Have you considered the benefits of having God’s Word in your heart? Maybe a more important question is how do we secure God’s Word in our hearts? Are there ways that work for aging brains?
Benefits of Having God’s Word in Our Hearts
First let’s recall some of the benefits covered in Psalm 19:7-14.
God’s Word
- restores the soul
- makes us wise
- rejoices the heart
- enlightens the eyes
- endures forever (timeless anchor for chaotic times)
- is true and righteous
- is desirable and sweet
- warns us
- when practiced brings great reward
God’s Word also:
- Keeps us from sin (Psalm 119:11)
. - Reveals God (1 Samuel 3:21)
- Renews our minds, transforming us (Romans 12:2)
- Keeps us fruitful into old age (Psalm 1)
- Used by the Holy Spirit to guide us (John 14:26; 2 Timothy 3:16-16).
- Empowers our prayers (John 15:7)
Helpful Ways to Secure God’s Word in Your Heart #memorizingTips, #Benefits Share on X
Best Practices for Securing God’s Word in Our Hearts
I think we can agree these benefits are worth pursuing. So, how do we secure God’s Word in our hearts? The Scripture helps with that too. Let’s look at a couple of verses and resources I’m using.
Study the Word
“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do” (Joshua 1:8 NLT).
Study continually. Asking three questions, “What does it say, what does it mean, and how does it apply,” transformed my Bible reading. Click the link for the free pdf “How to Get More from Your Bible.”
A friend introduced me to Scripture Notebooks. These have the Scripture on one page facing a blank page to capture your personal insights. You can buy sets or individual books of the Bible. I’ve only found them in two translations, but I’m enjoying the one I’m using. (These links show different examples. Of course, I’ve written Bible studies to empower you too!)
Reading is important, but the extra step of studying secures God’s Word in our hearts. Choose a method that works for you. Switch it up when you need something fresh. But “study continually.” We never outgrow our need for Scripture any more than we outgrow our need for air.
Memorize and Meditate on the Word
We looked at Joshua 1:8 earlier and the importance of keeping Scripture in our mouths, minds, and movements (obeying it). Here are some tips to help memorize Scripture.
Pick a plan and stick to it.
With so many favorite passages, we start one passage and then switch to another before anything gets rooted. Or, I’ve chosen a passage and partway through it realize I prefer a different translation. I switch to it. Then I’m confused.
Will you choose a longer passage like a Psalm, a chapter, or a book of the Bible? Or will you choose verses that go with certain themes? I’ve been using Robert J. Morgan’s book, 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart to help me memorize Scripture. Following the verses Morgan selected means one less thing my brain must think about.
As far as translation goes, when I come to a verse in his book I already memorized at one time, I use that translation. Otherwise, I use the one he presents. Keep it simple.
Abbreviated Suggestions for Memorizing from William Evans (found in Robert Morgan’s book).
- Make memorizing a daily habit. To train your memory, set aside the same time each day in the same place.
- Don’t try to accomplish too much in one sitting. Master a little each day.
- “Take pleasure in your study. …We learn easiest when we enjoy.”
. - Learn it with the intention of remembering it forever.
- Aim to strengthen and “train your memory to do its appointed work,” not to amass lots of material.
- Don’t take up a second verse until you have thoroughly mastered the first. (This tip has helped me.)
Your turn. Do you have a tip to share that helps you hide God’s Word in your heart? I’d love to read it.
“These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7 CSB).
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Resources
Free PDF of 40 Days to Strength Scripture Cards that can be printed.
Blessings,
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Hi, Debbie, I wonder if you can help me with this family issue; perhaps you have a resource – book, blog entry or previous newsletter which you can point me to if you have already addressed this in the past:
My gay sister-in-law and her girlfriend want to use our vacation home on their visits, usually 2 weeks to a month or so at a time. My first reaction is I don’t want the sin in my house, as I am trying to live a holy and God-pleasing life, and not shift with the culture. We have said “no” in the past to other couples who were not married but have allowed a married couple to stay there. I am totally willing to be instructed on this matter if my thinking is wrong, and, of course, to be led by the Holy Spirit. I am the only Christian in the family and all of the in-laws do what is right in their own eyes, just as the Israelites in the Book of Judges.
I would love to hear any comments, advice, etc., you may have as I work/battle through this. My husband of 37 years is not a believer but shields me from their comments, so far, for which I am grateful, but there will likely come a “show down” conversation for which I want to be fully prepared in scripture…or, as I was counseled by a friend who quoted Proverbs 26:4, “Do not answer a fool according to his folly.” I’m asking God for wisdom on which of these approaches is the correct one.
Thank you for your time, and if anyone there in your office of organization feels led to pray on this, I would so appreciate it.
Mary, I replied in an email. Blessings to you.
These are wonderful tips and great resources. I wasn’t aware of those sets.
Ann, those were new to me. I am using 1 and 2 Samuel and enjoying it.
Comment *Saying the reference “fore” and “aft” helps to remember the reference. Review a verse once or twice a day 5 days a week for 6 to 8 weeks before dropping back to reviewing the verse once a week. I do not have a great memory, so I review my memory verses once a week Monday through Friday. Some of you may be able to do less. Review your verses during “down time”, driving, walking, in the shower, etc. And like Debbie said, get one verse committed to memory before starting another, for me this usually takes a week after memorizing on Sunday morning. By the way, some verses I have memorized and some I have learned by heart, e.g. Isa 48:10! Putting your verses on small note cards, 3×5 cards or many verses on 5.5×8 sheets in a notebook will help when you stumble on reviewing. Printing the verses on these mediums will help because you see the verse more clearly which help memory. Believe it or not, memorizing a New Testament book is actually easier than memorizing individual verses! Try it: Jude, Philemon, 1 or 2 John.
Also, these tips will help a lot:
1. Read the verse through once a day, thoughtfully and carefully, for 1 to 2 weeks before trying to memorize it, or:
2. Read a portion or phrase of the verse and then look away and quote it
3. Repeat #2 until you have finished the verse
Alan, thank you for sharing these tips. They are excellent. And I think that sometimes it is easier to stay on a longer passage than jump around. I am enjoying memorizing themes in Morgan’s book too.
Great tips! Mastering one verse at a time before going to another is a big help to me, too. In college, we were instructed to use a plan where we would repeat the verse something like 25 times one day, 20 the next, and so on until we were down to once an day, and then review it occasionally. It worked–I still remember verses I memorized then. But it was really tedious. More recently, I’ve printed a verse on a note card and put it it where I could see it through the day, or put it on the notes app on my phone and looked at it frequently. I have not done any new memorizing in a while and should.
I appreciate Alan’s tip about memorizing the reference as well–I tend to forget that.
Finding verses set to music–or setting one to music, if one is talented that way–is a big help as well.
Barbara, years ago I had a cassette tape with verses put to music. I forgot about that, but it did make memorizing fun and easier. Since I started Morgan’s book this summer, I’m keeping a stack of 3 x 5 cards in a tray where I work so I can easily review them. I like the tip of 25, 20, etc. I think reviewing them occasionally is the key. I’ve forgotten so many that I used to be able to quote because I didn’t keep reviewing them. Thank you for adding these tips!
We can never outgrow our need for Scripture. The world surrounds us with the opposite of what God says. Only His Word is the remedy for the ills of our souls. I like how you said to take pleasure in your study. So many avoid the Bible because they think it is boring. Nothing could be further from the truth! Thank you, Debbie.
Barbara, I agree. I find great pleasure in God’s word. I hadn’t thought of making that your attitude when you approach memorizing it. That tip came for William Evans, and I liked that reminder. I think we can look at it as a chore instead of work we enjoy.
I need all the help and support I can get in this business of memorizing scripture. I know that I need to do a better job of reviewing already learned passages.
I do too, Michele. I’ve lost too much by not reviewing. I started anew this summer and am enjoying having scriptures to review in the shower and while doing mundane tasks.
Be able to recall verses when I’m struggling with something really helps me get my thoughts focused on what’s truly important. Thanks Debbie
Yvonne, that is so true. And when I have to wait or can’t sleep, to be able to review scriptures is calming.
Debbie, hi. The older I get, the more grateful I am for all the emphasis on memorizing Scripture when I was a child. It’s those KJV verses and chapters that come to me in the night hours, that soothe my heart, that speak peace, that let me know God’s Word is alive and active still.
Linda, me too. What a disservice we do for our children when we deprive them of this lifelong source of comfort and strength.
When our children were little, we did Scripture memory verses with each letter of the alphabet, which made it easier for them to review.
Lisa, that is a great idea. I wish I’d thought of it! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Debbie, for these excellent reminders and resources to keep hiding God’s Word in our hearts. His Word revives my soul.
Thank you, Melissa!