Scripture…Put it to Memory
Can you finish the line to this song…”Oohhh Oohhh, we’re half way there, Ooohh Ooohh…”? Why in the world do we take up our brain space with such information?!? Well, probably because at some point in life we have heard that song many, many times. What if we applied the same principle to keeping God’s Word in our minds?! Maybe your kids will catch you trying to memorize the key verse to the tune of “Living on a Prayer” now. They’ll think you’re so cool, I’m sure of it. Whatever works!!
How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word… I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:9,11
Did you know your brain weighs approximately 3 pounds?! That’s like the weight of a cantaloupe. The mind is an amazing thing. Our brain is the center of our nervous system and is constantly sending messages to the body controlling our thoughts, decisions, and memories. It can hold so much information!
In the dark ages, (aka, pre cell phone days) everyone had to memorize lots of phone numbers. The iPhone wasn’t around to store it for us. It’s funny to me how I can recall my home phone number from 20 years ago as a young girl. (Try it yourself, what numbers can you recall?) As a kid, it was a lifeline for me to memorize my parent’s phone number. I never knew when I would need to call them from a landline or a payphone, and dad wasn’t a big fan of collect calls. 🙂
In the same way, God’s word is a lifeline for us. God’s word equips us to know Him more and be more like Jesus. Knowing His word gives comfort and peace, equips us to share the gospel, and empowers us to fight temptations and sin. After all, it IS called the sword of the Spirit! But, how do we get God’s word in our head and our heart? Jesus said in John 10:27, “The sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.” One way we can know His voice is by recalling the words He has spoken through scripture.
Memorizing scripture might seem hard to do…but here are three easy points to help:
- Use repetition – Write out the verse over and over again. You could even put it on a notecard and post it on your mirror in your room, in your car, on your desk at work. Say it out loud many times. Set it as an alarm on your phone to read it throughout the day.
- Emphasize each different word of the verse as you are memorizing, and really think about the truth the verse is communicating. Example: “Your word is a lamp to my feet. Your word is a lamp to my feet. Your word is a lamp to my feet…” (Psalm 119:105)
- Have fun with it! Be creative. Make up a song, quiz or challenge a family member to see who can memorize certain scriptures quickest. Memorizing scripture with your family is a great way to get everyone involved, while also teaching the truth of God’s word and His promises.
Camper Corner
Memorizing scripture should be fun! This week, set up a friendly competition with your family. You can even have a prize for the winner! Challenge your parents and siblings to see who can memorize three verses the quickest. As you memorize the verses, don’t just memorize words on a page, but remember it’s deep truth as well – God’s word is our lifeline!
