While New Year's resolutions are typically are good and help us to grow as people whether in physical, spiritual or educational pursuits, I tend to make changes based on the guidance of the Holy Spirit as I am convicted and/or encouraged to become more like Christ.
Recently, I have been working on scripture memory as I have been moved to implement more scripture into my life and ways I can think and meditate on scripture. In recent years, God has placed people, stories and sermons that encourage scripture memory and even present ways I can incorporate memorizing God's Word into my life.
I grew up in a Christian family who attended church regularly and worked hard to live out a Christ-like lifestyle. I had grandparents who loved and valued scripture from my grandma Aasboe reciting Psalm 23 and my grandpa and grandma Ramse thrilled when we would recite passages we memorized for the Christmas pageant. When I attended Christian schools, I remember memorizing different passages including Psalm 23, Psalm 91, Philippians 1-4 and others. When I moved to Fort Collins, CO, I attended a church that had a program called Evangelism Explosion where I memorized passages of scripture and an outline for sharing the gospel.
Several months ago, I listened to a John Piper sermon where he quoted different scripture passages in his sermon. That was his sermon; memorized scripture. Some of the passages he quoted were Psalm 1, Psalm 16, Psalm 103, Romans 5:1-8, 1 Corinthians 13, and more. I made a list and marked the selected passages in my Bible with little pink sticky notes but did not have an idea or plan to begin memorizing the passages.
https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/if-my-words-abide-in-you--2
I love listening to Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth on weekday mornings as I am getting ready for the day. I tend to skip around and listen to different series of podcasts; some of which may be recent and some from a few years ago. I was listening earlier this year where Nancy had recited scripture pertaining to the name of Christ at a True Woman conference in 2014. The podcast I was listening to was from 2017 and they aired her recitation over two days. Again, I was struck with her obedience of memorizing scripture and how important that is in our spiritual walk. Here is her recitation at the 2014 conference if you would like to listen.
https://www.reviveourhearts.com/events/true-woman-14/jesus-what-wonderful-name/
The message that really pricked my heart and got me starting to actively memorize scripture was from Veronica Copenhaver. She homeschools her children and part of their schooling is memorizing scripture. They memorize whole chapters and books at a time and Veronica laid out their day-to-day process. They work on memorizing one verse a day and on Friday's, they recite everything they have learned so far. I thought as I listened, "I can so do this!" Veronica also memorizes scripture with her sister and shared how they have grace for each other. If one of them was not able to memorize the selected verse for that day, they let the other know more time is needed. With obedience, perseverance and grace, this family has memorized whole books of the Bible! Veronica also shares the value of memorizing scripture and the impact it has made on her life, spiritual walk and on her family's life. I encourage you to listen to her story below.
As I was thinking of where to begin my journey of scripture memory, I was listening to another message from John Piper as he spoke on Psalm 25. He was speaking to young people in their early 20's and encouraged them to memorize Psalm 25 and shared the impact the Psalm had on his life. While I am not in my 20's anymore, I decided this was a great place to start. Here is his sermon on Psalm 25 if you want to listen.
https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/if-i-could-start-all-over
I began to memorize a verse a day by reciting the verse in my head and out loud as I walked to school, home, and to the grocery store. Almost every time I left my house to walk somewhere, I would recite what I had already memorized and then work on the new verse for the day. I have given myself grace on days where I feel like I need an extra day to work on and commit what I already know to memory. At this point, I have memorized the first 20 of 22 verses in Psalm 25. I plan to finish the next two verses then move on to another portion of scripture. I hope you are encouraged by my experience. Even if I memorize a verse a week, that one verse is impactful and will be one more verse that I have memorized.
Psalm 25:
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; Let not my enemies exult over me.
Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.
Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!
Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
For your name's sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.
Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land.
The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.
My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.
Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.
Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.
Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me.
Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
May intergrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.
Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.
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