Memorizing Romans 8 – July 11 Update
July 11, 2013Some of you will remember that I went public back in December about my goal of memorizing all of Romans 8 ( “WILL YOU TRAIN WITH ME? – Dec. 29th” ).
I have not been doing very well since April. Actually, I fell completely off of the memorizing wagon. I hit a 23 verse wall. After taking a bit of a break, I am back at it or at least back to where I was in April.. Here is my latest test. (Romans 8 – July)
I am encouraged that the first 23 verses came back very rapidly. That means the Word has been hidden away in the crevasses of my feeble brain. I am looking forward to getting all 39 verses crammed in there. I just hope my head does not pop in the process.
- Open Bible with pen (Photo credit: Ryk Neethling)
A DEVOTED LIFE 
I was expecting you to say you had finished memorizing the chapter! To be honest, it was a relief to know you’d hit a wall, and had taken a rest for awhile. I hit a wall too, in June. We were out of town and off schedule. Now I’m back at it. I’m finding that the more I memorize, the more difficult it is to hang onto the whole thing. I can’t remember the first word or phrase of a verse and get stuck. Once I peek and get a jumpstart, the rest of the verse comes. Anyway, my goal is to finish by December 31; I’m up to verse 19. With focused effort, I should make it. Thank you, JD, for the inspiration to do this!
Nancy – I am glad to hear you are back at it also. I was reluctantly happy that I had posted what I was doing because it would otherwise have been pretty easy to give up. I have the same issue of forgetting the next phrase in the verses, particularly when Paul’s thoughts move on in the chapter. For some reason, I always mess up the order of “therefore, now” in the very first verse. The good news is that we have all the time that we need and at the end the Spirit will have written a whole chapter on our hearts. That is pretty cool. Thanks for doing this with me.
God Bless!
JD
Have you discovered the blessing of memorizing an entire chapter as opposed to the random verse here and there? I love that it gives us context in which to hang each verse. When a chapter is memorized, too, the more we go over it, the more individual words or phrases seem to jump off the page, begging for attention.
In years to come, you’ll be glad you took the time to do this. Those verses will come in handy – you’ll see!
\o/
I have! Your point is very well taken and has been a wonderful blessing. It helps my memorizing to understand what the author is saying and how his points flow together. So, rolling over these larger chunks of scriptures in my mind as I am reciting them has embedded the meanings deeper into me. I so appreciate the encouragement. There is no downside to memorizing scripture.
God Bless!
JD
I am having issues as this while trying to memorize Mathew. It’s one of my favorite books. Keep at it though you will get it!
you inspire me! thank you so much for being a diligent man of God!
That’s still good of what you know know. You can do it. I know you get. Ask the Holy Spirit for help. I am stuck at 2 Chronicles. I was supposed to reading the entire Bible. I seem to cannot get past 2 Chronicles. I know where you are. Be patient. God knows your heart. He will give you what you need.
I once memorized 103 scriptures in a month, some small, some large. I was ill in bed, with nothing else to do but read and would write and re-write verses out. I really really enjoyed it and still memorize occasionally now. I find scripture so edible and satisfying.
I remember though, once that month had been and gone, thinking to myself…”Mmmmm? What was that all about??” I thought perhaps it was a waste of time, I thought I’d forgotten them but then, those scriptures are a part of me now and at the time when I most need them, be it for myself or for another, they come back to me and pour out of me.
I can only imagine that God may have some good works destined for you in the Romans 8 area that will then carry great power with it as it is not just something you know but something that is a part of you.
God Bless 🙂
Good goal! I’ve always had a hard time memorizing scripture. I think if I could put the words to a song, I could do it much better. I need to do that.
I was challenged/told several months ago to memorize Romans 8 as well, and I haven’t memorized the whole thing, But i have been reading it everyday for about a week because the Lord has been convicting and nudging me for about 3-4 weeks now!
And while reading it, I’ve been letting the Word minister to me and letting it really sink in.
You’re not the only one on this journey of memorizing Romans 8! 🙂
Yes, you memorize. But do you embody the WORD of the Lord?
You can do it…I’m pulling for you!
This may be a really stupid question. Why did you decide to memorize Romans 8 in the first place? I just reread it, and it is a great chapter. I think I would rather read it. However, if they put the entire verse to song, I would learn it. 😀 Weird, isn’t it?