Lynn H. Blackburn

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I can’t remember not knowing Bible verses.

Lots of them.

It should be noted that my mother claims I could quote John 3:16 at eighteen months. As the mother of a twenty-two month old who can barely say please and thank-you, I find her assertion difficult to believe.

(Every mother believes her children are brilliant. Mine seems particularly prone to this delusion! I love you mom!)

Nevertheless, my childhood was full of Scripture memory. My mother taught me verses at home, I learned verses in Sunday School and then later in school and Awana.

And I praise God for the gift of a mind full of Scripture. Because for one thing, I know that not everyone grew up with Bibles and Bible stories and not everyone had the opportunity to attend Vacation Bible School and Awana.

And people who didn’t grow up learning Scripture and yet manage to memorize multiple passages are impressive to me.

Because there’s another reason I’m glad I learned Scripture as a child.

It is WAY harder now.

I can quote verses I learned in Sparks as a first grader. Chapter and Verse. King James Version. No sweat.

But the Psalm – the three verse Psalm – I would like to memorize this summer?

Not so much.

I can get the general idea, but memorizing the words so they fall off the tongue with ease . . . it’s a struggle. And even if I nail it once, it just doesn’t seem to stick the way the verses I learned as a child do.

I’ve been wondering why this is? Is it because my brain is too busy sifting through the noise of my life?

Or, is it because I’m just not making enough effort.

Ouch.

Hmm…as my dad would say, I just stopped preaching and went to meddling.

Sorry.

Anyway, here’s what I’d like to know.

Do you try to memorize Scripture now and if so, how do you do it?

And, how did you/are you teaching your children Scripture? This is an area I feel I’ve fallen way short on. I don’t want to leave it up to Sunday school teachers and Awana leaders.

So help me out. Leave me a comment. And while you’re at it, tell me what your favorite verse is!

(You don’t have to have it memorized!)