Memorization???

Hello Brooks,

When I received the Lord as my Saviour 10 years ago, I saw learning the Word of God as an important part of my development. In order to remember certain scriptures, I would write them on a piece of paper and put it in my pocket. I would look for opportunities all that day to apply the scriptures in my daily life. I find that when I actually apply scriptures to my life, I learn them faster.

I hope it works for you!

Shed

 

I have always had a hard time with references also. I have solved this with a palm pilot and bible software. I can remember the text of the verse, enter it into the search option and up comes the verse. There are many ways to try to memorize the reference, but some people will always struggle with it. Ps. 119:11 says to hide God's Word. References are man's addition.

 

Have you heard of the "Navigators," an interdenominational group like Campus Crusade that works among university students. They have a good memorization program that teach some good princples in memorizing Scripture.
DHK

 

DHK,

How do you find the information on their program? I have been memorizing scriptures but it seems like my mind is starting to have trouble keeping them there. Thanks!

 

The Topical Memory System (TMS) can be found at http://www.navpress.com/store/product.asp?sku=990073369X

Many places sell it too.

 

Try bite sizing your memory work.You can't do it all at once.
Pick the scriptures you want to memorize first.
Write the verse 3 times each day. say the verse 3 times each day.Only memorize 2 verses each week.You will find ways to use the verses during your day.
At the end of one year you will have memorized 104 verses, at the end of 5 years you will have memorized 520 verses.This is not phenominal but it is practical and it does work.

 

Rather than trying to just memorize the entire Bible, I would suggest getting one of those little pocket, electronic Bible thing-ies.

Our Pastor uses it to look up verses that he can not find.

Just type in a word or two, or verses, and it will look it up for you. Like the same way biblegateway.com does it on the computer.

Some people just don't have a memory for certain things. I am one of those people as well.

If I didn't have a concordance in my Bible I would lose my mind.

 

I set it to music and can remember if well. If I dont do that, I wont remember it after a week.

 

That which I memorized as a child is what is best etched in my brain.
But even with that, the biggest problem is remembering the references. I guess that's similar to the problem I have with names. I can remember people - things about them - but not their names unless I see them regularly.

 

Debby,

I find that things I did as a child are stuck in my memory over things I learned yesterday. I can name all my elementary teachers and remember what they look like but hardly any from high school!

 

I believe every vet of this board knows my view of the KJVO myth, but IMO the main reason for using the KJV, whether exclusively or not, is that it's much easier for us to remember whole verses or sets of verses from it. That's because its English is not OUR everyday English, & the archaic English stands out better in our minds. While typing these posts, I have several BVs close at hand as well as the electronic Bibles.(However, NOTHING to me beats just sitting down with a Bible and reading it!)

I cannot remember a lotta verses verbatim from ANY BV, but if I hear some old name or a given belief or doctrine, I instantly know if it's in Scripture or not. Verbatim memorization is great, but APPLYING THE COMMANDMENTS AND TEACHINGS found therein is the most important thing.

 

Another reason for that is just plain consistency. It is hard enough to remeber the reference, let alone the translation it came from. Since most people use the KJV, it is just better to memorize in the KJV.

Another principle is: "If you don't use it, you'll lose it," principle. Use the verses you memorizes. Use them in witnessing, or in conversation if they have been a blessing to you. Preachers have more opportunity to do this than others, since they can incorporate those that they have memorized into their messages. It comes naturally.

Many S.S programs have verse memorization from Sunday to Sunday. A verse is memorized (perhaps Saturday night or Sunday morning), or even right in the class, and forgotten by Monday.
By repeating the reference before and after the verse each time you say it, and doing it every day, you get the verse from your short term memory into your long term memory (like your address and telephone number), which ought to be your goal. Giving the verse a topic makes it easier as well, for our mind categorizes things like a computer, and has a search engine. It is much easier for the mind to searh for the mind to search for a topic on "peace" then just references. Try to give a topic to each verse, and memorize that along with the reference. It isn't difficult. It actually makes it easier. The key is: repetition, repetition, repetition. I once had such a monotonous and tedious job at a factory during one summer, where I didn't have to use my mind for anything but pulling down a lever every few seconds, that I was able to memorize the entire Book of Romans. I can't quote it all now because I haven't had the time to review the whole book every day, or every once in a while. But it is there in my mind somewhere. My search engine just isn't working very good at times.
DHK

 

I found this website that has information about Scripture memory, they also have free Scripture memory software available.

http://www.memoryverses.org/

 

Not mentioned at this point is the buddy system.
when in Bible school we had to memorize TONS of stupid Greek words and their conjugations.
(I have short term memory loss due to past drug addiction)
Memorization was nigh impossible for me. But when working with a "buddy" (my wife ) I found I was able to memorize the material quite quickly and retain it. (Praise God!)
So, if you can get a buddy, and "bounce" Scriptures off of each other, I found this helped me tremendously. I still remember some of that Graak stuff, (ARRGGH!) though I rarely need it anymore.
It has been said that the KJV is "better" for memorization. For whatever reason, this is definitely true.
The other suggestions mentioned in this thread are also helpful, I would only add GET A BUDDY !
In His service;
Jim

 

I write them down on index cards and read them throughout the day. Always repeat the book, chapter and verse after you read it.