tammyshaw@bright-beginnings.nettammyshaw@bright-beginnings.net
Shaw Christian
Academy
Where Faith and Knowledge Unite
Scripture Memory
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SCRIPTURE MEMORY AS EASY AS A-B-C!
Since I became a Christian, Scripture memory has been a challenge. Even when I was young, memorizing things didn't come easy for me. And now that I'm older - well - let's just say that my memory certainly hasn't improved! I know that for a Christian, memorizing and meditating on Scripture is essential. The Bible says: Keep my words and store up my commands within you...write them on the tablet of your heart. (Proverbs 7:1,3) Scripture is one of God's primary ways of communicating with us. He wants to speak to us through His Word so that we can face with confidence the spiritual battles that are all around us. My husband makes it a habit to memorize Scripture... We encourage our children to do it... But somehow I wasn't doing it...because I had a bad memory of course!
Then one day the pastor at our church gave a challenge to our congregation: memorize 26 scriptures in 26 weeks. Now I had been challenged to memorize scripture before many times, but this time was different... Each scripture would correspond to a letter of the alphabet - beginning with A and ending with Z. This idea intrigued me, and I decided I would take it even one step further - rather than memorizing the scripture my pastor chose, I would select passages that were meaningful to me. Finding the appropriate A through Z passages took some time, but soon I was ready to MEMORIZE! Now I spend a week memorizing and meditating on each one, and although I have not completed all 26 yet, I can say that I know more Scripture now than I ever have in my life! And it's fun!
Listed below are the A - Z Scriptures that I chose to memorize. I also linked most letters to other passages that would make excellent choices for memorization. And of course, feel free to choose your own! (It may help to use various versions of the Bible to find applicable passages) Here are some other tips and ideas to help you get started:
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Make two or more copies of each passage and place them in spots where you will see them frequently-the refrigerator, bathroom mirror, etc. |
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PRAY before you attempt to memorize - God will help you! |
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Repeat the reference (i.e. Proverbs 7:1) BEFORE and AFTER you say the passage. |
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Repeat the passage ALOUD, beginning with one phrase and adding more as you learn them. |
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Write the passage out on paper to help impress it in your mind. |
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Spend at least 5 minutes every day memorizing - preferably at the same time and/or in the same situation each day. (I do mine while I'm taking my shower in the morning) |
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If it takes you longer than a week to memorize a particular passage, don't worry! It's better to take the time to learn it word-perfect than to struggle through just to keep to a schedule. |
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Review often. Repetition is probably the best way to permanently etch the passage in your mind. |
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During the week I try to meditate on the passage that I am working on. CLICK HERE for a copy of the worksheet I use. Feel free to print this one out, or use it for ideas to make up your own. |
A = And he will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. Revelation 21:4
B = But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33
C = Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
D = Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29 (New International Version)
E = Endure hardship with us, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:3 (New International Version)
F = Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8
G = Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. Psalm 119:165 (New King James)
H = Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:10
I = If my people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (American Standard)
J = Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Sprit he cannot enter the kingdom of God. John 3:5
K = Keep His commands and obey Him; serve Him and hold fast to Him. Deuteronomy 13:4b (New International Version)
L = Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not give up. Galatians 6:8 (New King James)
M = My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. John 10:27,28
N = Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
O = O Lord, You have searched me and know me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain to it. Psalm 139: 1 – 6
P
= Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against
the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against
the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of
wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:11,12
Q = Quench not the Spirit. Despise not the prophesying. Prove all things. Hold fast to that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. I Thessalonians 5:19-22 (American Standard)
R = Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 2 Corinthians 9:6 (New International Version)
S = Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. Psalm 139: 23,24
T = Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10
U = Upon the wicked he will rain snares; fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup. For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; the upright will behold His face. Psalm 11:6,7
V = Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, And I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Examine me, O Lord, and try me; Test my mind and my heart. For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have walked in Your truth. Psalm 26:1-3
W = Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him. John 14:21 (New International Version)
X
= eXamine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.
2
Corinthians 13:5a
(New King James)
Y = Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105
Z = never be lacking in Zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serve the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:11,12
*All passages were taken from the New American Standard Bible unless otherwise noted.
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