How to Memorize Scripture: 6 Simple Tips and Techniques

Learning how to memorize scripture is a very important practice to add to your christian life. There are many benefits of scripture memorization beyond the act of obedience. 

As christians, we may understand the importance of memorizing scripture, and we may have attempted to create the healthy habit of it too. Unfortunately, if you are anything like me, you were unsuccessful. 

For example, I get very eager and zealous for scripture memorization, but then a busy week comes, and I lose the discipline of prioritizing time for it. Next thing I know, it is a new month and I try to start over with scripture memorization. 

Staying consistent with scripture memorization and trying to find the best ways to truly learn the scripture is difficult!

I started really trying to grow in scripture memorization a few years ago when I received a prayer journal that had a section for scripture to memorize each month. I loved that plan. It was concrete, productive, and based off of my own terms for what scripture to attempt to memorize each month. 

Ever since then, I have attempted to memorize 2-4 verses of scripture each month that are relevant to what I need in my life. I would choose a word to focus on each month and scripture that aligned to that focus word. 

I benefited so much from it, I wanted to extend this idea to other sisters in Christ! Read more about Grow | Go | Sow if you want to get involved with a community of believers with the goal of supporting one another with memorizing scripture each month!

I have learned over the years that everyone is different with how they learn, store, and recall information. What works for one person may not work for someone else. 

When trying to memorize scripture, the first thing to do is to be intentional about it. If you are part of the group Grow | Go | Sow, you have heard me talk about intentional faith each month. And spoiler alert, but we will continue talking about it every month!

Intentional faith is imperative when trying to grow as a christian. There is a quote that I refer to all the time that says “Faithfulness is never accidental, only intentional”. And that applies to memorizing scripture. 

Scripture will never accidentally be stored in our mind and hearts, it has to be intentionally added. 

So the first step in memorizing scripture is to become intentional. Get your mind, soul, and heart prepared and ready to receive the blessing of scripture memorization. 

This may start with understanding the importance of scripture memorization. Read more about that here!

Also, becoming intentional also means getting a plan in place for how you will memorize scripture. Like stated above, you need to know what works best for you. And what might work best for you this month, may not work best for you next month! 

Below I have listed 6 tip and techniques to help with scripture memorization! Try a few or all to see what best works for you!

6 Simple Tips and Techniques to Memorize Scripture

1. Break Scripture Into Smaller Pieces
   • The first tip to memorize scripture is to break the verses into smaller parts. Most verses will have natural spots to break it into pieces.
   • Focusing on a single phrase or verse helps you absorb the meaning without feeling overwhelmed. Once it’s familiar, add the next part and build it step by step! 

2. Keep it visible
   • The second tip to memorize scripture is to keep the scripture visible. When I first started doing scripture memorization intentionally, I would have sticky notes of the verses I was memorizing around my office space at work. Then, I decided to make a key ring of the verses for each month and add to it. This kept it visible and handy when I had a moment to look over my verses to memorize or even to just meditate and dwell on. 
   • Placing your verse in high-traffic areas—like mirrors, fridges, workspace, dashboards— will increase the amount of times you are looking at the words. Not only are you becoming familiar with them, you are also reminded of the goal to memorize the scripture often throughout the day!
   • If you are looking for a way to keep your verses visible with desk cards, key chain cards, bookmarks, phone wallpapers, and so much more- this resource is for you!

3. Write It Out
   • The third tip to memorize scripture is to write it down… multiple times!
   • If you are a kinesthetic learner, then writing out the verses might be best for you! One thing I enjoy doing that is relaxing, and seems mindless, but is very productive is doodling the verses I am attempting to memorize! The act of writing while recalling the verse is a great way to test yourself and practice rehearsing the scripture.
   • The physical act of writing creates a strong connection in your memory and allows the verse to take root through repetition and focus.

4. Say it Out Loud
   • The fourth tip to memorize scripture is speaking the scripture aloud.
   • Altering the motions to speaking the verse out loud might be beneficial to you! If you are an auditory learner, then this might be best for you. Many are able to recall and store information after rehearsing it verbally. I have also noticed that if I change the inflection to be a ‘sing- song’ voice, it helps me memorize it, too!
   • Speaking Scripture out loud activates a different part of your brain, and the more you hear it, the more natural it becomes to recall.

5. Use it in Prayer and Conversation
   • The fifth tip is to use the scripture you are trying to memorize in prayer and conversation. Try to incorporate this technique daily.
   • This is something that I have recently started incorporating in my monthly goal of scripture memorization and it has made such a difference! It is really holding me accountable to not just regurgitating the information but understanding it. Knowing the scripture enough to be able to use it in prayer and conversation has increased my intentionality. With each focus word of the month, I need to be praying that I grow in that area in my life. While I am praying over that word or telling others about it, I will quote the verses I am attempting to memorize. 
   • Applying Scripture in your prayers or conversations with others reinforces its truth and weaves it into your daily life.

6. Teach It
   • The final tip and technique to memorize scripture is to teach the scripture to someone else.
   • One of the best ways to really assess your understanding of something is to teach it to others. When I was in college studying for a test, the last thing I would do before the test was teach my husband what I was studying to see if I truly understood it. I knew I was ready and truly knew the material once I could teach it. 
   • I do the same thing today with scripture. I now usually teach it to myself. I start with breaking down each section of the verses and dissecting exactly what they mean. By doing this, it helps put meaning to the verses enough to really understand and memorize them. 
   • This is a great way to memorize scripture AND to tell others about Jesus!
   • Understanding the scripture enough to be able to teach it to someone helps learn it to memorization.

I hope you have learned more ways to grow in your walk with the Lord and how to memorize scripture! I am praying for your intentional faith!