The Joy of Memorizing the Word, with Nancy EppersonQuote and Float

Leslie Basham: Nancy Epperson knows hundreds of Scriptures by heart, and she says this kind of memorization doesn't take a special talent.

Nancy Epperson: Tenacity is what it takes. It doesn't take intelligence. It really doesn't. It takes tenacity, determination.

Leslie: This is Revive Our Hearts with Nancy Leigh DeMoss for Tuesday, May 22.

When you hear Nancy Epperson talk, Scripture just flows out of her. She says that you can learn to memorize just like she's learned, and she'll show you how.

Yesterday, Nancy gave us some very helpful steps in getting started, and you can find those on yesterday's transcript at ReviveOurHearts.com. When we left off yesterday, Nancy Epperson had just described the way she learned the book of James, by printing it out on 3 x 5 cards. She's picking up that conversation with Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: So while you were memorizing the book of James, were you also reviewing and meditating on other passages you'd memorized earlier?

Nancy Epperson: Oh yes! Yes, yes. Constantly.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: How much time do you think you spend in a day memorizing or meditating on Scripture? I'm sure it varies from day to day.

Nancy Epperson: It varies, and it's hard to say, but I do set aside time. Then in the night, I do think on Scripture as well, but I'm always memorizing something.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: Do you find it’s easier to do the new memorizing in the morning or in the evening?

Nancy Epperson: I'll tell you what I love to do. I love to swim, and I take my Bible right into that pool. I do that a couple of hours every day in the pool.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: Is this like a laminated version of the Bible?

Nancy Epperson: No. I’ve never gotten one wet because the aqua-jogger holds me afloat.

Now what I do also is I don’t bring my Bible. I just tread water, and what I do is I quote and float.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: (laughing) That’s great.

Nancy Epperson: I’m telling you something. My children grew up in the pool quoting and floating with mother, and all four of my kids can quote hundreds of verses, books of the Bible.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: So they were doing this with you?

Nancy Epperson: They were doing it with me. Much of the Scripture they know they never even looked at in the Bible. They heard it over and over and over and over—repetition.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: So this wasn’t just for you.

Nancy Epperson: Oh no.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: This was discipling them, too.

Nancy Epperson: Yes, and it was also because I had limited time. I wanted to review all my Scripture and meditate on it, and I wanted to be with my kids. So we just combined it.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: This is great because I’m thinking of listeners, Revive Our Hearts listeners, who are busy moms, a lot of little kids. They’re saying, “There’s no way I have time to memorize Scripture.” But you’re saying you found a way because it was so important.

Nancy Epperson: Yes, and I’ll tell you one of my favorite stories. When my fourth baby was born, the oldest was four.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: So you had four children age four and under.

Nancy Epperson: Yes, and I was so busy.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: That sounds like my mother.

Nancy Epperson: It was really wild.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: Were you memorizing Scripture in that season?

Nancy Epperson: Oh yes; oh yes; oh yes. That’s what got me through.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: So really from the time you were fourteen, have you been memorizing Scripture ever since?

Nancy Epperson: I've never stopped, ever since, yes. So what happened was one day I was in my kitchen. My son, Stuart, was about eighteen months old. I’ll never forget this because every day I would say, “This is the day the Lord hath made, [I] will rejoice and be glad in it," Psalm 118:24.

I would just quote that verse, honestly, probably 25 times a day. I would quote it with great conviction. “This is the day the Lord hath made, [I] will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: You needed that verse.

Nancy Epperson: I needed it. I would quote it over and over, and it was amazing how that did really help me come to a point of rejoicing.

Anyway, when Stuart was eighteen months old, I was in the kitchen. It was a very gloomy, rainy day, and I thought, “Oh boy, I need to quote my verse.” So I started. I said, “This is the day . . .” and I’ll never forget this, hearing a little eighteen-month-old boy say, “the Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.”

I was stunned. I looked down on that shiny bald head—they were all bald—and I said, “How did he know that? I never taught him that. Oh, wait a minute, had I?” Then it dawned on me. Every day those kids had heard that verse, and do you know what? They could all quote it. Then I discovered many verses my little children could quote.

Let me tell you what I would do: As a young mother, I would write verses on the countertop with a pen.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: On the countertop?

Nancy Epperson: On top of it—just write it right on the counter, and I would read it over. We’d be in there. I’d go over and over it. This is how I would memorize, and this is how they would learn it. We’d go over and over and over the verse. Then toward the end of the week, it would start fading, and it usually faded pretty much . . .

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: This is like Deuteronomy—write it everywhere.

Nancy Epperson: Exactly. I’m a believer in Deuteronomy 6. Permeate your home with God’s Word.

So by the end of the week, they would learn it, and then we would put a new one up. If a little of it was still there, I’d wash it off with some Comet, and then I’d put a new one. So I’d write it on the counter tops, even on mirrors, and I discovered that the kids were just picking up all these Scriptures.

Then I would apply Scripture. For example, if we were in the car and it was a glorious day, I might quote Psalm 19:

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. (vv. 1-3)

I would quote that whole chapter to them.

I’ll never forget when my little nephew came to live with us when he was thirteen. We were going to meet my other kids and my husband at this park course where you walk a mile course. It was the end of the day, and there was this fabulous sunset.

My husband and son were way on the other end of the park course, at the far end of the mile, and we were just approaching. I saw this sunset, and my little thirteen-year-old nephew was with me. I said, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.”

Well, I quoted that whole chapter to my nephew as I saw this beautiful sunset. Then Stuart got closer and closer, my son, and then as he almost got to us, he burst forth with Psalm 19. I’ll never forget. My little nephew got the most shocked expression on his face, like, “How did he know?”

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: It was in his heart, too.

Nancy Epperson: I just had to laugh because he knew when his mother saw that sunset, he knew exactly what she would be quoting.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: Isn’t that great? So your children were really raised in the atmosphere of the Word.

Nancy Epperson: Absolutely, every day of their lives, and you know what? Each one of them loves the Lord and is living for the Lord and is teaching their children God’s Word.

Getting back now to my method.

• You find your partner.
• You pick your passage.
• You agree on the number of verses.
• You agree on the version.
• You agree on when you’re going to meet.
• Then you meet and you quote to each other.

Now the key is, during the week go over your verses, over and over and over. I’d say fifteen, twenty times a day, over and over—thoughtfully—every single day. Repetition is what makes it work, and I guarantee there is not a human being who cannot memorize Scripture.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: Now, don’t go too fast past that because there are a lot of people who will say, “I can’t memorize Scripture.”

Nancy Epperson: They will say that, but can I tell you something? That is not true. It’s true people say it, but it truly is a lie hatched in the pit of hell that Satan loves us to think. The fact is, everybody can.

Now, listen. I’ll never forget this. About thirty-five years ago, I was at a church in Winston, Salem. They had a group of young adults who were very mentally deficient. They could barely articulate. They were severely retarded, severely. They got up in this church—I will never forget it as long as I live—they quoted verse after verse after verse with the reference—verse after verse.

I’m telling you, I knew exactly, exactly why they could do that, because some precious, dear saint had spent hundreds of hours with them. Those precious, severely retarded young adults just quoted and quoted and quoted. It was just such a blessing.

I realized then anybody honestly can quote Scripture if you’ll go over it enough times. Stop and think about it. Think of all the things you know from memory.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: And all the things your children know from memory.

Nancy Epperson: Exactly. Most people can sing “Amazing Grace,” or when Christmas comes around, we can sing the Christmas carols. It’s just because of the repetition.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: And they know commercials because they’re hearing those a lot.

Nancy Epperson: Commercials, right, and so it really is amazing how repetition works.

I’m going to tell you something, and you won’t believe me because people don’t believe me. I have a very bad memory. It probably would take me twice as long to memorize something that you could memorize in far less time, but I work at it.

That’s it. Tenacity is what it takes. It doesn’t take intelligence. It really doesn’t. It takes tenacity—determination.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: And believing that it’s important enough that you take the time from something else you might be doing.

Nancy Epperson: Exactly. So where one person might take reading over a verse twenty times a day, I probably have to read over it thirty or forty times a day. 

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: You’ve probably heard some people say, “I can’t memorize Scripture now that I’m older.” Have you found it’s gotten harder as you’ve gotten older? I've found that to be true.

Nancy Epperson: I’ll have to be honest with you. It is. I'm sorry. I wish I could say because I’m in such a habit of doing it that it’s just like falling off a log. It’s so much easier.

It isn’t. It is harder, but again, tenacity. Just do it.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: So it’s not making you give up, the fact that you’ve gotten older?

Nancy Epperson: No, it isn’t, but I do have to work harder because you just have to do what it takes. I think it really does take me longer.

It just takes blocking out some time, some discipline. We all have calendars. We all put down appointments. Block out a little time in your calendar. Take one verse and go over it and over it, thoughtfully—five minutes.

It may take you one week. It may take you two weeks, but I guarantee that you will learn that verse if you will faithfully just commit to five minutes a day. It may take some people four or five weeks, but you’ll learn it if you will just stick with it.

The blessing of meditating on Scripture, as I said earlier, is you get to know the Lord more intimately. You’re forced to spend time in the Word, and the Word of God is God’s wisdom.

Someone has said, “Wisdom is looking at life through God’s frame of reference.” We want to look at life through God’s frame of reference. We want to look at life through the perspective of God’s Word.

If you’ll recall, when Moses went up on Mount Sinai and spent that time in the presence of God, when he came down from the mountain, he was radiant. In fact, the Bible says his face was so shiny, it says that Moses knew not that his face shone, but he was radiant. He had been with the Lord. Finally, he had to just put a veil over his face because the people couldn’t even look on him.

When you spend time in the presence of God, something happens internally that is apparent externally. Going back to 1 Timothy 4:15: “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.”

People will see there’s something there. They said of the early disciples, “They took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). There will be something about you that will be reflected.

The Bible says that we are the salt of the earth. What does salt do? It creates a thirst, and what we want is for people around us to become thirsty. We want to create a thirst in others, and that only comes when you spend time with the Lord in His presence. You are forced to do it when you memorize Scripture and you meditate on it. It’s just precious time in the presence of God Almighty.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: Do you find the Lord bringing those Scriptures to your mind at points of discouragement or temptation?

Nancy Epperson: That is a great question. Absolutely, yes! That is what is so wonderful about hiding God’s Word in your heart. Whatever the situation, God brings those wonderful verses. I always say, “If you do your homework, He’ll do the rest.” If you’ll hide God’s Word in your heart, the Spirit of God will bring it to you.

I can’t tell you the Bible studies I’ve taught where a woman will come up to me after and say, “Who told you? Who told you about my problems?” I’ll say, “No one, I promise. The Spirit of God led me to quote those verses, and that was totally of the Lord.” That has happened more times than I can remember. It’s amazing.

I’ll tell you one thing, I think one reason, personally, I’ve never had to struggle with depression—we all have our things we struggle with, but depression has never been a problem for me. I really believe one of the reasons is because of God’s Word in my heart.

If I get a little bit down, just a little bit, do you know what I do? Immediately, Psalm 103:

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; to such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul. Psalm 103.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: What you have just done is leave no room for depression.

Nancy Epperson: Absolutely. How can you possibly be depressed when you think of God’s goodness and all His blessings?

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: You’ve really just renewed your mind with the Word of God.

Nancy Epperson: Absolutely, absolutely, and I tell you, I have nipped that depression thing in the bud every time with Psalm 103. It is probably my favorite psalm, though I love them all.

When you are counting your blessings and praising God, it just removes any self-pity or depression, and it's just powerful. It’s a powerful tool. I honestly believe—and I’ve had all kinds of things happen in my life—everybody has heartaches, sorrows, tragedies, but I will say, immediately I go to Psalm 103, and that truly does totally nip it in the bud.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: I think a lot of our listeners are going to want to go to Psalm 103 today and get started.

Nancy Epperson: I hope so. I hope so.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: They won’t be able to quote it overnight the way you just did, but that’s obviously been in you for a very long time. It has become part of the fabric of your heart, so now you can use it to counsel your heart.

Nancy Epperson: Yes, yes. Absolutely.

Leslie: We've been hearing Psalm 103 quoted from a guest who says she's not naturally very good at memorizing. Nancy Epperson has provided very helpful advice and encouragement on Scripture memory. I hope it encourages you to get God's Word in your heart as well.

Throughout 2012 we’re encouraging listeners to take a challenge. Read the Bible every day.  You can choose how much. But get in the habit of not letting a day go by without connecting with God’s Word.

You can sign up for this challenge and we’ll stay connected by email. You’ll get periodic reminders to keep reading the Bible day by day. Just sign up for the Bible reading challenge at ReviveOurHearts.com.

That website and Revive Our Hearts radio are possible thanks to the generous support of our listeners. Nancy’s here to describe how thankful she is for that support.

Nancy: I had a really special treat over the last twenty-four hours as one of our ministry supporters dropped by our headquarters, our home base here in Niles, Michigan. We had dinner together and were able to spend some time together.

The wife has been a dear friend of mine. The husband wasn't so familiar with the ministry as she was is, but they've been generous supporters of this ministry. I've been so thankful for their heart for this message, and for this wife whose life has been deeply impacted by the message of Revive Our Hearts. She has helped us make this ministry possible to others.

As I was with them, I was just so thankful for those who pray for this ministry, those who support it financially. Many of them I never get to meet personally. But when I can, I just had a chance as they were leaving the office to put my arms around them and say, "Thank you so much. Thanks for being a part of what God is doing here. What you have given is an investment in eternity. It's an investment that's not going to go when the stock market crashes. There are lives today who are being impacted as a result of your support of this ministry." And what I said to them, I would say to all who support this ministry with your prayers and with your financial gifts, "Thank you so, so much."

And just a reminder that we need your support during this month of May, our fiscal year-end, as we are trusting the Lord to send $350,000 or more in listener support. And of that, we have some friends who have extended a matching challenge offer to double, to match dollar for dollar, the gift of anyone who sends a contribution this month who has never before supported Revive Our Hearts.

They are just eager to see others get engaged in lifting this ministry and carrying it. I know there are many people listening right now who have been blessed by this ministry, it's been a help to you, it's been an encouragement, it's challenged you with your walk with the Lord, it's many helped you through some tough times, but you've never taken the chance to say"thank you" by sending a financial gift to Revive Our Hearts.

So when you do, if it's the first time you've given, that gift will be matched, it will be doubled. It will be a part of what we are asking God to do in meeting the needs of this ministry here at our fiscal year-end.

When you send a gift this week, we want to say "thank you" by sending a CD by Nancy Epperson, who we have been talking with today. It's called "Powerful Scriptures." It's Nancy reciting from memory several psalms, the book of Philippians, the book of James, the book of 1 John, reciting these passages of Scripture from memory.

This is a CD that I believe will uplift you, will comfort you. It will encourage your heart. It may be something you will want to play as your little ones are going to sleep at night as I like to with this CD as I going to sleep at night. I just want my mind to be renewed by the Word of God.

We'll send you that CD, "Powerful Scriptures," recited by Nancy Epperson, when you make a contribution of any amount to Revive Our Hearts. You can make that gift by giving us a call at 1-800-569-5959, or if you want to make that contribution online, visit us at ReviveOurHearts.com.

Leslie: Do you ever struggle to control your tongue? Do you ever lose it with your kids? Well, Nancy Epperson describes how God's Word affected her tongue when her kids were young. That's tomorrow on Revive Our Hearts

Revive Our Hearts is an outreach of Life Action Ministries.

All Scriptures are from the King James Version unless otherwise noted.