Memorizing scripture in middle age is not easy. “Oh, why didn’t I memorize more when I was a teenager…” I scold myself as I repeatedly pick up my Bible to read Matthew 7:20-23 for the hundredth time, attempting to recall the verses. I think for a minute, what did I do when I was younger to memorize verses? 

I grew up going to Catholic school. Memorization was practically its own subject. We memorized the Rosary prayers, the Nicene Creed, and Stations of the Cross among other things. And I still remember most of them by heart! Oh, to have a brain like a sponge again! (Side note, its times like these I wish I had my kids memorize things more).

Anyway, flash forward to today. I sit at my dining room table with my Bible open, put my head down and focus, pressing my fingers to my temple as if physically trying to impress upon my brain the words I want to keep close to my heart. There has got to be an easier way! I am convinced I can find a shortcut. I scan the internet for Bible apps. Aha! There is actually a Bible Memory App! But then I ponder it for a minute and know that after I create an account and most likely have to subscribe for a monthly fee to avoid ads, I still have to get to the point of making it a habit to actually open the app and use it. I shake my head. It’s not going to work; I just know it. I’ve done this before with other apps and although it sounds good, and looks cool, I know it’s going to create another obstacle between what I want and how to get there. I sigh big-time. I know the Holy Spirit will guide me in recall when I need it most, but I also know I need to do the work of memorizing them.  

So I go back to my old methods of when I was 10 years old and begin the process: 

• Read the first few verses: “So then, you will know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven will enter.” Stop there. Look away and say out loud what I can. It may be, “So…know by my fruits…not everyone…will enter…will of my Father…” that’s good. Memory is built upon the struggle to retrieve the words. 
• Repeat this process and keep going by adding more versus.
• Then wait and repeat after 10 minutes, 1 hour, tonight, tomorrow, etc. 
• Later, pop it out of nowhere in conversation with your husband to test your memory! Have a conversation with him about the verse and repeat it again. Try it a week later.
• Keep in mind that if you try to memorize too many verses at once it may jumble up your memory, for now. 

Let’s do this together! I’m hoping over time I’ll be able to memorize more and more, and also lean into the Holy Spirit for recall.