“Did you really memorize the whole Bible?”
That is what a friend at work asked me recently as we sat on a Microsoft Teams call before anyone else joined.
“What?” I asked in disbelief.
“I saw a video online where you were talking about memorizing the Bible. That’s amazing!”
“Oh. That. Well, let me clarify…”
That was certainly a much more interesting way to start a work call than normal, but I had to disappoint my friend. I have not memorized the whole Bible. Not even close. But I have memorized some of it.
The video he was talking about was an interview I did with my friend Josh Summers on his YouTube channel, Bible Memory Goal. Josh is an amazing guy who has memorized much of the New Testament. His videos are a wonderful resource of strategies and tips for those who would like to get better at remembering the Bible, whether individual verses or whole books.
Me? I was on the podcast to offer encouragement that anyone can do it.
I am not particularly good at memorizing the Bible. It doesn’t matter. Many people might be faster than me. So? This isn’t a race or a competition. If I am slow, I am slow. It is important, so I am going to work on it, whether it is easy or hard, whether I am fast or slow. You can too.
Here are a handful of tips I have learned over the years.
#1: There is no “right way” to memorize Scripture.
You can memorize individual verses or sections. You can memorize the verse references or not. You can write them, sing them, repeat them, or draw them. The “best” way is the way that works for you.
#2: Keep it handy.
Write it on an index card or print it out, fold it up, and keep it in your pocket. I print out the book I am memorizing, one verse per line, and tape it inside a pocket-size Moleskine and carry that around with me. However you do it, keep it with you so you can look at it regularly. At a stoplight? Look at your card. Waiting for someone to join you for lunch? Look at your printout. Whenever you have a minute or two, use the time to read your verse. It is better than looking at your phone.
If you re-read the same thing multiple times a day for multiple days, you will remember it without even trying. Do that.
#3: Repetition is the key.
The principle in #2 is true. I am now speeding that up a bit by increasing the repetitions in a single day through some intentionality.
Each morning, I remember a new verse. I read it out loud 10 times. I then close my eyes and repeat it 10 times without looking at it. I do that again before I go to bed.
That’s it.
The next morning, before adding a new verse, I repeat the verses I have already memorized. This is more important than adding a new one. Lock in the verses you have been working on. If I can say them without looking, I am ready to add a new verse. If I can’t remember them, I cheat a little.
#4: First letter cheat sheet.
This is something I learned from a guest on Josh’s podcast. I create a cheat sheet by writing the first letter of each word in the sentence. I do that for all the sentences I am trying to remember.
For example, John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
The first letter more would look like this: “FGsltw,thghoS,twbihsnpbhel.”
When I “cheat”, I am looking at those letters. That is usually enough of a prompt to help me. If it isn’t, it means I need to spend more time reviewing rather than trying to remember new stuff.
#5: Pray about it.
Why do you want to memorize the Bible? To impress your friends? To win Bible trivia contests? No, of course not.
To love God more? Yes! Do you think God wants you to do it? Yes!
Therefore, do you think he would help you do it? Yes!
Then ask him to help you do it. Pray. Ask God for the courage to try, the discipline to work at it, and the encouragement to persevere when you get discouraged.
My experience has been that it does get easier as you continue to do it. It still isn’t easy for me, but it is easier than it used to be.
Finally, let me encourage you that it is worth the effort. If we want to be godly men and women, if we want to be more like Jesus, then how do we shape our thoughts and affections to be more like his? One way is by memorizing Scripture. I have seen this in my own life. Memorizing Scripture helps me to think Biblically. It reminds me of what is important. It nourishes my soul.
You can do this. Start small. Try. Keep trying. Subscribe to Josh’s YouTube channel. It will be worth it.
I don’t think I could memorize the bible… but I just said a prayer asking to continue to give you patience and good brainwaves!