How to Look to Jesus --Part 2

As we continue studying what it means to look to Jesus, I want to give you one thought to ponder as you go about your day.  We'll add it to the list of ways to remember Him that we began last Wednesday.  We've already looked at reading God's Word and meditating on the Scriptures, now let us examine a third way we can refocus the eyes of our heart upon the risen Savior.

3. Praise and Worship

This is so important!  The Psalmist speaks often of praising the Lord, and it was clear the effect it had upon his life.  His thoughts were continually turned upon the King of kings.

Praising God is something that we should do every moment of every day! We can worship Him literally anywhere.  Doing the dishes, taking a shower, driving to work each day.  It doesn't take much to praise Him.  Singing songs is a wonderful way to bring glory to Him through praise, but it isn't necessary.  Take time to adore Him with verses of Scripture you have memorized, or just thoughts that come to your mind concerning His character and goodness.

Direct your admiration towards HIM, through times of worship and praise.

I have found it especially wonderful (and richly rewarding) to set-apart a time in my day to praising God.  A time where I leave the noise of the world behind, get out some worship music or open my Bible to the Psalms.  In those moments I allow my heart to give way to deep and heartfelt praise.  I encourage you to do this along with me.  Let every breath praise the Lord!

This is not only something we should prioritize in private, but also in public.  Ephesians 5:19 reminds us, "Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart."  Just imagine with me for a moment what would happen if we actually followed this verse.  What if we really obeyed this Scripture?

Oh, let everything that has breath praise the LORD!

Psalm 117:1-2:

"Praise the Lord, all nations! 

Extol him, all peoples! 

For great is his steadfast love toward us, 

and the faithfulness of the Lord 

endures forever. 

Praise the Lord!"

How to Look to Jesus

You may remember last Wednesday, when we looked at Peter's adventure on the water, where he looked straight at Jesus and had faith.  But when he took his eyes off of his Savior and gazed around him at the wind and the waves, his faith faltered.  I've been thinking a lot lately about just how important looking to Jesus really is.  But today, instead of diving into all the reasons why we should look to Jesus, I want us to think about some practical ways we *can* look to Jesus.

You see, saying "Remember Him" or "Turn your eyes upon Jesus" can sound good in theory, but I've found they can be rather hard to accomplish in practice.  So just what does these phrases mean? And how can we, on a practical, everyday basis, live with our eyes fixed upon the King of kings.

I made a little list in my journal, and would like to share some of those things here with you today.

1. Read the Scriptures  

Gloria K. made a good point in a comment she left on last weeks' article.  She said, "I'm convinced the only way to keep our eyes on Jesus is to constantly immerse ourselves in His Word."  This is so true.  I have found in my own life that when I make the effort to spend time at His feet in the Word each morning, my thoughts are more directed upon Him throughout the day.  But when I sleep in late, or get up and do other things, my day is more likely to be distracted and not centered upon Christ.

Another thing I have found to be helpful is to read the Scriptures throughout the day.  Have verses pasted around your house, on your computer/phone, in your school books--wherever you will see them often.  Even just pausing for 15 minutes during your lunch break to read the Scriptures can help your mind refocus on Him.  Imagine with me for a moment what would happen if we took every spare moment of our free time and spent it in the pursuit of God's Word--whether through reading it, or through meditating on it.  Wouldn't the results be amazing?!  Maybe, just maybe, you should try it.  =)

Now, it's one thing to read God's Words, and it is another thing to study the Scriptures.  When you spend focused time (at any point during the day) to study what God's Word has to say, making notes or looking up other verses to support it, etc. you will find the message sticking in your head in a much greater way.

2. Meditate on Verses from Scripture

I have found this to be one of the most effective ways to fix my thoughts upon the Lord.  When we meditate on verses of a nature that pertains to His character or what He has done for us, our thoughts are purposefully placed upon Him.  Let me tell you all something, this turning our eyes upon Jesus thing, it doesn't happen subconsciously.  It takes purposeful, planned out effort if you want to set your mind on things above.  It takes hard work, but in the end it is more than worth it. (P.S. I have found though that the more you purposefully look to Jesus, the more naturally it becomes. After a while you will find yourself inherently focusing on Him.

So meditating on specific verses of Scripture that talk about Who He is is a really purposeful way to fix the eyes of your heart upon Him.

Not only is it important to meditate on a particular verse or passage, it is also a good idea to look at the broader scope of things and remember the message of the gospel.  Reply what happened on the cross in your mind--while you're on a car ride, doing the dishes, or falling asleep--redeem the time when your mind is otherwise unoccupied to remember the cross and what Jesus did for you there.

Sadly, that's all we have time for today, but I encourage you to keep thinking about the practical ways we can fix our eyes upon Him. You're welcome to share with me in the comments or contact page; I would love to hear! I have more thoughts on this subject that I hope to share with you sometime soon!  Until then, may your eyes be ever fixed upon the face of your King.

A.W. Tozer Quote on the Bible

"Read it much, read it often, brood over it, think over it, meditate over it—meditate on the Word of God day and night. 

When you are awake at night, think of a helpful verse. 

When you get up in the morning, no matter how you feel, think of a verse and make the Word of God the important element in your day. 

The Holy Ghost wrote the Word, and if you make much of the Word, He will make much of you. It is through the Word that He reveals Himself. Between those covers is a living Book. God wrote it and it is still vital and effective and alive. God is in this Book, the Holy Ghost is in this Book, and if you want to find Him, go into this Book." ~A.W. Tozer

God's Word is More Costly than Gold

“More to be desired are they [God's words] than gold, Yea, than much fine gold;”

God's words as spoken to us through the Bible are more precious than the finest treasures in the world. Men spend years laboring after earthly treasures, yet there is a reward so much greater. Each and every verse found in the Scriptures. Because of this, it is to be sought after and desired with greater eagerness and vitality.

Men risk their lives, forsake pleasures, and renounce ease for the desire to attain gold. Should we not have even half the love that these men have for their earthly treasures? In fact, we should have more! For our treasures are a thousand times better than what they pine after. God’s Words are of inestimable worth.

Imagine what it would be like if we really treasured God's Words more than moneys or riches, or anything else in this world!  What if we actually sought after it more than any other earthly (and perishing, may I remind you) treasure?  Think about this.

Psalm 119:14 “I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches.”

Psalm 119:92 "The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of coins of gold and silver."

Psalm 119:127  "Therefore I love Your commandments More than gold, yes, than fine gold!"

Let us likewise treasure God's words more precious than gold, because they truly are.  It's not a matter of simply believing something to be true in our own heart, but aligning our hearts with the truth. Because the truth is, God's Word is more precious than gold.  The question we must as ourselves is, do we really believe this to be true?  And more than that, do we live each and every moment of our lives treasuring God's words above everything else?

Come and Be Satisfied

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts,

Come to the waters;

And you who have no money,

Come, buy and eat.

Yes, come, buy wine and milk

Without money and without price.

Why do you spend money for what is not bread,

And your wages for what does not satisfy?

Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,

And let your soul delight itself in abundance.

Incline your ear, and come to Me.

Hear, and your soul shall live..."

~Isaiah 55:1-3

These three verses have been on my heart and mind today.  When I read them this morning for my daily Bible time, the Lord convicted my own heart that I often spend my time and sometimes even money for things that do not satisfy, instead of coming to drink at the river of life.

This "wine" and "milk" costs no money.  We do not have to do anything to earn it. We must simply preform two things 1) thirst, and 2) come.  The first is merely to acknowledge our weakness, our need for Him.  The second is, for some, harder. We must actually set down that time waster and come to seek His face.

And when we do, when we come to the waters and eat what is good, our soul will delight itself in abundance.

What is this food and drink talked of here?

Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit being like water: "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.' But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given,because Jesus was not yet glorified" (John 7:37-39).

Jesus also speaks of Himself as the bread of life: 

"For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always." 

And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. ~John 6:33-35

Other verses in the Psalms too speak of God satisfying us through Himself:

Psalm 36:8 -- “They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You [O Lord] give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.”

Psalm 103:5 -- “[God] Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.”

Psalm 16:11 -- “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

God offers to satisfy us if we will come to Him.

But what does this look like on a practical level?

First, we must leave all else behind to follow Him. We must no longer spend our wages (our time and our talents) for that which is not bread. Anything besides the Lord Jesus will not satisfy us. Examine the way you spend your time. Is it in doing things that will bear eternal spiritual fruit? Or do you whittle away time on social media, phones, or the television? Do you spend hours reading fictional novels, or doing pretty much nothing with friends all day. Walk away from these things and choose to come to Jesus.

Second, come to Him!  Spend time in His Word. We cannot spend a few minutes each day in God's Word and except to be completely satisfied for the entire day. Your physical body requires that you feed it three or more times a day! It is not satisfied with one quick, five minute feeding. Such is the case in our spiritual lives as well. God's Word is our food (Matthew 4:4) and we must spend time in God's presence (through His Word) to gain a fuller picture of Who He is. When we do, we will experience the joy that is found in His presence!

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts,

Come to the waters;

And you who have no money,

Come, buy and eat.

Yes, come, buy wine and milk

Without money and without price.

Why do you spend money for what is not bread,

And your wages for what does not satisfy?

Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,

And let your soul delight itself in abundance.

Incline your ear, and come to Me.

Hear, and your soul shall live..."

~Isaiah 55:1-3

How To Study A Passage

For many years in the past, I have spent time stuffing verses into my brain.  But I realized that I was know better off, because I didn't know what they said.  Of course, I could ramble them off at 125 miles an hour, but I did not really understand their meaning.  So this summer, as I memorize Scripture for the Bible Bee I take the time time to actually study what I memorize.  As a result, these verses which would have otherwise been empty words have come alive and overwhelm me with the treasures which they stored.  These gems were simply under the pages, waiting for me to excavate them.

So, you may be wondering, how does one study these verses?  There are various methods, but I will share the method I use and pray that it might encourage and equip you in your own personal journey.

I like to use a notebook to record my thoughts on paper.  Writing my observations down actually help them stick in my mind as well.  And I can always review the notes whenever I need to.

I write the passage reference down and begin by giving it a title.  What is the main subject of this passage?  The big picture?

After that, like to write down what passage it references (Note: this is something very specific to the Bible Bee, so I would not recommend this for your own personal memorization.  Instead, try writing down some key words.)

Context usually offers an even greater picture of reason behind the words in a specific passage.  Who wrote/spoke this?  Why?  Who were they talking/writing to?  When did they write/speak this?  What happened before?  After?  Note these things in your journal, and you will find your understanding of the passage deepening. 

Once I finish studying the context around my passage, I dig deep into its every word.  First, I look at what the passage says about God.  After all, Jesus is the WORD.  It's all about Him!  So what can we learn about Him in this passage?  

I call this section "God is..." and have a different section for "Jesus is..." and "The Holy Spirit is..." (as applicable).  This helps us gain a better understanding of who our Lord is.  The more we know about the Lord, the closer we will be drawn in a relationship with Him.

After this, I dig deep into the heart of the text.  What does it say?  What do we learn?  What is it actually saying?  What does it mean?  Oftentimes as I study the verse, I will consult different commentaries to glean from their wisdom as well.  My two favorite (online) resources are Bible Hub and Blue Letter Bible.

Along with this, I often search through different cross-references, comparing Scripture with Scripture.  This is like God's commentary, as another Scripture can add to and expound on the specific passage you are studying.

Finally, looking up the Greek or Hebrew words behind its English translation deepen our understanding of the word and its meaning.  For example, "Keep," in Greek, shamar, [the first one in the picture above] means to keep before your face, to protect, give heed, and guard, in addition to "obey" as we typically define it in this generation.  Looking up the Greek words assist greatly in the study of God's Word.

Finally, after we have observed the Scriptures and interpreted them, it is important for us to apply them to our lives.  Carefully examine the Scripture.  Often I have found that even when an application doesn't seem evident, if I dig hard enough, I can find one.  And that, is a true gem, my friends.

For example, in John 1:1-5 it may seem that there is nothing that we can personally apply to our lives.  However, as I studied it, I was challenged to take these concepts to heart:

• Jesus had a hand in the creation of every living thing.  Does He have a hand in every event in your life?  Is He your source?
• In Him is life.  Do you draw your life from Him?  Do you turn to Him for renewed vigor and hope?
• His life is the light of men.  Is yours?  Does your life radiate with the light of Christ?  Do you turn hearts, minds, and eyes, to the light of the world through what you say and do?
• He is light.  Do you turn to Him to illuminate your steps and your path? Do you look to Him for answers? Is He the guidepost of your life?  Do you allow Him to shine His light into the dark corners to purify your life? Is He your bright and morning star?

How much we can learn about how to live by digging a little deeper into the passage!

Now it's your turn.  What memorization project are you currently working on it?  Don't allow God's Word to become empty by simply shoving it roughly into your brain.  Rather, take the time to study it and really get to know its meaning.  And you, my beloved friend, will be rewarded.

Memorization Tips From Others

In a final post in our series of practical tips on Scripture memorization, I wanted to share some of the suggestions from other memorizers that might assist and inspire you in your own memorization journey.

Bethany points out a cool idea: “Memorize at night! If I am struggling with a verse but review it before bed, I can often recite it perfectly the next morning. Also, if you can sleep with music or audio, listen to the verses/passage you're memorizing! Your brain actually hears it throughout the night, even if your ears don't hear it. I've memorized quite a few things in bed. :)”

Audrey suggests, “Definitely memorize out loud. And make sure you're not distracted. I can repeat a phrase twenty times and completely not know what I'm saying and never remember it because I'm thinking about something else. The key to memorization is DISCIPLINE and FOCUS. If you can really focus your mind for a short time, you'll get way more done than if you worked distractedly for a large chunk of time. (That goes for anything; if you can train yourself to focus in memorization, it will improve your mind in all other areas of life!) As soon as you've memorized the passage, speak it as a whole several times, but MAKE SURE that you are saying it correctly. Continually check yourself to make sure that you didn't make a mistake. Better yet, quote the passage to someone else several times after you've memorized it. Have them correct you as soon as you make a mistake, not when you're finished with the passage. Say the passage at least once a day until it is really firm in your mind. Then, continue to review it regularly.”

Aberdeen recommended that you “use facial expressions or act out certain things. Such as when Paul says in Ephesians, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people ...", I would shake my head to indicate "no longer" and put on expression of awe at "fellow citizens". Exaggerated expressions are a good idea. Getting your whole body involved can help a lot. Also, think of each passage as telling a story. It's easier to remember things when you think, "Okay, if Paul was talking about this first, it makes sense that he'd go on to talk about this." Think about the logical progression of topics — why the author talks about this subject after that one. If you understand the argument or story, it's easier to remember.”

Sheila offers some great tips:

“1) Don't give up!
2) Start small and increase as you are able. Our minds really do strengthen with use.
3) Include regular review of your memorized verses; otherwise, they will start to fade over time.
4) If you can find a Scripture memory partner, that will make it even more fun and profitable. Share what you each are learning, check each other on your memorized passages, etc. (I've "accidentally" memorized quite a few verses this way, too!)
5) Use the same Bible every time if you can. You will start to be able to "see" the verse on the page in your mind.
6) Never underestimate the power of Scripture songs!”

Finally, Kimberly shares wise words: “When first learning to memorize verses, don't tell yourself that you MUST memorize a certain number of verses in a certain number of days. When you fall behind (which is likely to happen), you'll give up. Start with just one or two verses that flow easily (not tongue twisters), and give yourself a reasonable goal time (maybe five days, or a week, depending on how motivated and ambitious you are). Never give up learning God's Word! You'll only become a more efficient memorizer with dedication, practice, and effort.”

May God bless your memorization efforts!

Memorizing by Studying

An idea that I’ve repeated in previous posts is how, when memorizing, we must think about the passage we are memorizing. If it’s just empty words, than it won’t stick in our minds.  So, in order to really memorize and understand a passage, we must study it.

Believe it or not, studying it is a great assistance to help aid you as you memorize.  Recently, I’ve been memorizing John 1-6.  As I study the passage and it becomes more familiar, I have found that it’s easier to memorize.  Try it for yourself!  Here’s some suggestions to get you started:

Roadmap your verse or passage.  What does it say?  What is the logical sequence of the passage.  Ask questions.  What does the passage teach you about God?  What does it teach you about the fallen state of man, or God’s role in mankind?  What does it teach you about how you might live.

Write down what you learn.  Take notes.   Note the main themes and observe the flow of the argument.  How do the author’s word choices add to his message?

Know the “why” of the passage.  It’s easier to be motivated if you know why you’re learning. When I memorize a book of the Bible, I know I’ll remember the passages I have a reason for learning, so I assign a meaning to each paragraph as I come to it. Will it help me not to worry? Will it teach me a new truth about God?  If you are only memorizing a verse or two, have a mission statement: why are you memorizing this?

Also consider reading a commentary or listening to a sermon on the passage.  When you better understand the passage, you will be able to better memorize it.  Not only that, but the passage will gain so much more meaning to you when you understand more of what it means.

As you study, mark it up. Highlight key words.  Mark the use of God’s name, any locations mentioned, and other key words.  Study the meaning behind each.

When you thoroughly study a passage,  you will find that not only to you understand it better, but you are more familiar with the passage and it is easy to finish the memorizing from there.  And, in so doing, you have gained so many precious treasures from a deeper knowledge of God’s Word.  May God bless your studying!

Memorizing by Hearing

How has your memorizing been coming?  Over these past few days, I’ve been memorizing John 1 and 2.  It’s so very rewarding!  I have already learned so much just from memorizing these amazing passages.

With that said, let’s move on to our next memorization tip.  When memorizing Scripture, we can hear it.

Try reading the verse out-loud emphasizing different words. To illustrate, Deuteronomy 11:18^a says, “You shall therefore lay up these words of mine.”  You could say, “You shall therefore lay up these words of mine,” and then, “You shall therefore lay up these words of mine,” etc.  When combining this with some of the other methods I have mentioned, you will have the verse down in no time.

Another fun idea (especially with children), is to say the verse in a funny voice, or to put different accents on different words to really make this memorization process fun.  It’s enjoyable, and the best part is, this stuff really helps the passage stick in your brain.

In addition to reading the verse out-loud, you can listen to the verse put into song.  There are countless Scripture CDs out there which have verses put into songs.  You could get one of those and listen to the verse over and over.  Steve Green’s “Hide ‘em in your Heart” is a good starting point, especially for younger children.  There are also some free websites that offer Scriptures put to song.  Do a little research, and  you’re sure to be rewarded.   Here’s a resource that might be helpful: Freebiblemusic.com

If there is no already made songs for the verse or passage (or version) you are memorizing, make something up!  You can make up a tune if you’re musically inclined, or, if you’re like me, you can just use an already existing one.  Often the common tunes will really help the songs stick in your head.

Another idea is to record yourself reading the verses, and then listen to that recording when you would normally listen to music.

Whatever you choose to listen to, listen to it AOAP (as often as possible).  While cleaning your room.  Doing the dishes.  Getting dressed.   Writing a blog post.  :)  I’m listening to John right now.  Just listen to it in the background while you’re doing anything and everything, and soon you’ll find that you are really familiar with the verse!

Before you know it, you will find that you can sing or recite the verse without assistance.  And you weren’t even trying!

Memorizing by Writing

As the third in our series of practical tips to memorizing Scripture, let’s look at a fun one.  When memorizing a passage of Scripture, it is often helpful to write it.

If I am stuck on a certain passage, I will often begin to write it out two or three times.  Writing (especially if you mouth the words aloud while your write) engages more senses than just reading.  It gets more of your body active in this memorization process. The more you can do that, the easier it will be to memorize.

Remember that you need to think about what you’re writing.  If you don’t think about it, you’re simply wasting your time.

A fun idea to make the memory process into something more like a game, is to write the verse out on a whiteboard or chalkboard, and then erase one word at a time, while repeating the other words in your head.  As an illustration, in Colossians 3:16, you could write the phrase, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” Read this several times, and then erase “Let” so you say “let” and then read “the word of Christ dwell in you richly.”  Go on to erase “the” and say “Let the” and read “word of Christ dwell in your richly.” Do this until all the verse has been erased and you’re repeating it entirely from memory.

If you want to have a little fun with the verse, you can write a comic strip about it, or draw pictures to help you remember some of the words.  It’s also helpful to highlight, underline, and draw pictures around your verse. This helps you remember the concepts and ideas talked about more easily.

Writing is also a good way to review your verse once you’ve memorized it.  Write out the verse on every piece of paper that lands in your lap.  Note taking, cards, letters, scrap pieces of paper, sticky notes; everywhere! Not only are you reviewing your verse, you are also planting seeds.  Remember that God’s Word can never return void.

Additionally, you can write out only the first letter of each word in the verse.  Especially if your passage is longer, I would recommend only writing out the first letter of the word, so you don’t spend two hours on it.  :)

If you are looking to use this same idea when reading the verse, This website will actually convert it for you.  After you have become fairly familiar with the verse, by using some of the other tips I have mentioned, try reading it using only the first letter of each word to spark your memory.

You’re welcome to use a combination of all of the methods that I have talked about.  You can start by reading it a couple of times, then move on to visualizing it for a bit. Finally, you can write it out a few times to really solidify it in your mind.  Then you’re done!

Memorizing by Reading

Here’s the second installment in a series of practical methods of memorizing Scripture.  Many of these are more laid back, almost as if you aren’t actually memorizing.  Such is the case with today’s method: read it.

When reading a verse, remember; don’t just mindlessly read over the passage. You have to really think about what you’re saying, or else you’re just wasting your time.

Try reading your verse or passage once a day.  Don’t forget to include the reference before and after your read the actual verse.  This whole process may take a while, but eventually you will notice that you have the verse memorized.  If you’re looking for something a little less time consuming and pressured, this is a good option.

Try writing the words with different colors and styles and then reading it off of that card.  In John 3:16 you could highlight all the references to God in say, blue; all the references to death or blood, red; all the references to mankind, yellow, and so on.  The crazier it is, the better it will stick in your mind.  You can write verses using all kinds of wild fonts, colors, and sizes.  As you read this card over and over again, it will soon become embedded in your mind.

Another reading-based method for memorization is from Dr. John Mitchell. In January 2012 Kenneth Berding from Talbot School of Theology explained the Mitchell method: to read the passage 50 times over, out loud, with great emphasis, while looking at the words.  In this way, he could memorize a verse without really trying to memorize it.   Adding to his ideas, I would suggest that once you’ve read it over 50 times while looking at the words, recite it 25 times without looking at the words, so that you really have it solidified in your mind.  The key principle here, again, is to be thinking about what you’re reading, not just reading it.  I can read something over a hundred times and still not get it, because I was not paying attention to the words.

Also, try writing the verse on sticky notes, or index cards, and pasting them somewhere you’ll see them often.  Here’s my list of suggested places:

Shower

Car

• Washboard
• Windows
• Seat in front of you

Bathroom

Doors

Table

Water bottle

Above sink

On a box you use frequently, such as a toolbox

You can put it in a,

Purse

Briefcase

Wallet

A book as a bookmark

Pocket (I’ve done this one often)

Lunch box (or any other sort of box)

Phone (as the cover or background)

Computer (put a sticky note on it, or put the Scripture in a background image)

Then, whenever you walk by the verse or see it, you can read it. 

As a final tip, read your verse or passage AOAP, as often as possible.  :)  Eventually you will find, that without really trying, you can recite the verse completely from memory.  God’s blessings be upon your memorization!

Memorizing by Visualizing

Today, I would like to begin a series on some practical tips for Scripture memorization.  I have stressed many times the importance and value of Scripture memory, now I want to share some practical suggestions as to how we can apply this discipline to our every-day life.  There are many principles that are helpful when memorizing Scripture, but in this series, I want to focus on the specifics of how to memorize Scripture.  So let’s begin.

First of all, in order to memorize Scripture, you can visualize it.  There are several (fun) ways to do this.  Visualizing a verse is especially helpful for younger ones, although I have found it beneficial in my own life as well.

Try drawing pictures for each word or phrase.  If you’re techy, you could use something like Microsoft PowerPoint to aid you.  A word picture, or rebus, is very simple to make, it just take a little creativity.  For example, in John 3:16 you could use the number four to represent the word for.  For God, you could use a picture of God. For so, you could use a picture of someone sewing, and for love, you could use a heart.  You get the idea.  Then as you memorize, use that visualization to help you recall the words.

You can also act out the verse.  Sometimes, I like to act like I’m speaking the verse as if I were the original author. Doing so helps it stick better in your brain.  You could also try acting out what the verse says.  For Genesis 1:1, you could pretend to be making the world.  Again this is a helpful tool for younger children.

A final tip in visualizing a verse is to put hand and body motions to the word.  The more you get your whole body active in this memorization process the better.  For example, Psalm 119:11 says “Your (point to God) Word (do the hand motion for a book) have I hidden (pretend to hide something much like you would hide a candle’s light) in my heart (make a heart with your hands) that I might not (no the hand motion for no) sin against you (point to God).”  Note: the sillier these hand-motions are, the better they will stick in your brain.

Many of the methods I have mentioned are helpful to get you started, and then you can solidify the verse in your mind through the usual methods of memorization—just trying to recall it.

Visualizing a verse will help you and your family, particularly little ones, learn and understand the verse better.

If you have any other suggestions in the area of visualizing a verse, I would love to hear them!  God’s blessings be upon your memorization!