Christian Living

MEDITATION PART 3, 4

by Vern Yamane
06/13/21
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-----The How To -A Strategy Or Plan Of Action-
                           PART 3
How to memorize-
SELECT A  TRANSLATION  Choose a translation that your are comfortable with.  It is better to stick to one translation for your memory work
PREPARING FOR MEDITATION
    SELECTION OF VERSES  
Set a time to chose the verses you are interested in   These verse can be related to an area of weakness, besetting sin or an area that you wish to strengthen, etc.  You can also choose a verse that you want to use in witnessing or disciplizing.  Pull out and organize these verses according to topics.  Some topics can be prayer, praise and worship, confession of sin etc
    PRINT OUT YOUR VERSE
 If you have a Bible software cut and paste these verses to a word processor.  On one side of the card write the key words, a phrase or sentence that summarizes the verse you are trying to memorize along with the actual words of the verse.  This extra key word or phrase will help you categorize and organize these verses in your mind.. On both sides of the card place the book chapter:verse.  Format the verse so that when printed on a 8 ½ by 11 inch sheet of paper you can easily cut it out with scissor to be pasted or scotched taped a the 3 by 5 card.  If you are good you can print the verses directly on card.  Print two copies keep one as a master
     CUT AND PASTE YOUR VERSES
When the sheets are printed out.  Cut out and scotch tape the verse on a three by five card.  If you want and are good figure out a way to print directly onto the 3 by 5 card.  Punch a hole with a one hole punch in the left side of the 3 by 5 card.  Go to a stationary story and buy a one or two inch ring.  String your verse with this ring and behold you have a stack of cards with you can start memorizing.  You are ready to start the first and hardest part of your meditation(memorizing the verse).  The second part the reflection is easier.   
     Two ways I use to memorize
      When you memorize, work until you can repeat it word for word. Quoting it exactly. I believe will help you ‘rightly divide the word of Truth’ KJV or ’ accurately divide the word of Truth’ NASB.  Don’t forget the reference and the topic sentence. 
MEMORIZING BY REPETITION SUCCESSIVELY IN SECTIONS
      A good way to memorize the passage is by repetition.  Chop the verse into phrases. IE phrase 1, phrase 2, phrase 3 , phrase 4, etc   The length of the phrase is usually something short that makes sense.
      Start by repeating  a phrase out loud over and over again until the phrase is memorized, then stop memorizing the first phrase and begin memorizing  the second phrase until the second phrase is memorized.  Once the second phrase is memorized, you can begin with the first phrase and continue on into the second phrase. Once you have memorized the first and the second phrase becomes the combined phrase.  Stop memorizing the completed phrase and begin on the third phrase.  Continue until the verse is completed. 
     I like to memorize out loud because my mouth, lips, tongue and ears are all actively involved in the memorization.  There is supernatural power in speaking the word(rhema) out loud.  After you finish the memorization you will find that once your begin to quote a passage out loud the verses will flow like a river out of your mouth. It is a wonderful feeling.  I know a lady who quotes Psa 103:1-2 from memory out loud before she prays for healing. 
       OR   MEMORIZING BY ANALYZING USING GRAMMAR, PUNCTUATION, SIMILAR IDEAS 
Another way to memorize the passage is analyze it.  Like the method above the passage needs to broke down into short phrases. The break down can be either grammatically, by prepositional phrases, subject, object, verb, adjective, adverbs, similar ideas, antonyms Once it is broken down into phrases you can diagram it to see how it is broken down.  Show how each short phrase is related to the other.  By the time you have analyzed the passage you have partially  memorized it.  Even if you haven’t memorized it completely you know the general flow of thought and know the meaning of the next phrase.   See example.  To help with the analyzing you can ask questions which each short phrase answers. I have another practicum called extracting principles which I will give to you. a)           

Example Psalms 1:1-3 KJV
I broke Psalm1 into phrases, indented and placed these phrases under the certain words.            For instance not, nor, nor but, and are the beginning of a phrase.
(1)  Blessed is the man that walketh
            not in the counsel of the ungodly,
            nor standeth in the way of sinners,
            nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
I know in Psal 1:1 that there are two commas, three negatives, three types of men to avoid, who have three types of evil behavior.  There are three ideas associated with walking
(2)  But his delight is in the law of the LORD;
             and in his law doth
                               he meditate
The word but is the turning point between verse 1 and verse 2 IE to do verse 2 he needs to avoids three men in verse 1
                                         day and night.
(3)  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
                             that bringeth forth his fruit in his season;
                                           his  leaf also shall not wither;
                                                     and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Breaking Down The Passages Into Phrases, Indenting, Or Placing By Them Below Each Other By Relationship  Helps Me To Know What Thoughts Follows Each Other.  If you know which thoughts or ideas follow each other it makes memorizing a lot easier.
Tips on how and when to memorize and reflect(ruminate)
      Although your memory and reflection time can take place at any time it might be beneficial to set times for the meditation.  Ask God’s help in prayer with the memory part as well as the refection part.  I find that I am not always open to Scripture.  Ask for a receptive heart during the refection. The natural man received not the things of the Spirit. 
        (11)  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. (12)  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (13)  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (14)  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he knowthem, because they are spiritually discerned.  1 Corinthians 2:11-14 KJV     And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; (John 14:16 KJV) 
        But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26 KJV) 
         But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (John 15:26 KJV)            Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (John 16:7 KJV)   

----------------------------------------WHAT TO MEDITATE ON-------------------------
                                                                PART 4 
      TOPICAL, Favorite verse or passage After you have read the Bible for a while you will start to remember certain verses or passages that have similar words,  ideas. or phrases.  I like to gather these verses together and send them to my friends via e mail.  I also like to gather them together on a sheet of paper and study each verse‘s contribution to the topic.  If you like you can use them for your memory verses.  Topics might be the word, prayer, praise, witnessing, sin, salvation, angels, blessings and cursing, etc.  To do this you can do a word search with a Bible software.  If you like I can show you how to do this.   
  Later you might want to memorize a chapter.  1 Cor. 13, Psalm 139, etc 119:130
          Both the psalms and proverbs use couplets and symbols to teach.  A couplet is a poem that consists of  two parts. Symbols are used to communicate abstract spiritual principles and truths. The symbol is an abstract idea that has a handle.  Every time you refer to a symbol you use the handle to pick an abstract truth.   For instance our walk is a symbol for our journey with Jesus.  Our walk like a normal walk may includes pitfalls which are symbols for our trials and tribulation.         The rule for interpreting a passage is to try to interpret the passage literally. If a literal interpretation makes no sense then interpret it symbolically   IE if you interpret a word in the literal sense and it makes no sense then you should interpret the word symbolically.  If we think in terms of symbols when we interpret Scripture it will help us shed light on applying Scripture to our life   lets get started 
  Memorizing a verse: the first part of meditation. 
  The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.(Psa 119:130 KJV)  
Take the key words in the sentence and list them
The entrance
Thy
Words
Giveth
Light
giveth understanding
To the simple 
Find basic definitions or synonyms for these words. 
ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE VERSES.  An entrance is a door, gate. What are the different ways that God’s Word can enter into your heart and mind?  How do you implement these resources into you daily life? Why is it so important that you go to church?  Read your Bible? Light could be a flashlight, a spotlight,, light reveals, words refer to Scripture, understanding wisdom 
ANALYZE THE VERSE GRAMMATICALLY. How is this verse coupled?
Contrasting couplets Does the first couplet contrast the second?   
       Expanding couplets Does the second couplet expand the first couplet?  It is obvious that the first couplet is expanded in the second couplet.  Giveth light means to give understanding to a simple-uncomplicated, unsophisticated person, naive person. Although it is not stated that the simple person after awhile becomes enlightened.

Reflecting the second part of meditation 
MAKE A LIST OF QUESTIONS 
       Think of real life examples for these key words of the couplet.  Ask yourself questions which help you apply these verses.
The entrance of a Christian’s heart is his eyes and ears.  How do I normally receive God’s word through my eyes and ears? How can I increase the entrance of the word through my eye gate and ear gate?  What does light normally do?  How does light help me in the dark?  What does light normally do to darkness?  What else can enter my heart?  What happens when these things enter my heart?
-----Is there some kind of promise I can claim?  How can I make the promise come true?  What things hinder me from claiming this promise?  What things help me to claim this promise?
-----Is there some kind of warning I can heed?  How can I take heed of this warning? 
-----Is this a statement of truth for me?  How will this truth change the way I do things?  What will I have to give up make this statement come true?  Do my friends encourage my intake of the Word?
-----Are there other verses that support this verse?
-----Are there other verses that shed further light on this verse
             Congratulations you have memorized your first verse and can proceed with the second step of meditation IE the reflecting and analyzing step. This part of meditation can be done while you prepare for work and drive to work.  There are times during the day when you have idle time.  If you have done your homework(the analyzing part) you can begin the reflecting part of meditation.  Analyzing this verse in the above fashion has placed this verse in your memory. You can also pray-meditate the verse.