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Grant Abbott
Here are a few suggestions for your consideration. I will use John 3:16 as the example from the NIV translation. [John 3:16] /"For God so loved the world / that he gave / his one and only Son, / that whoever believes in him / shall not perish / but have eternal life."/ [John 3:16] 1. Break the verse into short phrases that have meaningful content. [For God so loved the world] [that he gave] [his one and only Son] 2. Start with the first phrase and keeping repeating it 3. Move to the second phrase and keep repeating it 4. Combine the two phrases and keep repeating them 5. Continue adding the next phrase until you are repeating all phrases in the verse 6. Say the address [John 3:16] at the beginning and end of the verse 7. Practice the phrases in backwards order. Say the last phrase "but have eternal life" then add the second last phrase "shall not perish but have eternal life". Keep adding phrases backwards until the entire verse is recited 8. Use a bible translation that you are comfortable with and stay with the same translation for all your bible memory work. Our brains get accustomed to the way words are organised [the translation style] and it makes memory work easier over time. 9. Review each verse that has been committed to memory once a day for the first month and then once a week thereafter. Use random times and places to practice [going for a walk, having a bath] and involve family members [a little competition]. 10. Write each verse in a bible memory catalogue for your review. Draw a box beside each verse. Inside the box write the address of the verse and draw a silly picture (the first wacky thing that comes to mind). Every time you practice the verse look at the box, the address and the silly picture. Our minds use pictures to store memories, that is why we dream. When you see the silly picture in your mind you will be able to recite the memory verse and quote the address. If you are wondering where to start, I began my bible memory work using the Purpose Driven Life book by Rick Warren. I created a catalogue with every bible verse included in the book. I created a computer document and copied all the verses from a bible reference application. Then I started working my way through the verses. I added verses to my catalogue through my daily bible reading program. When a verse really jumped out at me from my daily devotions, I would add it to my catalogue. The catalogue grew faster than my ability to commit verses to memory, but that's Ok.
Tim Maas
I would consider initially starting with any of the sections in the historical books of either the Old or the New Testaments that tell a story (such as Genesis, Exodus (through Chapter 20), and Joshua through Esther in the Old Testament, or the first five books of the New Testament (the gospels and Acts)), rather than portions dealing with the Law, prophecy, or Christian doctrine. It seems to me that the narrative flow and sequencing of those books would make them easier to commit to memory than the other types of biblical writings (although those other books could always be added over time or as memorization skill increases).
Jack Gutknecht
As for hints to hide God's Word in my heart, I'd say first to ask God who wrote the Scriptures for help. "Show me the path where I should walk O LORD; point out the right road for me to follow." Next, I have found that writing the verse down helps me the most. First, I will print it out. Then, I will write it out longhand. I include the reference before and after. As I write it I read it out loud 10 times. I go phrase by phrase (verselocker.com) breaks the verse down into phrases for you. Just click "smart line breaking" before saving each verse. I overlearn the verse; I'll recite it out loud 8 times. I review it often for long-term memory. I use all the apps I can find on Scripture memorization, Bible memory, http://memorizer.me/, memorizenow.com, etc. If you would like to know the names of the Scripture and Bible memory apps, just reply in the "Comments" section below. Also, I will occasionally use the audio feature of verselocker.com. The apps help me to weed out mistakes. When it was my turn to speak as a senior about to graduate from Arizona Bible College in Phoenix, I recited the book of Colossians (KJV) in 20-30 minutes word for word. As we exited the chapel, I heard a fellow student say to another student, "Jack will be the next president of Bible Memory Association,” (now Scripture Memory Fellowship).
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