Lisa notes

TO DO

* Pray through your chapter
That’s it. That’s enough. Use today to soak in the words with no pressure to do anything. Just be with the message.

As you read through your chapter, turn it into a personalized conversation between you and God. Add your own thoughts in between the lines.

On Day 5 we’ll start memorizing Isaiah 12:1! (Or whatever you’ve chosen.)

Isaiah 12 (ESV)

1  You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me.

2  “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”

3  With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

4  And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.

5  “Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth.

6  Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”

TODAY’S TIP

* See the big picture.

It’s tip #1 of 10 Tips to Memorize a Bible Chapter. Can you summarize what the chapter is about in one sentence? Discover what the main thing is, and return often to that as you’re memorizing.

FINAL WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT

As you read and pray through the chapter, see it as an act of worship, an act of love. Yes, you’ll learn the words as you go, but more importantly, you’ll see more of the goodness and beauty of God. That’s what we’re really after.

LINKS

• 10 Tips to Memorize a Bible Chapter
• Day 1: Choose your chapter
• Day 2: Create a schedule
• Day 3: Set up Scripture Typer

* * *

Are you ready to begin memorizing? I’m excited you’re along for the journey. Please share any questions or thoughts in the comments.

You are on Day 3 of my 31 Days Series: “Tools to Memorize a Bible Chapter.”

TO DO

1. Sign up for Bible Memory App (used to be called Scripture Typer)

This is a fantastic (and free!) review method on the web for your desktop computer or smartphone. It’s a tremendous help to many of us in the Hide His Word group.

How it works: You select the individual verses or complete chapter you want to memorize (or use a collection already set up) in any translation. Then one verse at a time, you practice on three levels: (1) Type in the verse as you look at it, (2) Type in the verse when given every other word, or (3) Type in the verse straight from memory.

Watch this short video to see for yourself.

I use the Bible Memory app several times a week to learn new verses and to review older ones. I’ll be recommending its use throughout our 31 days to help us learn our verses.

2. More with the app

You can do many more things with the Bible Memory app, including printing your own verse cards. Adjust your account settings to set up review reminders, measure your progress (by speed, by accuracy, by first letters only), with or without verse references, with or without punctuation, etc.

Here are my settings (except I alternate between speed and accuracy, depending on how clumsy my fingers feel):

3. EXTRA: Record audio

Record yourself reading the whole chapter aloud. (I use “Voice Memos” on my iPhone.) Then listen to it often during the month (and afterwards for review) to familiarize yourself with the cadence of the chapter.

Or listen often to an audio Bible version, like here at Bible Gateway. (I love Max McLean’s voice.)

TODAY’S TIPS

* Involve as many senses as possible.
Prepare resources that you will see and hear, and if possible, touch. I don’t know a way to smell or taste, but maybe you can get creative. 🙂

* Use accountability for extra motivation.
Announce to a friend or family member that you’re doing this, and ask them to periodically ask you about it. Or with the Bible Memory app, earn reward “badges” for the number of verses you learn.

FINAL WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT

While preparing resources ahead of time is beneficial—do what you can because it’s helpful—don’t wait until you have everything “ready” before you start memorizing. You don’t have to have anything to start memorizing. Don’t let perfectionism keep you from beginning. If you’re ready to memorize, go! Resources are only aids, not the main thing. The main thing is the God behind the words, not even the words themselves.

LINKS

• Bible Memory App
• Print cards on Bible Memory
• Isaiah 12 audio by Max McLean

* * *

Have you used the Bible Memory app? Share in the comments.

Did you choose a chapter to memorize? If not, default to Isaiah 12 for this series.

Now let’s make it easier to memorize with the following two tools. The more you prepare now, the more you’ll memorize later.

TO DO

1. Create a schedule

 (ignore the dates!) or create your own.

A schedule is a valuable tool, often underestimated. But creating one now can keep you moving forward and prevent you from getting stuck.

I suggest one to two verses per week (set yourself up for success). On paper or digitally, schedule your weeks and verses now. Put it somewhere that you can see each week.

2. Make 3×5 cards

Grab some index cards and write one verse per card. Or print whatever size works best for you. Download Isaiah 12 3×5 cards here. You can use these frequently to either carry with you or set in a visible place.

3. Extra: Print a one-text page

I also like having the whole chapter on one page. Print the one-page text for Isaiah 12 here. Especially if you’re a visual learner, you’ll get used to seeing the verses in a certain spot. Having those place-holders in your mind will also help you keep your place in the chapter once you start learning.

TODAY’S TIP

* Use the same color paper to print your verses.
I’m using all yellow for my Isaiah 12 materials. I can find them at a glance, and when I begin a new chapter, I’ll use a different color.  Any visual cue you can give yourself is an advantage.

* Save your templates.
If you create special 3×5 templates, for example, save them to use for the next chapter you learn.

FINAL WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Even though you’ve created a schedule, don’t live and die by it. Life will happen, so be flexible. Move dates around. Take a week off.

Do what you need to do to stay positive about memorizing scripture, not feel weighed down by it. Let it be a joy, not a grind.

LINKS

• Printable: 
• Printable: 3×5 cards Isaiah 12
• Printable: One-page text Isaiah 12
• More resources (4 translations) for Isaiah 12
• Why I want to memorize Isaiah 12 (for the earlier Do Not Depart challenge)

* * *

Have you printed out your resources? Next on Day 3 we’ll explore Scripture Typer. Please share in the comments.

This is Day 1 of 31 days: Tools to Memorize a Bible Chapter.

Today we’ll lay the foundation for memorizing a Bible chapter together, one step at a time. On Day 5, we’ll memorize our first verse!

[See all 31 Days here]

TO DO

1. Pray about what to memorize

These tools will work for any passage you want to memorize. Pick your own. But for this series, our examples will be with Isaiah 12:1-6. (Even if it’s not the passage you choose, you’ll probably have it memorized by default if you read through each day’s posts.) It’s short; it’s relevant; it’s encouraging.

Prayerfully seek God’s guidance for what message he wants you to soak in.

2. Old Testament or New Testament?

Something long or short? Something relevant for this season, or a standard for all time? Something you can learn with your kids or on your own?

You have many options. My pattern is to alternate learning something from these four genres (but only one at a time!):

• Old Testament Psalms
• New Testament Gospel
• Anything other than Psalms in the Old Testament
• New Testament letter

I also alternate between shorter chapters and longer chapters. Variety helps me stay motivated.

3. Partial or whole?

It doesn’t have to be a whole chapter either. Split it into parts. Or leave out a section. When I (attempted to) memorize Philippians, I intentionally omitted Philippians 2:19-30 because they weren’t as relevant and I was overloaded as it was. That’s okay. There are no rules! (Repeat that often.)

If you’re doing this for your own spiritual discipline, this is between you and God, and you two can change it up to fit your unique situation.

4.  Get suggestions from others.

• Ask friends/family for their favorite scriptures
• Choose something your Bible class or small group is studying
• Look at my favorite chapters to memorize

TODAY’S TIPS

* Pick a version and stick with it.
Which version should you use? Remaining undecided can sabotage your whole effort. Just choose the version you study in the most and go with it. You can aways change your mind later. At HHW our default version is ESV (that’s what I’ll use during this 31 Days), but other favorites include KJV, NKJV, and NIV.

* Don’t bite off too much.
If you’ve not memorized a chunk of scripture before, don’t choose a huge goal, like three chapters of the Sermon on the Mount. Start with something smaller like a Psalm or just a section of the Sermon on the Mount.

* Join Hide His Word (HHW) on Facebook.
I’ll refer often to the HHW group, and point you to materials we’ve created there. You’re welcome to join the group now just to have a look around, even if you don’t want to participate.

* Want a jump start?
Go ahead and start memorizing Isaiah 12:1 now. We’ll spend the next five posts on it together.

BE ENCOURAGED

There’s no right or wrong method to use or passage to memorize. You don’t have to memorize anything!

If you want to be more aware of God’s presence, scripture memory is one way.

Trust that God will be even more delighted than you that you’ll be spending concerted time together during the next 31 days.

LINKS

• Full-page printout of Isaiah 12
• 8 reasons to memorize Isaiah 12
• My favorite Bible verses/chapters to memorize
• Hide His Word memory group on Facebook

* * *

Do you have a favorite version to memorize in? A favorite part of the Bible to memorize? What chapter will you be memorizing? Please share in the comments.

Next – Day 2:
Creating your schedule and 3×5 cards