I remember a few years back our youth pastor challenged us to memorize the book of Philippians in the Bible. I was rather adamant about the impossibility of this for my poor old brain. But God had another refining process for me, to develop my memory. Step by step I have memorized my lyrics and individual verses in the Bible. I am now ready to tackle more. My current challenge is to memorize 2 Timothy – 80 verses! I don’t know how long it will take me but I can only accomplish this task with the help of the Holy Spirit, repeating each verse 10 times a day, so far 3 at a time and then review and add 3 more and so on. I skip some days too which slows me down. I am finally finding out how true it is that hiding God’s Word in your heart is an amazing blessing in many ways. It is a comfort to me and to those I share the treasures with. These are words of wisdom, strength, purity, gentleness, kindness, humbleness, overcoming fears and anxiety and learning to trust in His power, not mine. I am also realizing that memorizing larger segments of scripture is really beneficial as the context is available in multiple verses and sometimes its better to quote two verses or three rather than one.
So, one step at a time and with the Holy Spirit’s help, my memory is progressing.
2 Timothy 1:3-7
3 Timothy, I thank God for you—the God I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again.
5 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. 6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
