Meditation & Memorization
By Nate Corley
When I say “meditation,” you probably think of a skinny guy with a white beard sitting cross-legged on a mountain peak saying “OMMMMMmmmmmmm…..”
Well, that’s not biblical meditation. Meditation, according to the Bible, is not emptying your mind, but filling it. Specifically, filling it with the truth of the Bible in such a way that prompts you to ponder. Consider. Ask questions. Chew. Imagine. Reflect. Repent. Rejoice. Worship.
Some have compared meditation to sitting beside a fire. You need to stay there awhile, with the biblical truth, before your heart is warmed. Others compare it to digestion. You shouldn’t just scarf the Bible down and rush off to the next part of your day. You’re invited to sit a while. Savor. And let God’s words nourish you.
So what’s one of the best ways to practice this form of Christian meditation? Memorization. “But that sounds like work!” you might say. Well, it is. But it doesn’t have to feel that way.
As a former theater minor (ahem) who spent a LOT of time memorizing playscripts back in the day (including one epic three-hour murder mystery which required memorizing over 600 lines), I discovered that the best way to memorize isn’t to sit down, grit my teeth, and TRY to memorize. The best way to memorize is to simply spend time enjoying the text. Read it. Over and over. Understand how it works. Ask questions. Laugh. Consider. And then keep reading and reading and reading and before you know it…the lines are in your head. You might have to do some cleaning up (“Nate, you’re supposed to say, ‘Corking good cup of poisoned cocoa,’ not ‘Good corking poisoned cocoa cup,’ you knave”), but in the whole, it’s remarkable how close you’ll get to memorizing something after simply reading it a dozen or so times.
So it is when it comes to scripture. Keith Ferrin, a local Christian who’s memorized HUGE portions of scripture (like the whole Gospel of John), recommends this very method for Christians new to the practice of memorization. “Just start reading and enjoying the text,” he says.
Ferrin also recommends starting with a manageable portion: Psalm 1, say (six verses). Or even just a pair of verses (Proverbs 3:5-6 is one of my faves). Write these out in your own handwriting on a notecard. Put the notecard in your pocket and pull it out throughout the day to read it. Tape it to dashboard of your car (if you have one!) and read it aloud every time before you turn the key. Keep it on your nightstand and read it (again, out loud is my recommendation) every evening before you turn out the light.
Before you know it, this verse will be in your head – and in your heart. And that’s the path to rich blessing.
REFLECTION
Read Psalm 1:1-6
Next, take out a piece of paper and write out the whole passage.
Post the verse up somewhere you will regularly see it so you can begin to commit it to memory.
Sometime this week, pick another passage & do the same process. Maybe try doing this with a new verse or passage each week!