Imagine having just the right Bible verse instantly come to mind during a challenging moment.
One that instantly provides solace, calm and encouragement to keep moving forward.
Many people strive to be able to recall Scripture to this level of skill.
But in today’s busy world, it can feel like an impossible task.
Not only does it require time to memorize verses, it’s not clear which ones will be best.
Everyone’s got an opinion or a list of “greatest hits.”
I do too, and my particular interest in verses from the Bible is a bit quirky.
But I’ll share my list of verses with you. That way you can pick and choose from a collection that has been thematically optimized.
The theme that I find creates so much encouragement?
Read on to find out. I feel confident you’ll be glad you did, because there’s something even more profound on this page.
In addition to my favorite verses, I’ll also share a resource where you can craft a plan for getting as many verses as you wish committed to memory.
Ready?
Let’s dive in.
Goals Based On Well-Structured Motivations Is The Key
Before I share my list, the resource I want to share with you is my 8 Step Bible Memorization Plan.
It has a solid program for you to follow along with multiple examples from my successful students.
The difference between them and people who continue to struggle with memorizing verses, no matter how great the collection, is that they:
- Have a clear reason why they want to memorize the verses they’ve selected.
- They typically choose to focus on either a book or a theme.
- They usually start with a few simple verses first before taking on larger challenges.
That’s my suggestion to you:
Start with a theme, and within that theme, focus on the simplest verses from the list.
I’ll reveal the theme I’m focusing on in a minute. But first, let’s look at how to memorize Scripture.
Techniques For Making Verses Stick
There are two basic approaches.
The first belongs to rote learning.
Although this technique can work, most people find it boring and difficult.
It’s really hard to get a “quick win” if you have to repeat the same verse repeatedly, after all.
The second approach involves memory techniques.
We have many to choose from, but the main one I recommend is the Memory Palace technique.
Basically, you take a familiar location and then imagine various associations along a path.
When I memorized Proverbs 18:13 for example, I simply used the home of my friend who has a sister named Andi.
I had Andi sending an “answer” via email to a bee on his way to Fawlty Towers.
Now, I don’t blame you if you’re scratching your head at this example.
But the logic is simple.
Using the pegword method inside my Memory Palace, I linked the sound of Andi to “answer” in “To answer before listening – that is folly and shame.”
The same technique is evident in the word “before” with the image of the bee.
If you’re new to memorizing in this way, it can feel counterintuitive. But once you get started, it’s actually a lot of fun.
25 Easy Bible Memory Verses to Memorize
The theme I’ve chosen to focus on is memory.
As you’ve just discovered, I use memory technique and it is the focus of this website.
But that’s not the only reason I decided to compile a list of verses focused on memory.
As Eran Katz’s excellent memory book, Where Did Noah Park the Ark?, reminded me, even God used memory techniques in the Bible.
Just as placing an image of Andi and a bee in a Memory Palace, God placed a rainbow in the sky to remind him of his commitment to humanity.
The flip side of remembering is forgetting, which is why I’ve also chosen some verses that reflect this theme too.
Some of these Bible verses to memorize refer to the larger notion of remembrance in indirect ways too. For example, they might mention a memorial. Or they might talk about preventing a name from disappearing.
In other words, memory is a huge theme in the Bible and it’s well worth memorizing some of the passages that discuss it directly.
With that in mind, let’s get started.
Exodus 13:3
Then Moses said to the people, “Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the Lord brought you out of it with a mighty hand.
Deuteronomy 4:9
Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.
Deuteronomy 8:18
But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
Deuteronomy 32:18
You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth.
Joshua 4:7
Tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.
2 Kings 17:38-39
Do not forget the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods. 39 Rather, worship the Lord your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.
Ruth 4:10
I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from his hometown. Today you are witnesses.
2 Samuel 18:18
During his lifetime Absalom had taken a pillar and erected it in the King’s Valley as a monument to himself, for he thought, “I have no son to carry on the memory of my name.” He named the pillar after himself, and it is called Absalom’s Monument to this day.
Job 18:17
The memory of him perishes from the earth; he has no name in the land.
Job 24:20
The womb forgets them, the worm feasts on them; the wicked are no longer remembered but are broken like a tree.
Psalm 77:11
I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
Psalm 103:2
Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
Psalm 111:4
He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate.
Proverbs 3:1-12
My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.
Ecclesiastes 12:1
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them.”
Hebrews 10:17
Then he adds:
“Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.”
Isaiah 43:18-19
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
Isaiah 49:15-16
Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.
Matthew 16:9
Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?
Luke 17:32-33
Remember Lot’s wife.
Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
Luke 22:19
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
John 14:26
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Acts 20:35
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
1 Corinthians 11:24-25
…and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
2 Timothy 2:8
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel.
Measuring Your Progress & Celebrating Wins
Now that you’ve seen my list of themed verses based around memory, it’s your turn.
For best results, I suggest that you keep a Bible Memory Journal.
Write by hand in order to avoid the digital amnesia created by working with devices.
Although handwriting your chosen verses might seem old-fashion, recent scientific reports like this one have demonstrated tremendous benefits for memory from handwriting.
Here’s the specific journaling process I recommend:
- Draw your Memory Palace on one entire page.
- Write out the Scripture you want to focus on memorizing in the Memory Palace.
- Also write out your mnemonic images (like my Andi and bee example).
- Test your memory by writing out what you’ve memorized in the back of the journal.
The reason to write out your memorized verses at the back is so that you can’t “cheat” by looking at the original version you wrote.
The scientific principle of active recall shows that you will form memories faster by testing in a way that involves no peaking.
You’ll also get more benefits from what scientists call spaced repetition.
Milestone Celebrations
Keeping a journal can also help you remember to celebrate milestones.
Personally, thinking up ways to reward myself is one of the biggest challenges.
That’s because each new verse I memorize is its own kind of reward.
But it’s important you understand the kinds of rewards you respond to best.
Journaling about your personal motivations can help you identify some truly meaningful rewards that keep you memorizing for the long haul.
You might even find yourself memorizing the entire Bible, which is possible.
Understanding The Impact Of Memorized Scripture
Romans 12:2 provides the ultimate explanation of the benefits you can expect from memorizing scripture:
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
This verse suggests that you are doing something unique by memorizing Scripture.
The process itself also renews your mind.
Even better, it prepares your mind to deal with issues when they arise. Or avoid issues in the first place.
That’s why I love “To answer before listening – that is folly and shame so much.”
Having it memorized has helped me hold my tongue many times.
When I fail, I have Deuteronomy 4:9 to make sure I don’t forget the better angels of my nature will return soon.
The Ultimate Value Of Having Bible Verses To Memorize
Keep in mind that knowing verses is helpful, much more so than knowing the books of the Bible by name, though that too is a good memory project to pursue.
If you’d like more help committing Scripture to memory and would like to use the Memory Palace technique, feel free to grab my free course:
It gives you four video tutorials and three worksheets that walk you through everything involved in quickly learning to use this technique.
Our ancestors like Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustine used the approach for memorizing Scripture during their time.
So we can use it during ours.
Given all the benefits available, especially when memorizing Scripture thematically, why not get started today?
Just remember that small efforts lead to long-term results. And each new verse will strengthen your faith invaluably.
