In my work with the early service at the church where I lead worship, I’ve been guiding the congregation in the memorization of valuable supports to the Christian faith as found in Psalm 23, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Jesus Prayer. As part of the memorization process, I’ve developed some tools to retain information. I’ve been sharing them with the congregation during the month of July, so I thought I would share them with you in today’s blog post.
Memorization as Contemplation
A helpful practice in memorizing Scripture is to make an association between an image and a verse. Find pictures that bring to mind the meaning expressed in the verse. If you enjoy drawing, you may even wish to create your own pictures. If, like me, you struggle even to create a decent stick figure, then simple symbols work as well, drawn in the margins of your Bible near the corresponding verse.
Memorizing in this way captures the meaning of the Scripture with less concern for precise wording. Translations vary and certain words stick in each person’s memory better than others. Images help us tell a story about what we see and then the essence of the Scripture will stay with us.
I have found in my own experience that by using pictures as part of the memorization process, each time I see that object or perform that task, it brings to mind that particular passage of Scripture, turning my attention to the Lord. Memorization becomes contemplative when it has the ability to help us focus on God at any time and in any situation.
Memorization as a Process for Growth
Our first goal is to get the words of Scripture into our minds. Whatever tool you must rely on to make this happen doesn’t matter. The point is to get the words of God inside of us. Once that happens, these words start to speak to our emotions. Pay attention to how you feel as you read the Bible.
Which verses create a resistance in your spirit? What stirs doubt, fear, anger, or hostility?
Which verses can you accept? Are there ones that you find easy to believe or that you’ve seen proven true in your life or in the life of someone else?
Where are you learning something new?
Where are you hearing a word from the Lord just for you?
Spend time answering those questions by praying and writing your thoughts down. The next time you come back to that passage, you will already have connections made. There will be things you remember that presses you to a deeper understanding. Over time, the Scriptures take root in our hearts. Then we apply them to our lives. These are the verses we remember, the ones we’ve lived.
As we live out the Scriptures from our hearts, they have the power to change us, and that’s really what memorization is all about. It’s more than just retaining information in our minds. Memorization becomes a transformation tool helping us become more like Christ.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed by Thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive
us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen
The Jesus Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.
