Hey Friends!
Y’all know I’m super passionate about memorizing God’s Word.
Trust me, it’s not that I need a hobby or I’m just looking for something to do — but after 26 years of experiencing a defeated and discouraged life – I know God’s Word works.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again –
“My life has been TRANSFORMED because my mind has been TRANSFORMED.”
Memorizing God’s Word will change you from the inside out – I promise YOU!
Earlier this week I shared one of my New Year’s Resolution fails.
Today I’m excited to share with you one of my New Year’s Resolutions wins — memorizing the book of James — and what’s helping me stay on track.
It’s not uncommon for me to want to memorize more Scripture each year. I loved memorizing twenty-six new verses in 2012 through my A to Z Memory Verse Challenge.
Except last year I wrestled with scripture memory. I started memorizing tons of new verses, but lacked the follow through needed to help the verses really stick.
So last December my friend Julie and I committed to getting back on the Scripture Memory wagon. We prayerfully decided to memorize the whole book of James in 2014. Woo Hoo!
Here’s our plan —
Julie broke down the whole book of James into “bite sized” pieces of 2-4 verses each week. (I’m happy to share our breakdown if you’d like here – James New Schedule 2014 ). Thank you, Julie!
Julie and I are taking a class on prayer every Monday night (taught by my amazing mentor Mary Swierenga – yay!), so Julie and I must know our verses by Monday.
After prayer class, we go to Starbucks. (of course). If we can say our verses, we get to buy a latte. If we don’t know our verses, we have to drink water. Blech.
Cindy & Julie @ Starbucks
Not that water is bad, but who wants to go to Starbucks and drink just water? Not me!
How’s our plan working?
Like a champ!
So far in 2014, Julie and I have memorized James 1:1-20. (Did you catch that — nearly twenty verses!) Yippee!
Accountability makes all the difference, friends!
Here are other Scripture Memory Verse tips that work for me….
- Put the verses you’d like to memorize on index cards or post it notes. Keep them by your kitchen sink, the dashboard in your car, bathroom mirror, cupboards, near your phone, in your gym bag. Recite the verses aloud often.
- Put the Scripture of the week on your computer screensaver.
- Develop hand motions for each verse.
- Sing the Scripture. Make up a tune or borrow one. Music helps!
- Most importantly, don’t forget to review, review, review.
Are you memorizing any verses, dear friend? How is it going so far? I’d love to hear from YOU!
Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*! Have a blessed, joy-filled day!
Sweet blessings,
P.S. Enjoy the pictures below of friends memorizing their Red Hot Faith verses this summer. Where do you memorize your verses? I’d love to see your picture too!
I memorized the A to Z scriptures after attending Red Hot Faith and I recite them every day, often times more than once a day. It’s amazing to me how comforting it is to call on those verses when I need them but don’t have a Bible at my fingertips. It helps me when I’m praying too that I can pray the scriptures. I’ve been a Christian for a while, but didn’t fully appreciate the value of having scripture memorized. I would encourage anyone to start with the A to Z scriptures and then build from there!
Great reminder of how powerful accountability is. I love the water vs. coffee thing. Yeah, that would be really hard to smell SB and be drinking water!
Woo Hoo! Accountability makes all the difference, doesn’t it? I actually memorized James a few years ago, but haven’t kept it up so I’ve lost quite a bit. I think I’ll jump in with you and freshen up my memory!