MEMORISING SCRIPTURES
To memorise Scripture should not be a
difficult endeavour. It is one of the most basic things that any
soul winner must do. When speaking to man, you must convey God’s
Word to man and not merely your own ideas. This makes memorising
Scriptures a crucial matter.
There
are certain things that make it easy to memorise Scripture
references.
Cut
out cards of about 8-9cm x 4-5cm (see example below).
On one side write the Scripture
reference
...
for there is no difference:
For
all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God
|
On the other side write the Scripture
quotation
Now
write (or print out the Scripture verses) out Scripture references
that you would must memorise on this cards or papers. Write the
Scripture verse on one side and the reference of the Scripture on
the opposite side. Now you need to carry these verses daily with
you. Every time you have some moment you go through these verses
by only reading them to yourself and repeating them. When you go
to the bathroom for example you may take out these cards and go
through them one by one. If you keep up with this, you would be
able to have memorised at least ten verses within a month’s time,
or at least would have a great idea what the Scripture verses said
by referring back to it! This is a great help in memorising
scriptures.
You may also want to write a Scripture verse
that you would like to memorise on a piece of paper.
Depending on your circumstances, you can put these paper
scripture verses at your bed (I know of someone who have put it up
on his ceiling! Every night and every morning he went to sleep, he
would look up to the ceiling and he would see the verses, repeat
them in his heart and when he awakes he again repeated them, he
learned much in this way!) or in the kitchen, above the zinc, on
the fridge, in the bathroom and then rotate them with other verses
every week! You then can see these verses again and again and be
confronted with God’s Word. It will stay with you if you keep up
this habit!!! (See Deuteronomy 6:6-9!!!!)
Another way to learn and memorise Scripture
verses is to record them and listen to them as you drive to work
and from work, etc. It helps to “stick if you listen continually
to these verses and passages, especially when you are caught up in
the traffic!
Then there is also the study method. In this
method you would take a Scripture and break it up into certain
units to get to the fundamental aspect of that verse.
There is also the old fashioned learning
method, where you learn something like a “parrot!” You take some
time every day and you just repeat some 10 to 20 times the
particular verse you want to memorise!
Also
it would greatly help you if you would start to “pray Scripture”
verses! Incorporate these verses you want to memorise into your
prayers! Begin to pray these verses and meditate on them as you
pray. For example if you would pray
for someone, use Scripture to remind the Lord and plead before the
Lord for that person or persons. You can for example use Hebrews
4:13 – “Lord nothing is hidden from your sight! Everything is
uncovered and laid open before your eyes. You see everything and
you record them in your books! (Name someone____) life is open
before you. You know the thoughts of his/her heart! You know what
are in their hearts for you test (refer to Jeremiah 17:9-10)
his/her heart and motives! (name____) must one day stand before
you and give account (Hebr 4:13b) for her life. Help her to see
herself/himself as you see them. Uncover their hearts and show
them that their heart is deceitful above everything else (refer to
Jer 17:9-10) and that he/she needs a new heart! Bring them to a
true knowledge of their condition and show them that they fall
short (use Rom 3:23) to be able to glorify God as he/she should!
“
In
this way you can pray these verses before the Lord for
individuals, etc.
In whatever way you choose (maybe you can use
all methods) it is important to hear them (say them out loud for
yourself) to repeat them and to apply them to your own life as
well as to the life of others!!!
HEAR (also SEE them) – REPEAT –
APPLY!!!