BY HEART - by Lisa
I don't know about you, but the older I get, the harder it is to memorize. I used to be a violinist and I could play concertos from memory at the drop of a hat. But that was more years ago that I care to remember. Sometimes I feel lucky just to remember where my car keys are.
So what does this have to do with the spiritual life? Well, in the early church, and indeed until fairly recently, to study meant to memorize. Actually, back then many people couldn't read, but they could memorize what they were taught. So they learned large sections of the Bible by heart, so to speak.
The end result of such a system was that the scripture resided in their hearts and souls. The Word of God became a part of them. They could call it up at any time. It was just there.
Virginia is my spiritual guide and we've been together for 12 years. She is a walking Bible. In fact, her grown children use her as a concordance. When they need to know a scripture, they just call her up and she recites it to them from memory.
For most of her life Virginia has been part of a ministry called the Navigators. Scripture memory is one of their highest values. Today she reaps the reward because the scripture has become part of her very soul and she takes great comfort in it.
So what about me? Well, I'd like to say I'm going to quit being such a slacker. In addition to my regular Bible study, I do listen to it on tape while I exercise and I'm pretty good at paraphrasing it. Maybe one of these days I'll turn over a new leaf and really start memorizing and putting the scripture in my heart. Until then, where are the car keys?
In His Love,
Lisa
So what does this have to do with the spiritual life? Well, in the early church, and indeed until fairly recently, to study meant to memorize. Actually, back then many people couldn't read, but they could memorize what they were taught. So they learned large sections of the Bible by heart, so to speak.
The end result of such a system was that the scripture resided in their hearts and souls. The Word of God became a part of them. They could call it up at any time. It was just there.
Virginia is my spiritual guide and we've been together for 12 years. She is a walking Bible. In fact, her grown children use her as a concordance. When they need to know a scripture, they just call her up and she recites it to them from memory.
For most of her life Virginia has been part of a ministry called the Navigators. Scripture memory is one of their highest values. Today she reaps the reward because the scripture has become part of her very soul and she takes great comfort in it.
So what about me? Well, I'd like to say I'm going to quit being such a slacker. In addition to my regular Bible study, I do listen to it on tape while I exercise and I'm pretty good at paraphrasing it. Maybe one of these days I'll turn over a new leaf and really start memorizing and putting the scripture in my heart. Until then, where are the car keys?
In His Love,
Lisa
to find a person to disciple or look like Christ is very hard and i have not found this person yet but i look and try to follow Jesus' way and look for him in me and renew thoughts daily do we really get to be with God some day i pray that i do his work with thi time i have been given, but a mentor to learn from
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Hi -
I know it can be really hard to find a spiritual guide but it's so important. The way I found Virginia was that my church assigned her to me. It was part of a women's ministries program. She said she would be willing to disciple someone but that person had to agree to do Bible study. I was willing so we started meeting in 1995 and are still getting together every week.
Perhaps you could find someone at your church. I also hear a lot of mentoring goes on at coffee houses!!
Hope you are able to find a guide. Please keep in touch.
Lisa
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The answer to memorization for us old folks is mnemonics! Utilizing just two features of the "Major Memory System" [Google it], I've memorized a few chapters of the New Testament verse by verse so that each verse can be called to memory for meditation. Try it! You might like it. For some reason, about half of people don't like mnemonics at all, but you, like I, might be one of the fortunate ones! Other features of the system can even help you keep track of your keys!
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Lisa, Great thoughts - you also made me laugh. It's not difficult to relate to memorizing for me. My mom grew up memorizing everything she could read and she passed that love on to me.
One Sunday at church some years ago the pastor said the sermon for the day was going to be all the scripture the congregation could recite from memory!!! I was excited and impatient till my turn came - then I was so thankful for my mom's emphasis on memorizing. I, too, am not as faithful as in the past - but there's no time like the present - now!!!
Thanks. <3 Lindaa
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Hi All -
Thanks for the really great comments here. I should try that memorizing system. Here's what I'm doing right now. I get a Bible verse each day on e-mail. My goal is to copy them out and paste them up around the house - you know, like on the mirrors, etc. We'll see how I do.
Linda, that must have been an interesting sermon. If this was the early church, it would probably have been much longer since they had a higher value for memorizing. Great story!!
Blessings,
Lisa
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