Blessings from a Broken Radio Part 1

A few months ago the radio on my car stopped working. Ok, it might be more correct to say, it didn't fully retract when I was getting a car wash. With a commute of an hour each way, I knew I would go crazy if I couldn't find something to do. Thankfully, in the Bible study group I attended at our church in San Jose, we were given the task of memorizing scripture (specifically Romans 12). This was something I had done years ago when I worked the night shift in the Navy but sadly had neglected for years (among other parts of my faith).

Is memorizing scripture really for every believer?

Think about how many songs you know the lyrics to. You may be surprised that it is easily over 100. This means that up to this point you have memorized enough lyrics to equal two books of the Bible. I have yet to meet someone who was incapable of remembering a song (even toddlers can sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star). In addition to the lyrics, think of all of the names, email addresses, stories, and more that we remember as part of our daily lives.

We take for granted that we can read the Bible but prior to the printing press, believers were required to remember what scripture they heard. In Jesus' day everyone who was able had memorized many parts of the Torah as a child and those who were to become disciples of great Rabbis had memorized the entire Torah (approximately 5888 verses)!

Keeping scripture in our minds, and on our hears was never intended only for some believers (Proverbs 4:21, Deuteronomy 11:18, Hebrews 10:16). Just as Jesus and the Apostles used scripture to overcome sin (Matthew 4:10), share the good news (John 3:16), encourage and rebuke (Matthew 21:16, 21:42), pray (Matthew 27:46). Scripture is valuable for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16), standing against sin (Psalm 119:11) and the forces of evil in the world (Ephesians 6:11), encouraging one another (Hebrews 10:24), and sharing what God has done in our lives (1 Peter 3:15)

So if it is possible for each of us to remember large amounts of text and each of us are to do it then is there something mystical about it? In many ways no. Memorizing scripture is in practice no different and can rely upon many of the common memory tricks and tactics that worked in school. The important thing to take note of is this is a skill and even if we are all capable to some degree, it requires effort in order to do it and to become better at it.

Be encouraged by the fact that, no matter what you might think you are capable of memorizing, God will bless your efforts. I can't begin to tell you how much it has impacted my relationship with God. It gives the Holy Spirit words to share with you and it will deepen your ability to follow Christ.

Getting started

While everyone is different, here are some tips I've learned from myself and my education background:

1. Make a plan. It's not enough to want to do it. You have to set yourself up to succeed. We find time for what we consider important and you would be surprised at how you can find a few minutes here and there. For me it was the traffic in the morning or the night watch shift in the Navy. Instead of wandering around aimlessly on the Internet when standing in line bored, why not practice and mediate on your verses? It helps pass the time and you'll finish with a much better attitude and refreshed spirit.
   
   Like any skill it takes time for this to become a habit but it will become easier over time. You wouldn't expect to learn a new language or build muscle without repetition, practice, and time and so it is the same with memorizing scripture.
   
   This should go without saying but find verses that fit your needs and that you love. Everyone has a different walk and personal relationship and while there are many verses that would benefit everyone, memorization is most satisfying and enjoyable when you discover them for yourself. If you are looking for a good place to start, here are the most popular verses searched for on Bible Gateway.


2. Get the right tools and know the tricks. I used to carry a large stack of flashcards I made from index cards cut in half. Nowadays there are great apps for smartphones as well. I use Remember Me and I know a few people who use Remember Anything for iOS. The Bible was meant to be remembered so use the time tested methods (TED Video, Wikipedia). Some of the most helpful for me are to look for patterns (e.g. the alphabetical order of the gifts in Romans 12:6-8 prophecy, serving, teaching...encourage, giving, leading, mercy) and chunking (useful for 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and Galatians 5:22-23). Try and visualize the situation written about or at least the words in your mind. This is especially useful for the Gospels and is exactly the reason that Jesus talked in parables so many would remember them.
   
   If you can give it a rhythm you'll find they'll stick with you more easily. This has been the approach of the Cantor, the Church hymn writers and even the Psalmists of the Bible took this approach to ensure the words would be remembered.

For those who need a more formal plan and guide, this is a great resource that has helped many memorize verses and even entire entire books: An Approach to Extended Memorization of Scripture.


3. Don't become mechanical. If you're a reader of the BrokenAirplane blog you know I'm not a big fan of memorization for learning sake unless it is applied. These are the Holy Scriptures, the Word of God and for it to have an effect it must be meditated on (Psalm 1:2) and applied (James 1:22) You can have a lot of knowledge but not be putting it into practice which is even worse because we will each stand before God and answer for how we used our talents. There are times when I get focused on the memorization and forget to slow down and reflect and appreciate what it is saying.

I wish you well as your practicing the discipline of memorizing and mediating on the Word of God. I pray that you will never find yourself bored in traffic again and that you will find strength and wisdom in the Word. Let this and everything you do be all for His glory.