Take the Bible Memory Challenge!

A tiny hole in the curtain allowed us to view the packed house beyond the stage. It was my first theater production and I had the first line. Palms wet with sweat, I kept imagining myself stumbling over my lines and staring blankly into the dim faces of the audience without anything to say.
But when the curtain was finally drawn, I walked out and faced my fears. All the practice leading up to my performance paid off, and I nailed every line. I am no longer an actor, but now I have a new ambition: I want to memorize Scripture.
I long for the ability to recite Psalm 42 while doing dishes or driving to the store or walking to the mailbox.
So, finally, I’m going to take the challenge. And I want you to you join me.
I’ll be following a simple plan laid out in the book His Word in My Heart, by Janet Pope. In it, she offers an easy-to-follow guide for memorizing Psalm 1 and all 3 chapters of Titus.
Sound intimidating? Keep reading.
Psalm 1 is a wonderful passage to start with because it immediately motivates the reader to memorize God’s Word:

Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water…

Titus was written by the Apostle Paul and is filled with rich practical and theological insight. It’s a total of 46 verses, making it short enough for a beginner to memorize, yet substantial enough for anyone to be proud of.
Pope writes that before memorizing Titus, she would have never been able to summarize it to anyone, even though she had read it several times. After memorizing it, though, she is convinced that she will never forget the content, even if she forgets the word-for-word text.
Still not sure you want to take the challenge? Take a look at Karen Heimbuch’s 12 Simple Steps for Memorizing Scripture. And I’d recommend getting a copy of Janet Pope’s His Word in My Heart.
When you commit to memorizing Scripture, you’ll quickly find that it’s easier than you think and the benefits are endless. I invite you to join me and countless others in this noble challenge of memorizing God’s Word. I guarantee you’ll be glad you did.
You can learn more about Janet Pope here.
 
Corum Hughes works on the production team for HAVEN Today and is the managing editor of the All About Jesus blog. His passions include running, biking, reading, watching movies, and seeking Jesus in places He is seldom sought. Corum lives with his wife in California.