Memorizing the Word Is Possible.pdf

Basic Principles

Below are a few basic principles which will help make memorizing possible. Included with each principle are practical suggestions to start you dreaming and scheming about how you can effectively memorize the Word of God. You may want to try one or more of the suggestions. As you discover other methods that work, share your ideas with others.

1.  Take Advantage of Already Established Routines.

The easiest way to find time to memorize is to incorporate memorizing into your already established daily routine.  For example:

1. Use meal times as a time to memorize.
2. Memorize while exercising-- i.e. while riding a stationary bike, running, walking on a treadmill, etc.
3. While washing dishes, folding clothes, dusting, snow shoveling, mowing the lawn, or performing various other household chores, you can be memorizing.
4. Memorize while walking the dog.
5. How about memorizing while showering? Use the plastic pocket, or write the verses on a slip of paper which can be thrown away when it gets soggy. Better yet, write the verses on a piece of plastic (an old tablecloth, or clear plastic from the hardware store) using a permanent marker. If people can sing in the shower, why not say verses aloud in the shower?
6. Work memorizing into your profession. For example:
   • We know a person who puts up sheetrock for his profession. He tapes the verses on the wall and memorizes as he works.
   • A painter can put the verse card by his paint tray. Every time he puts paint on his roller, he can say the verse.
   • A mail carrier can carry the verses in a pocket or attach them to the mail bag and memorize while walking.
   • _______________ (Fill in the blank. How will it work in your profession?)
7. Memorize while driving-- either by glancing at the cards periodically or by using the review tape.  
8. If you ride the bus to work, memorize on the bus.
9. Memorize each morning while you shave or brush your teeth.
10. Use your break times or lunch time to memorize at work.
11. Memorize in your small group.  
12. Sunday School classes can introduce weekly passages, or review the passage from the previous week.

There are times when we need to reevaluate our routines and reestablish our priorities.
This is also a possible way of fitting in memorizing. 

2.   Keep the Verses Handy.

If your verses "travel with you", you will discover all kinds of opportunities to memorize. One of the easiest ways to memorize is to say the verses repeatedly aloud. For example:

1. Families can use time spent in the car to memorize. Keep a verse set in your car so it is always available.
2. We all spend a fair amount of time in the bathroom -- have a set of verses handy.
3. Keep your verses with you (in your purse, briefcase, pocket, etc.) so that you can take advantage of unexpected moments such as: waiting for an appointment, sitting at a red light, waiting in a store checkout line, pumping gas, waiting for the bus, etc.

3.   Post the Verses in a Prominent Location.

Part of the battle in memorizing is remembering to memorize. If the verses are displayed where we will frequently see them, we will remember to memorize. It is easy to memorize by simply saying the verses ALOUD a few times during the day. For example:

1. Put the verses on your bathroom mirror, on the phone, above the sink, on your computer screen saver, or any place you frequently look during the day. Every time you notice it, say the verses aloud a few times.
2. If you are in a profession in which you use a tool box, tape it to the lid or inside the lid and repeat it a few times every time you reach for a tool.
3. Tape your verse card to the dashboard of your car. Drive and memorize.

4.  Retaining Verses.

1. You will increase your chances of remembering new verses the next day, if you review your verses right before you go to bed at night.  
2. Playing the review tape and trying to say the verse along with the person on the tape is also a helpful way to review memory verses.
3. The key to retaining verses you have memorized is REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW