I don’t remember when I first wrote about this memorization tip, so I thought I would offer it again to help others with the sometimes daunting task of memorizing items for school, work, or personal edification. This system will work with almost anything you need or desire to memorize. It will work if you are old or young.
When I was in seminary, I stumbled upon this system and determined to use it to memorize Scripture and the Westminster Shorter Catechism. I soon found out that it works with most things. Let’s say you desire to memorize 1 Timothy 2:1. The verse reads: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.” To actively memorize this verse, you can take out an index card or use some other medium, and write:
F o a, t, I u t s, p, i, a t b m f a p
You will note that the above are the first letters of each word in the verse. As you review this verse using only the first letters, your mind will actively work to fill in the rest of the words. This system will also work for the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Question one asks, “What is the chief end of man?” The answer: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.” Using your index card, you will write out in full the question and then the first letters of each word to the answer as follows:
M c e i t g G, a t e h f
Again, this system will work for most things. Give it a try.
SUGGESTED DIGITAL APP that uses this system (and other systems) for Scripture memory: Remember Me http://www.remem.me/
