A Habit A Month: May

Okay… So I never got around to posting this at the beginning of this month, but I have been working on a habit all through the month of May. In spite of the craziness of summer vacation, trips, events and sickness; this habit kind of stuck throughout the month.

This month, I worked on memorizing scripture. Memorizing Romans 12:10-13 was the last item on my monthly goals list. Well, it’s made such a difference in my personal life, that I’m making it a habit to memorize a few verses every month.

It all started one Sunday, when my pastor rattled off several verses in John Chapter 1 from his memory. I was amazed! I tried to recollect when last I had memorized a verse from the Bible. Ashamed to say, it’s been more than a decade!

I figured, since I was already teaching the kids to memorize scripture, I should do so as well. I proceeded to read the Bible, and I came across the verses in Romans 12. I felt God’s nudging that this was important advice He wanted me to follow for life. I wrote the verses down in my planner to be memorized by the end of this month.

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” (Romans 12:10-13)

A few days later, as I was reading A Confident Heart, I came across this verse…

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

I immediately knew God wanted me to memorize this verse. It would serve as a constant reminder every time doubt or insecurity threatened to ruin my peace. I wrote down the verse on a white board and placed it on my desk.

A little later, I was having a particularly difficult time with the kids. As I perched precariously, on the verge of an emotional breakdown; this very verse caught my eye. God reminded me that He knew my sons – He had set them apart, even before they were born. My sons have a high calling ahead of them, and it was my responsibility to raise them up right.

Memorizing scripture has made a huge impact in my life this month. Here are five methods I used to memorize verses from the Bible:

1. Writing the verses down on the first page of my planner, to be read regularly.
2. Typing them out on a document on my desktop, for easy access.
3. Writing down one verse at a time on a white board, and placing it in a prominent place on my desk.
4. Running through the verses in my mind everyday.
5. Reciting them out aloud.

I am so excited to making this habit last by including it in my list of goals each month. Have you ever thought of intentionally memorizing scripture? I encourage you to take the plunge and do it – you won’t be disappointed!

To Do: Include Bible verses in my monthly goals and memorize them every month.

To Read: Five Tips for Memorizing Scripture

To Ponder: 

“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.” (Deuteronomy 11:18)