How to Memorize Scripture: Review
When
I was a boy I heard the story of father asking his
son to fill a wicker basket with water. The boy
went into the back yard and tried to do as his father
asked. Of course water leaked out of the basket
almost as quickly as he could fill it.
He told his dad, “I can’t fill the basket. The water
just leaks out.”
The father replied, “I know, son. But can you tell
me anything that’s different about the basket now?”
The son replied, “Well, it’s a lot cleaner now.”
The father said, “That’s right, son! And that’s
how it is with Scripture memory. It may leak out
of your mind but it will leave it cleaner.”
That may be an engaging story, but I’ll have to
disagree with the father’s conclusion. It is possible
to retain Scripture in memory for a life time! It’s
simply a matter of review.
Review systems run the gamut from quite simple
to quite complex. Regardless of the mechanics of
a review system, there’s really only one thing that
counts. Does the review system work? Here’s a description
of a simple system that many people find works quite
well.
• Memorize a new verse
• Review daily for a week
• Review weekly for a month
• Review monthly for a year
More complex systems may utilize software programs
that actually test your memory for each given verse
you’ve entered. Future reviews are scheduled based
on how well you recall each verse. I’ve used a program
called Supermemo for two years now and have found
it quite effective. See
a flash video describing how I use Supermemo to
memorize Scripture.
Organization and discipline are key to retaining
verses in memory. You simply must have some sort
of review system to insure that verses stick with
you over the long haul. And you must practice that
system regularly. If you are careful to systematically
review verses you will certainly remember them.
