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"I am Yours, save me; for I have sought Your precepts." (Psalm 119:94) Years ago, a hobbyist chicken farmer in Missouri was asked, "If I start raising chickens, when can I expect to start making some money?” The chicken farmer simply smiled and said, "You don't raise chickens to make money. ...

“Eternal.” “Pure.” “Good life.” “Redemption.” “Pure Life.” “A future full of possibilities.” These theological-sounding phrases came to my attention, not from the Bible or a devotional book, but from water bottles in our office! Nestlé “Pure Life” water invites us to ...

“Should I memorize individual verses or whole chapters?” This is a question we frequently encounter at SMF, and our short answer is simply “yes.” Whether you’re memorizing a collection of verses on the topic of prayer or all 111 verses of the Sermon on the Mount, you’ll reap the vast ...

If you memorize Scripture, then you've probably experienced getting stuck. It's that cycle where you practice a verse, can't recite it correctly, practice more, and still can’t get it right. The discouragement may freeze your overall progress for weeks or forever. So, take a word of advice. Move ...

In the classic Christmas movie, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Linus is assigned a prominent role in the group's upcoming drama production. Charlie Brown contributes much-needed leadership to their efforts, but Linus is daunted by the thought of memorizing his lines. After reviewing his part, ...

If you’re like me, landmines dot the field of memory verse review. Here are a few of the struggles I encounter as a memorizer--with suggestions for combat! The Aimless Must-Do “I need to review sometime somehow...and I will…sometime somehow….” Combat: Make a specific review plan, and ...

Over the last two years, I’ve traveled to homeschool conventions and book fairs across the country. As I chat with dozens of homeschool moms at each of these events, I frequently turn to their young children and ask if they can quote any Bible verses. Of course, John 3:16 or “Jesus wept” is ...

Why do we shrink from accountability? Reciting to a specific person at a set time each week will help us stay on track and press forward. It will also help us recite accurately. After all, errors made while whispering to ourselves will not disturb like errors made in front of a friend. Take up ...

Is accurate word-for-word memorization worth the time? We can semi-learn, recite-and-run, and skip review altogether. But, "every word of God is pure…" (Prov. 30:5). Since God has preserved His Word without error, won’t we care to know it deeply and exactly? The keys to accuracy are thorough ...

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work." -Exodus 20:8-9 Nobody likes driving through school zones. Well, at least I don’t. Watching my speedometer fall from 40 to 20 MPH each morning during my commute is a painful experience — especially when ...