10 Tips and Tricks for Memorizing Bible Scripture

Memorization is hard for many. While it’s helpful to quickly recall information, getting the information to stick in our minds is often challenging. This challenge applies to all areas of our life, from memorizing statistics for a fantasy football league to memorizing Bible verses for an exam.

No matter your reason for memorizing Bible Scripture, doing so isn’t easy. The following ten tips and tricks can make the memorization process easier.

Start With a Small, Personal Verse

If you’re memorizing assigned verses for a class, then you may not get to pick which verses you want. However, many memorize Bible Scripture for their personal edification, which means they do get to pick where they start.

The best starting point for memorization is a small, personal verse. Small verses are easier to memorize since there are fewer words in them, making them a realistic and achievable starting point. If you feel a personal attachment to the verse, you’ll also feel more excited to memorize it—even if a professor assigned the memorization exercise.

Study the Verse’s Context

Nothing exists in a vacuum, especially Bible Scriptures. Studying the context around the verse helps you recognize its place in the Bible. It is part of the whole. The context can also help you grow that personal attachment, which can spur you toward your memorization goal. Surrounding verses may also contain names, words, and phrases which can help you remember yours.

Create a Memorization Schedule With Realistic Goals

Memorizing Scripture verses is a great goal. However, if you don’t give yourself a deadline or any type of schedule, you can memorize the same verse forever. This method is not productive. Instead, set a deadline for yourself once you find a verse you want to memorize. Choose a realistic goal for the length of the verse and how much time you can put towards memorization. Plot a schedule from your first day spent memorizing until the deadline day. A realistic memorization schedule ensures that you make time to work towards your memorization goal daily.

If the memorization is part of an assignment, use the assignment deadline as your deadline. Work memorization time into your daily schedule along with other schoolwork assignments. It’s easy to tell yourself that you’ll “make time” in between assignments. However, if you don’t prioritize the memorization time in your busy schedule, you may never make time and could fail your assignment.

Memorize With Others

Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpeneth iron; So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” This verse means that we need each other to keep ourselves sharp and grow toward our goals. We cannot do any part of this life on our own, not if we want to do our best.

If you want to do your best at Scripture memorization, then get other people involved. Memorize your verse with classmates working on the same memorization assignment. Ask a member of your family or a friend to memorize a verse with you. Pitch the idea of your entire small group or church learning a verse together. The accountability and aid of other people can make memorization easier and better.

Write the Verse Down

Reading a verse over and over may help you memorize it. However, looking at the verse and writing it down by hand will help more. Handwriting anything, including Scripture, helps connect your body and brain. This sensory experience makes memorization more effective and easier. If you’re a visual learner, writing the verse down and seeing it in your handwriting may also make it more impactful than seeing it in a book.

Say or Sing the Verse Aloud

Auditory learners know that reading and writing a verse will only take them so far. They need to listen to something to memorize it and that’s okay. You can find videos of people reading Scripture online or listen to a KJV Bible audiobook. Say or sing the verse aloud to help you commit your chosen verse to memory. Speak slowly, enunciating each word so nothing is lost. Set the verse to a familiar tune that you already love.

Both techniques will help you, and even people who aren’t auditory learners, memorize Bible Scripture. Singing Scripture is especially efficient for younger children who are still learning how to read. Consider using this method if you are memorizing a verse as a family.

Use a Scripture Memory App

If you’re struggling to find someone to memorize Scripture with or need some extra help while memorizing alone, then you can use a Scripture memory app. You can download various Scripture memorization apps in your Apple or Android app store for free. These apps also make it easier to look over your verse and work on memorization while on the go.

Put Verse Reminders Everywhere

Another way to memorize Scripture while on the go is to put reminders of the verse everywhere. You can make a verse your lock screen or background image on your phone or computer. You can put a sticky note with the verse on your bathroom mirror. You can use a flash card with the verse as a bookmark. Put verse reminders everywhere it’s safe to read them; soon, the verse will start to integrate into your mind.

Add the Verse To Your Prayers

While there are many reasons to memorize Bible verses, Christian believers often do so to grow in their faith. If you are trying to grow in your faith through verse memorization, consider adding the verse to your prayers. Yes, the Bible is already the Word of God and He knows what the verse says. However, God does not mind hearing these words again as you try to apply them to your life through memorization.

Here’s an example of integrating a verse into your prayers. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Adding this verse to your prayers could sound like, “Lord, help me to be still and know that you are my God. Show me how to exalt you no matter who I am with or where I am.”

Don’t Give Up

Memorization is never easy. Though you may struggle with this goal, do not give up. You may not meet your memorization deadline, even if it is realistic. That’s okay. Continue to memorize Bible Scripture you want to remember. Experiment with these ten tips and tricks to find the method that works best for your learning style.

Many will never attempt to memorize Bible verses because they think it’s too hard. However, with the right Bible and memorization method, you can do so. The King James Bible 1611 edition is a beautiful Bible to use for your memorization goals.