I was convicted recently that I needed to memorize scripture. It’s something that I’ve said I wanted to do for awhile but I’ve had one excuse after another. I know some, but they are mostly paraphrases and I’m not able to tell you where those paraphrases are from.

I realized though that as I grow and mature in my faith, that I need to be able to access Gods word at any moment to help me call out to Him in times of trouble and to shout for joy in times of praise.

What does it take to memorize scripture? It takes practice and it takes time. One of my excuses before was that I have a bad memory. While that’s not entirely false, I was also giving up too easily. I wasn’t putting in the practice or the time each day to memorize verses. How do we learn the words to the newest songs on the radio? Repetition of course. When a song is popular, it’s played many times over the course of the day. After hearing a song so many times, singing with it and even singing it without the song being on, you’ve practiced and memorized it.

That’s how I memorized Isiah 9:6 in December. I took the time and repeated it over and over again until I could say part of it without looking. I kept practicing until I could say the whole thing without looking. I kept practicing so it would be etched in my memory and not something here today and gone tomorrow.

The past few years I’ve chosen a word for myself. This year I thought of having a verse. I think the Lord wanted to show one to me in particular…

Why? Well because first I received this bracelet from my sister…

And then I received this journal from a friend…

And then when I got in my car this morning, New Year’s Day, a song that has been ministering to my heart the past few months was about to come on but the title beat it to the screen…

Ok God, you’ve got my attention. I’m praying for His help that in 2026 I would be still and know…

Happy New Year!