Are you having problems retaining Bible verses in your memory? Here are some things you can do to help you keep the Word of God in mind.
1. Write it down
This one's pretty simple. Just copy the passage that you read in a notebook. No, you don't need to write any insights or revelations – just write the exact passage, word-for-word.
Habakkuk went up to his post to wait on the Lord for a reply (see Habakkuk 2:1). God gave him a reply that we should also apply to ourselves.
"Then the Lord said to me, "Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others" (Habakkuk 2:2).
Apparently, we are to write down God's Word for us with each day. I do this daily, and it helps me retain some verses more efficiently when compared to simply reading the Bible.
2. Meditate on it
God told Joshua when the latter was to take the place of Moses as Israel's leader, "Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do" (Joshua 1:7-8).
Contrary to a teaching that says meditation is "the act of clearing your mind," the meditation that God tells Joshua to do is to "think deeply or carefully about the Word of God." Just like how ruminating animals keep chewing the cud, we are to keep on "chewing" the Word of God, carefully extracting wisdom and instruction from it.
Paul tells us in Colossians 3:1-2, "Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honour at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth." Let's focus our thoughts on God's Word.
3. Obey it
Nothing nails the Word into our heads better than actually obeying it. James explains it perfectly:
"But don't just listen to God's Word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the Word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it" (James 1:22-25).
Let's obey the Word of God!
