? I think you may know where I’m already going with this. Get you a cute friendship bracelet bead kit from Hobby Lobby or Amazon. Just like the bookmark, take the first letter from each word in the verse and pull out the beads that match. String them on a bracelet or necklace, and wear that thing! Every time you see it, run through the verse in your head.
Shout out to my bestie, Faren, who made me a friendship bracelet a couple years ago with 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. I had huge success with this method, and I made a few more since then. You may even spy these beads in my branding and in some of my photos on socials. This method is near and dear to my heart, and satisfies the nostalgic friendship bracelet making days. I have sat with my daughters many times to make bracelets for each other and for friends. I just love bonding with a higher purpose! This can be fun for a girls sleepover night, craft session, or just a fun evening together. Have fun making these! CLICK HERE for the kit!
Sticky Note Method
Anyone else have a love for sticky notes of all shapes, colors, and sizes? I love me a good sticky note, and the more, the merrier. If I could give you a snapshot of what my office spaces have always looked like, you’d see post it notes everywhere…and I mean everywhere.
Still using the first letter method for these longer verses, grab those flair pens or glitter gel markers, and write the first letter of the words in the scripture you want to memorize. Place your sticky note, ideally at eye level or in a place you often look. Here are a few places I’ve put my post it notes over the history of offices of mine: Computer screen, shelf above my computer, the whiteboard, door, window in the door, laptop by the trackpad, clipboard, and more.
Bonus: You’ll find that you will get asked, “What’s that stand for?” or “What does that mean?” Hooray for conversation starters about your faith! If you work in an environment where you can’t bring up your faith, but if prompted you can talk about it, this is an excellent way to do that, and it’s compliant. Yay!
Tip 4: Move it Move it
My goodness I love tip number 4 of the 4 tips to memorizing scripture. The move it move it method. There are a lot of ways this is called: Total Physical Response, kinesthetic learning, body movement method, etc…but we’ve been on a Madagascar movie kick in my household, so “I like to move it move it” has been on repeat, complete with dance moves. And, if you’ve been around on the BCM instagram page, you know that we love dance parties in the Collier house.
Memory Pegs
Let’s break this down. The Move It Move It Method is just that: learn by movement. First, let’s talk about built in method one: memory pegs. Memory peg memorization means that you put a physical movement with each word or phrase you’re trying to memorize. String all the movements together to complete the verse. It’s almost like dancing in an 8 count method, but if the dancing part confuses you, leave it. The dance/cheer humans can roll with that side note.
Back to my Fruit of the Spirit example. Earlier this episode, we talked about the fruit of the spirit song. There are exactly the amount of fruit of the spirit elements syllables that are in the hand jive. Yes, the hand jive from musical movie Grease. Here’s the breakdown:
- “Love Joy”: pat on legs twice
- “Peace Patience”: clap twice
- “Kindness Goodness Faithfulness”: cross hands over each other (right over left, then left over right)
- “Gentleness and Self-Control”: Thumbs over shoulders (right twice, left twice)
So, even if you forget some of the elements of the fruit of the spirit, the memory peg motions will help trigger your brain, and you’ll be able to recall better than what you would have without the peg. With time and effort, you’ll have it all memorized. I have a whole blog post about memory peg memorization with Philippians 4:6-8, and I’ll link it (and release it as an episode in the future). All this to say, if you still know the YMCA, Macarena, or any Nsync boy band moves, memory pegs will work for you.
Story Telling Campfire
Within tip 4 of the 4 tips to memorizing scripture, the storytelling campfire method is great! Do you need a real campfire? No. But if you can, or if you have a fancy fireplace that turns on with a switch, that is a fun touch. Even grabbing a campfire smelling candle to set the scene will work. You can also just pretend to sit by the fire! Fun fact: your brain connects scents to memories and motions, so connecting campfire to storytelling from the Bible will pay off years down the road if you can make this a habit.
Side note: This is why studying in the same place while chewing the same gum will help you on your final exams. Just pop that gum in, imagine you’re in that seat where you studied, and the answers flow better.
I love the storytelling campfire method for when I’m reading scripture to my kids and it’s a fresh passage or one they hadn’t heard in a while. Yes, this works for adults, and who doesn’t love a good campfire story? Imagine this, you’re seated around a campfire with the logs crackling. The comforting scent of the wood burning and the smoke curling up to the sky gives you the relaxed ambience you’ve been looking for. The peace of the scripture sets in your soul as you take in the word of God.
Now, begins the story. With whatever passage you’re using, read aloud while using hand motions to act out, emphasize, and gesture. Use creative voices and acents, just like actors would for a table reading of their script. For example, if you’re reading the story of Esther, every time the name Haman comes up, everyone hiss because Haman is a bad dude and he getsss hissss in the end. See what I did there? Side note: Esther is a phenomenal campfire story. It is full of rollercoasters, plot twists, and drama. It’s only 10 quick chapters.
- Give the characters specific hand motions when you say their names (David using a slingshot, Noah working with tools, Jonah running away, Samson flexing his muscles, etc…)
- Add in onomatopoeia every chance you get (wind, water, fire, etc…) sound effects work!
- Attach how you say their name with the personality they have (GO-LI-ATH)
The point is, have FUN! It’s not memorizing line by line scripture, but you’ll definitely remember who did what a whole lot better than before. I wish I would have done this more in my world history class, because I could remember the event happening, but never the who, when or what…that was disastrous. The storytelling campfire method is perfect for hearing the story the first time through, a refresher, or to get the major facts of the story straight. This is so important, and will help you memorize scripture within the story a lot quicker because you’ll have context.
Not-so Method Acting Method
The very last memorization strategy we’re working with today is the not-so method acting. This is the Bible we’re talking about, so no need to full method act, but rather, charades your way through. The use of this method is similar to the storytelling campfire method in the sense that this helps with the overarching storyline, but you can still use this to memorize verses. This is when you go all out, and get the listeners involved.
You read the story, and have the audience act it out. You give them no direction, and you see where their improve movements take you. If you’re into theater, you’re going to love this one. It’s acting isn’t your favorite, you can either be the reader, or just join in on the fun and roll with it. No pressure. You can use props, gesture, act out, and enjoy the movie play out as the actors set the scene. This one will get you laughing and having fun, so if you’re looking for a way to involve your kids or reluctant spouse, this could be the first step. Yay!
Podcast Recap
Wow! That was so much fun. The academic nerd in me loves this kind of stuff. I have used everyone of these methods not only for myself, but for my kids, students, athletes, and more. All of these methods for any subject matter, so if you have a kid in college or a middle schooler struggling in history like I did. Do them a favor, and forward them this episode. Again, these 4 tips to memorizing scripture work for anything.
- Tip 1: Write It Out- Journal method, Mirror method, Notecard method
- Tip 2: Say It Aloud- Sing it Out, Rhyme Time, Talk to the Wall
- Tip 3: First Letter- Bookmark method, Jewelry Method, Sticky Note Method
- Tip 4: Move It Move It- Memory Pegs, Storytelling Campfire, No-So Method Acting
Have fun with these, and mix and match how it works best for your brain. Some verses work perfectly with the mirror method, where big passages that need an overarching storyline need the storytelling campfire method. Do what works for you and your people, and most importantly, have FUN reading God’s word!
Links from the Show
- Pinterest: Brooke Collier BCM
- Busy Christian Mom Instagram
- Etsy Shop: Busy Christian Mom
- Memory Peg Blog Post: 5 Words to Combat Worry
- Bead Bracelet Kit
- EP 20: 5 Elements of a Consistent Bible Study
- EP 21: 4 Prayers for During Bible Study
- EP 22: 4 Apps to Help You Understand the Bible Better
- EP 23: 10 Newly Released Bible Studies
- EP 24: 4 Strategies to Memorizing Scripture
