Quest to Memorize The New Testament

Philippians 3:16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained. When the first time I memorize the new verses , that is the 'play' part, for the discovery brings so much joy and excitement which somehow I miss out when I just read the texts. The reviewing part is necessary to cement them to memory and could become a 'work' but for me its all worth it. In fact, I find insights and more understanding during reviewing times, even years after I had initially have stored them in my heart.  This is my favorite spot of reviewing, while on MRT on my way to work, near the door and facing the window so no one will be disturbed while I recite - trying to be as silent as I can. Recently I have tried to use a digital voice recorder to aid in my reviews. So when I recite a recent chapter I just memorized, I would record my voice, then check later it against my bible if anything I miss out. This is really helpful to detect any mistakes, so ...

I was inspired from a post "You Can Memorize the New Testament" . Thus I created my initial ideal plan 5 year plan , which I posted on Dec 2015. However, I have a two year hiatus from 2017-2018 which I consider also a blessing for I know how was my life when I stopped this activity, then I have now revised my 5-year goal, in God's will and His grace. I've re-memorized my 8 books and Romans 8 from January to October 2019, in this image below at date of writing I am working on Romans. I'm praying for the Lord's strength to complete by end of 2023 and I am open to revise no matter what helps to complete this in God's grace. This excel file below has formulas and also has 2 days break or interval between books like a grace period, then I usually change 'Plan start date' depends if the 'Actual End Date' of the last book was different than planned. This time I have some brothers and sisters who are memorizing too thus I look forward it is g...

My method has evolved many times, as discussed here . I have separated my method for memorizing new verses. First of all, I prepare my daily excel schedule beforehand. I realized that when I am at work, if before my new verses memorization would depend on how busy my work is, for example if I was too busy and or stressed, I could not do my memorization at all, but in God's grace now and being mindful what is my priority - I was able to set aside whatever burden and do this task whatever the situation is, the quality and quantity may differ but I will do it daily. The irony is if things gets busy like 3rd or 4th working day (but not too much) I could take in more than my schedule like 8 verses compared to a normal day, and I if things are really so busy (or its more of if my job requires more thinking) then I would take lesser like 1-3 new verses. I believe the regularity or doing it on the same time of the day really makes this thi...

14-Oct-19   Luke 14:28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?     As they say if you do not have a plan, you plan to fail - on some cases like this goal, I find it true. If we don't put a definite method and schedule, including backup plans, it just becomes a wish, for a goal is defined as a dream with a deadline. By the way, I work in IT field and I know how important a good plan is. I usually prepare my daily schedule about a month ahead then re-visit and revise when it comes. Its just easier to wake up in the morning and know exactly what to do, my flesh won't complain, I can reject the voices that says  'that's not gonna work' because its so systematic (for me at least) and I've done it over and over already. Unless the Lord permits something that consumes my thought life then that's the one I continue to pray, that He guard me and keeps me from t...

Note that this is one of the series posts I created and summary is in Memorizing Methods page.   2-Oct-2019  My memorization method is almost similar to Andew Davis link here  but I modified it by not memorizing the references. I did write before this in this link when I first tried to memorize John though now I don't follow religiously the steps like 10 times reciting, I use lesser effort since I notice I became better on this as years goes by.  To give the insight above is my enhanced format of my daily memorization, currently on Gospel of John. To refresh, my method is daily 6 verses (just happens I am re-memorizing John that is why sometimes I put more verses on some days). I always remind myself the benefits I am reaping , and it naturally makes it easier for me to follow my schedules. Sometimes I would also get motivations from blogs of those who also memorize. Columns from Left to Right: A -  Date of the month, ex. 1st Oct,...

Feb 2019 Hiatus means a pause or break in an activity. I didn't realized it has happened to me, as if I left in my home and searched an unknown place - nothing but barrenness and dessert without the constant words of God in my memories. Many reasons, like my change of job , change of systems in our company that needs more re-learning, pregnancy, death of a beloved brother in Christ (Bro Henry) who the Lord helped to lead me to him after I became agnostic. Whatever the reasons are, I am glad I realized how is my life without this activity - it is a blessing in disguise and now I know I will do this forever this time as long the Lord gives me life.    It was a while that I paused memorizing and reviewing my memorized books,  about two years (2017-2018). Those times were the most difficult days of my life since I knew our Lord,  because I seem to forgot the hope to which I was called out of my stress in every area o...

I've just noticed a remarkable improvement in the number of verses I could memorize in one sitting now, that's maximum of 30 within 45 minutes. A month ago 5-10 verses are quite my maximum effort but now it progressed that I could do 15-30 verses in about 30 to 45 minutes. Here are the things I observed: One change I've done is I tried to be more active . I remember last week, when we play badminton in the evening, I felt so energetic and after I rested an hour I able to memorize 20 verses, wow! then after that it improved even more. Another change that I did is I photocopy the page from my bible what I am memorizing and bring the page wherever I go. In the past I bring my bible but many times my bible almost fell in the watery park and I felt its not so safe to bring it just anywhere. Now the rationale of this is that I met a memorizer from a site, his name is Trevor , who said that he is a visual learner and it helps him to memorize base on...

I realized that the key to make this memorization goal work is to be organized. I find that this daily schedule below helps me a lot. Well it looks difficult to understand at first glance but well, this is a personal chart that works for me, I'm sure every individual will have something that would work for them specifically. I usually prepare this on the last week of the month for the next month schedule. Columns: Bible Reading I had a separate document for Bible reading which tells me what to read for the day but sometimes I would forgot to do it. I notice that since I never forgot to do my memorization, I put a column here just to put a check if I have done reading for the day. Review and R The first 'Review' column is for the books or entire chapters that I already committed to memory earlier and they may be in weekly, bi-weekly, or bi-monthly or monthly review schedule. I would then rate my review from 1-5 (column R) just like www.memverse.com...