I confess I never set out to memorize scripture until my firstborn came along. It was then I realized memory verses were an excellent way to teach my child about the Bible - and in the process of teaching her Bible verses, I naturally memorized some myself. Which got me to thinking: Why should we bother to memorize the Bible when we have multiple Bibles in the house?-- Because God tells us to. See for example Deut. 11:18 ("Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds, tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads")
* Try implementing the verse throughout the day, reading it (or repeating it in your head) as you do so. For example, if you’re memorizing the Golden Rule (Luke 6:31), think of several practical ways to do for others. A child might do dishes for her mother, teach her little sister how to tie her shoes, and give her dad a back rub, for example. As you do each of these things, recite your memory verse.
* Draw a picture representing the Bible verse, as someone else recites the verse to you repeatedly.
* Write your memory verse on your mirror with lipstick or soap.
* Keep a copy of your memory verse by the television’s remote control. Every time there’s a commercial, read the verse over and over until your program comes back on.
* Make a collage of magazine illustrations that relate to your memory verse, while someone else reads the verse out loud.
* Print your memory verse on your lunch bag, or tape it onto your lunch box, so you can read it repeatedly at lunch time.
* Write your memory verse out on a dry erase board. Read it over many times, then try to recite it. If you fail, rewrite the verse on the board and try again.
* Once you think you know a verse by heart, recite it twice a day for a week before moving on to another verse.
* Make sure verses stay in your memory by using chore time and waiting time to review verses you’ve already memorized. Washing dishes, taking out the trash, ironing, waiting at a stop light, waiting in the doctor’s office, and a million other mindless things eat up our days. Use that time for good by keeping memorized Bible verses fresh in your mind!
* Introduce a new verse at dinner, right after prayer. Discuss it, then have everyone read the verse at least once. Then try to recite it perfectly. Who gets it right first?
* Make up a melody for the verse. Sometimes putting it to music makes it easier to memorize. You can make up your own tunes, or find some online.
* Set realistic goals. Your children should be able to memorize a verse a week, if you make it a priority. Adults who have a more difficult time memorizing should set a personalized goal: Perhaps one verse every two or three weeks.
* Choose verses ahead of time. Although it makes sense to choose verses that will help your family with current problems (like fear or anger), try to choose at least a month’s worth of verses in advance.
* Before you start memorizing, read the verse in context. It will help you understand the true meaning of the verse.
* Use bathtub crayons to write out the verse on the side of the tub or shower. Read the verse repeatedly while bathing each day.
* Use a reasonable amount of time to work on memorizing scripture each day. Try at least five minutes in the morning and five minutes in the evening.
* Start memorizing short verses first. When you are confident that you can do this, move on to longer verses.
* Ask God to help you memorize Bible verses.
* Work out motions to go with a Bible verse. This especially helps small children.
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