How to Improve Your Memory

May this never happen to you. One evening during a pleasant meal I looked at my wife and sincerely asked, “What are the names of our daughters?” I had no idea. Realizing the sincerity of my inquiry she remained calm and answered. An equally sincere question followed, “Are they married?” Subsequent puzzling questions followed. With equal aplomb, typical of her, she answered each question. Finally, pausing long enough to call one of our sons-in-law who is a doctor and explaining the situation he insisted she get me to the ER at once. She was told to keep asking me questions on the way to the ER. Remarkably my memory returned before we got to the hospital. 

I had suffered Transient Global Amnesia (TGA). It is rare and is almost always a one time episode. For that I am thankful. There has been no negative reaction.

Many people seem to suffer from spiritual TGA. They forget their spiritual heritage and responsibility, even if only for a short time. However, time loss is a blessing forfeited.       

Don’t be like the person who is a hearer, but not a doer. “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.” (James 1: 23, 24)

Rather be “… one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1: 25)

In order to prevent spiritual TGA program your mind with the word of God. Exercise your mind by memorizing passages of Scripture. The mind is like a muscle. It needs exercise. There is no better exercise than Scripture memorization. Then you are more able to say, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119: 11)

“… for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.” (II Peter 1:5 – 9)

Following is a list of suggested passages for memorization. Don’t be intimidated by memorization, you will improve as you do it. Over the next few months patiently and persistently work on these passages. Take your time.

[Psalm 23, Psalm 119:11, Matthew 5:3-10, Philippians 2:5-8, Psalms 8:3-8, Ephesians 6:10-17, Psalm 8:3-6, II Peter 1:5-9]