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One of the things I have been working on is memorizing scripture and scripture addresses. Often I can recall portions of a verse but I can't quote it verbatim or I have to flip through several pages or chapters before I can find it. I rely heavily on Bible Gateway. I remember keywords and use that to perform a search to find certain verses. But I don't always have a computer handy. There are many times when I am speaking to someone, or rebuking the devil, or praying scripture back to God and I find myself saying "well there is a verse somewhere that says".
I recently bought a new bible. I have chosen not to write in it, or underline verses, or highlight passages or any other types of markings. The reason for this is because, in another bible, I had markings all through it. Not only underlining, but pictures, and notes, and quotes, etc. Now, I don't believe there is anything wrong with marking in a bible. It's just a book. The words that it contains are what's Holy, not the pages themselves. But here's what I've discovered; as I was reading through this marked-up bible, I found my attention was instantly drawn to the underlined or highlighted verses. Immediately my mind was focused on something that I had already meditated on or studied before. It was causing me to be tunnel-visioned almost on those particular verses. Therefore, often I would read right over some verses and never even take them to heart. I would read until I got to a highlighted verse and stop there. I believe, because of this, I missed out on a great deal of revelation knowledge.
So now, my new bible is completely unmarked. But what is happening now is, I have to really dig to find something. I used to be able to flip to pages and recognize them from the markings. But now I am forced to rely on memory. Memory restoration is something I pray for often. I realized that when I was caught somewhere without my bible, and without the markings, it was difficult for me to find scriptures. I desire improvement in that area. Also, now I am discovering "new" verses. Not new of course, but new in the sense that I never really noticed them in detail before. I think it's helping.
I also pray John 14:26 a lot. Here's what is says:
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
So here are my questions:
What are your thoughts and or practices on marking in your bible? What methods do you use for scripture memorization?
Any hints, tips or pointers you care to share would be much appreciated.
I just love the Word, don't you? |
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I can't really help you on the finding the verses but i keep my notes in a note book |
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Jen |
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December 27, 2007 at 6:53pm |
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Yeah, Michael, I really love the Word, too! I'll admit it; sometimes when I'm getting ready to open my Bible and dig in, I end up hugging it to me first. Such awesome, good stuff in there!! I don't mark in my Bible. For awhile my husband and I shared a Bible - the one I've now claimed as my own - and he marked in it a little. I find it distracting. Not a fan of the inductive method of Bible study, either. I've tried it and it feels too forced and definitely too messy!! When I am studying stuff, or if something jumps out at me, I write it in a spiral notebook with the date, the verse, and the "address". Any personal observations - even in the spiral - are minimal. Funny you should mention the memorization thing. I have done it in the past but got lazy earlier in the year and have been quite the slacker about it since. I recently made the decision to get back into it; it'll probably qualify as one of my New Year's resolutions. My method: I take index cards and write the verse on the lined side, with it's reference. On the blank side, I write just the reference. That way I can look at the reference-only side and try to recall the actual verse before I flip the index card over and verify the accuracy of my memory (or inaccuracy!). I keep the cards in an envelope and have them in my Bible. Sometimes I take them with me on trips and work on them while driving. I shoot for about one new verse a week, but that's not a hard-and-fast rule for me. May God greatly bless your efforts in this, Michael! |
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Hi Vanilla! Thanks for your comment. I like the notebook idea. Recently I started a journal of scriptures that really spoke to me and that is helping.
Jen, what's up? Thanks too for your comment. I love the index card idea! That will work great for me when I am riding the train to and from work! I appreciate the pointer! |
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Cheryl |
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December 27, 2007 at 7:05pm |
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Hey Mike,
I taught a class about Precepts and marking your Bible with a letter that described the passage. Example: For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son....(John 3:16) next to the passage you may add a heart for the passage talking about love. Other examples: a cross for salvation. a V for victory verses. a J or jokers hat for verses about joy. hope this helps. Cheryl |
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I hate to admit I don't deliberately memorize Scripture, hense what I call my "Lara paraphrases." My parents put me through an awesome program called AWANA (that BTW I highly recommend for kids---likely find it hosted by a baptist church) when I was young, and I memorized Scripture (KJV) with ease.......so I know I could....even after years of drugs.....I am just lazy. That is the truth. But a great way to memorize is to make a song of it. I am serious. Even a rap if ya like. lol My dad is a whiz at the Bible memorization. He told me that he would write a Scripture on his hand and go for a several mile walk and recite it over and over again.....and he really amazes me with how well he has got the Bible memorized...even down to whole books! So his method is a good one too. This is so true what you said with how we mark up our Bibles and highlite, and our eyes are instantly drawn (and pulled away from other goodies) to that specific Scripture.......I had never really thought about it, but you are right! I do have Bibles that aren't marked up around here yet! |
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Cheryl |
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December 27, 2007 at 7:08pm |
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Lara,
I have heard that also and utilized it while learning pharmacy medications during school. It works!!!
Cheryl |
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| WOW...these are really great tips....I just hope I can remember them all! |
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| Hey Restore! I like the idea of the "song" method. The only problem with that is, the only place I can sing is in the shower. Have they made a waterproof bible yet? ;) |
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Cheryl |
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December 27, 2007 at 7:21pm |
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| This is going down the drain....LOL |
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I agree with the importance of scripture memorization. I don't really do the Lara paraphrase. I'm a little afraid they might not agree with the Davy paraphrase. Index cards sounds good. I've memorized the 23 Psalm by listening to several teachings on the 23rd Psalm. John 3:16 ditto. I used to find it annoying before I got saved.
All I really know is the Spirit is really prompting me on memorization. 8:15For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" 8:16 it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
These have really been on my heart lately. I've found that when it comes to memorization I use the New KJV. getting into to many translations seems to be a hindrance. But for just plain getting into the word I'm partial to NIV, and NLT.
We in America seem to suffer from Translation Gluttony. |
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Carolyn |
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December 28, 2007 at 4:07am |
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Wow Michael, good blog! I never really thought about it the way you described it, but now that I have read your blog, it makes a lot of sense. I have always marked in my Bible and just about every time I open my Bible, I am pondering over my markings. Even when the Pastor is preaching and taking us from scripture to scripture, I find myself missing out on parts of the message because I am reading my notes or marked passages. If they weren't there to distract me, I would probably get more out of the message. I like the idea of having a notebook on the side. Maybe I need to go out and get me a new Bible.
When my mother went home to be with the Lord, I inherited her Bible. Her markings are very precious to me but I could never use her Bible as a study Bible.
Also, there is nothing like the KJV when it comes to quoting scripture. But I do like to study the other translations. How blessed we are to have the freedom to worship God and to have the Word of God in our homes. |
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| i write in my Bible all the time. When I am somewhere and God gives me a word from the scripture, I mark it, date it, and even put something in the margin that will remind me. It is almost like my own private journal. I can sit down anytime now and be reminded of what God has done in my life while I read. I know others don't mark in their Bible, but I have found it to be an awesome way to remember. |
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Procyon |
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December 28, 2007 at 5:34am |
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I agree with voice_in...I write in my Bible and I mark verses as v.i. [very important] and earlier I used to highlight verses [yellow/green]. But I realise that for meditation nothing like having an unmarked Bible, because the Lord can speak from any portion and even any phrase! Anyway, I feel that I need to get a new Bible every 3 years, because my old Bible gets heavily marked up and written in. I use the NASB. |
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Jen |
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December 28, 2007 at 7:55am |
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| I use the NASB, too, although I have other versions and check those out occasionally. NASB is definitely my hands-down favorite. |
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Thanks for all the great comments.
I agree with those of you who do mark in your bibles. I still go back to my older bible to read comments and notes that I have made. I have just decided not to in my current bible, for reasons I already stated. Trust me, it's difficult not to write in the new one. I have to make certain I don't have a pen or pencil anywhere near me when I read. All in an effort to get new revelation and memorize scripture locations of course.
I do believe that the NASB is about the only translation I do not have. I personally like the NLT but have been moving more towards the NKJ lately. I may start looking at some passages in the NASB from time to time now that some of you have mentioned it.
I used to buy every bible that came out, thinking, yeah, this is the one. If I buy this one surely I will study it more. Then God spoke to me one day and said, "Why don't you just pick one and stick with it"? Ouch. From that day forth I stayed with NLT. |
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Love the Word? Absolutely! The day isn't complete w/o it! Some people claim that having a Bible around the house brings them a sense of comfort. But it's a false comfort if they never crack it open!
I mark in my little Bible all the time. I take it to work with me. I read it on the bus. When I meditate on scripture, I see through the markings somehow. They just don't distract me. But sometimes I flip through the pages and see the markings instead, then remember past revelations. That's cool too, it's good to build on an existing foundation, rather than forget the past gifts and only focus on the new.
For scripture memorization, I enjoy memorizing prayers in scripture and praying them. I'm not that great at it though. I had been taping scripture to the outside of the shower wall (glass), and reciting/praying as I showered. Haven't had anything taped up in the last few months though, I need to pick a new passage, soon!
Very good blog, Michael! |
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Michael
You quoted John 14:26. That is a powerful verse.
I too battle memorizing scripture and verse, I remember the scrips but not necessarily the Chapter and verse. I guess God prefers that in me.
I do not use a paper bible anymore.
The Rhema word is something no one can take away from you. Remember, knowledge puffs up but the Spirit gives life.
Life/Light is what we are to share and demonstrate.
Blessings |
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Hello Seeker:
I agree with you that ultimately we need to have the Word written on our heart.
When I mentioned that I desire to memorize scripture in a greater way, it's not so that I can boast about it, like, "look at me, look how much I know". Yet, I believe that when speaking to some one, or rebuking the devil, or praying scripture back to God, It's beneficial to be able to name the address or be able flip right to it's location.
I could never do without my "paper" bible. Even if I were able to memorize it, with each new read comes new revelation. True, knowing the jist of a verse allows one to meditate on that scripture, but for me, you can have my bible when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers.
Thanks for your comment. |
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What's up Mike!
Good to see you. Man, I love the idea of taping scripture to the outside of the shower. I think I shared on one of Lara's blogs how I pray and hear from God in their! Thanks!
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Gene |
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December 29, 2007 at 3:12pm |
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Thanks, Michael. I love to use Gateway.
Quite handy!
I mark in my Bible. I typically use a pencil because inks can bleed. I know people who make particular types of marks and notations. I just write references, thoughts and special events related to the particular passage. |
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Deb |
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December 30, 2007 at 11:43am |
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| I must echo what others have said...music is a great way to memorize scripture. I must admit I am a slacker when it comes to this, although I do love music, and a lot of the music I hear has a scripture or two in the song lyrics. I also rely heavily on my concordance in the back of my bible. I do underline certain verses that I particularly want to remember or re-read. Great blog. |
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Joey |
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January 02, 2008 at 1:02pm |
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I've purchased Bible after Bible with the intention of not writing, not highlighting, etc. It has never happened.
After pondering upon this, I decided that the Bible is very personal to me. I have a deep need to make it my own. So, to make this short, I have several bibles, and I used each of them for reference. I love every single one of them. Now I have a LARGE PRINT BIBLE.
I can see how I've grown by my references in each bible. |
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