Last year, I sang in my church choir and two community choirs. Because of this “excessive” singing habit, at any given time I have 20 or more songs rattling around in my head. I never know which tune will shuffle to the top of the playlist. Will it be a Broadway tune? An old hymn? Something frightening with Latin lyrics?

This I do know: if I had never practiced these songs, they would not be playing in my head.

Scripture works the same way. Long ago, I memorized verses in a Christian club for teens that I attended, and then I memorized even more in Bible college classes. (There were graded quizzes.)

Later as a Bible teacher myself at two different Christian high schools, I assigned portions, and my students sang some of them to familiar tunes. We also played the New Verse Game and the Verse Game. The New Verse Game was a hangman-type game, and the teams guessed the letters until the whole verse was solved. The Verse Game was hands-on, chaotic, speed-based, and had, on occasion, resulted in a minor injury. (One girl broke a fingernail.)

Each word of the Bible verse was written on a card, and the cards were shuffled. I had made a set of cards for each team. The team that put the cards in order first won the bonus point. (In case you’re wondering, 10 bonus points equaled one percentage point on your quarter grade. Follow me for more teaching tips.)

Many of those Scripture texts I memorized from teen years through adulthood surface now. I don’t think it’s random like the choir music playlist. I believe the Holy Spirit chooses the verses to remind me of truth and encourage me with the hope in God’s Word. If I had never learned the passages, they would not be helping me now.

Presently at Good News Club, the other teachers and I help children memorize Bible verses. When the young elementary students arrive, they vie for a place in line to recite the verse to me and receive a treat from another teacher. They also earn points for the Club to Camp Challenge, and some of our more zealous clubbers will go to Camp Good News for free.

During the last years of my teaching career, a friend introduced me to an online memory tool, which is now called BibleMemory.com. My “digital age” high school students loved it. I encourage you to check it out if you want to memorize scripture. It has developed into something bigger and better since I last used it. The basic app is “forever free.” However, you can upgrade to a paid subscription. And what could be more valuable to your relationship with the Lord than to hide his word in your heart?

Roberta Tucker Brosius, First Baptist Church, Milton