I was blessed, when I was in preschool and Kindergarten, to attend a private Christian school. It was during those early years of my life that I learned principles that have set the foundation of my faith today. I remember the teachers at this school assigning a Bible challenge for us kids: Those who could memorize one Scripture for each letter of the alphabet, from A to Z, would receive a Bible at the end of the school year. Not just any Bible, either, but one that had our name inscribed onto the cover. I am happy to admit that I received my very first traditional Bible from this challenge—and I still own it today. This Bible serves as my reminder of just how powerful it can be to do as Proverbs 22:6 says and “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Scripture is powerful. When we, as adults, can plant seeds of the Word within the hearts of children, we can trust that God will bring forth its fruit throughout their lifetime. One way we can do that is by helping them memorize Scriptures. Not sure where to start? Here are 45 memory verses for kids that are simple to memorize yet rich with spiritual truth.
16 Easy Memory Verses for Kids
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing” Psalm 23:1.
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you” Psalm 56:3.
“For the word of God is alive and active” Hebrews 4:12a.
“Be still, and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10.
“This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it” Psalm 118:24.
“Do to others as you would have them do to you” Luke 6:31.
“He must become greater; I must become less” John 3:30.
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” Romans 12:21.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4.
“The joy of the Lord is your strength” Nehemiah 8:10b.
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” 1 Thessalonians 5:18.
“Come near to God and he will come near to you” James 4:8a.
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” Jeremiah 29:13.
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” James 4:7.
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” Luke 6:27.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” Hebrews 13:8.
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“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 6:23.
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” 1 Corinthians 10:31.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” Matthew 6:33.
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” Psalm 119:105.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28.
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” John 3:17.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” 2 Timothy 1:7.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” Proverbs 3:5-6.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” Philippians 4:6.
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night”Psalm 1:1-2.
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” Ephesians 6:1.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”John 10:10.
15 Inspirational Memory Verses for Kids
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength” Philippians 4:13.
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” Psalm 46:1.
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” Romans 8:37.
“When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever” Proverbs 10:25.
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” Psalm 23:4.
“The LORD is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” Psalm 118:6.
“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” Psalm 23:6.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?” Psalm 27:1-2
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” Psalm 147:3.
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” 1 John 4:4.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” Joshua 1:9.
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” Matthew 28:20b.
“Do not be afraid, for I am with you” Isaiah 43:5a.
“The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made” Psalm 145:9.
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” Exodus 14:14.
Ways to Help Memorize Verses for You and Your Family
Play a hands-on game or activity. Word games—such as hangman, word unscrambler, and word searches—may be just the trick in helping your kid to commit the verse to memory while having fun. You could even DIY a Bible verse puzzle and challenge the kid to assemble the memory verse back together.
Assign one new verse for each letter of the alphabet. For example, the letter A could correspond with Matthew 7:7: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”If you have multiple children, you could even challenge them by seeing who can memorize all verses from A to Z the quickest.
Use rote learning to help your child memorize and repeat Scripture based on events, emotions, or certain times of the day. You can do this by having the child write down the verse on an index card and place the card where they can see it often—such as on the refrigerator, on their nightstand, or on their mirror. When they go to bed at night, they can see and repeat Psalm 4:8: “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” In the mornings while they’re eating breakfast, they can see and repeat Psalm 118:24 (emphasis added): “This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Taking it a step further, you could even have them draw a picture that illustrates the verse and glue the memory verse index card onto the picture.
Instruct your kid to learn the verse in a song. This is where YouTube may come in handy! You can also find Scripture music for kids, such as the albums “Hide Em in Your Heart” by Steve Green and “Seeds of Purpose” by Seeds Worship Music.
Choreograph a Scripture to movements. Your child will come to memorize the verse through both rhythm and choreography. Can’t seem to come up with the movements yourself? No worries! Simply do a YouTube search for “memory verse song.” Your kids can learn the verse while watching these videos and learning the movements for themselves.
As you instruct your kids to learn these memory verses, remember that you are not simply teaching them to memorize the arrangement of words and sentences. You are infusing them with the power of God’s Word. Isaiah 55:11 tells us that His Word will never return void, but will “accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” The verses that you teach your children now will serve as their lamp and light as they walk through their journey of life, according to Psalm 119:105.
So no matter the method you choose to impart Scriptures’ wisdom into the hearts of these young ones, the way in which you show reverence toward God’s Word will make an impression on them. Even though you may not be by their side 24/7 as they face life’s challenges, trials, and temptations, you can trust that the Holy Spirit will help bring these verses back to their remembrance and that they will cling to its truths.
This is the reason why we should never relent in guiding children in learning the Word: because it is during this time that the seeds are being planted. Your kids will learn to love God and turn to His Word for wisdom, guidance, strength, and comfort. And is there anything we could teach our kids that is more valuable, more profitable, than this?
Further Reading
25 Verses to Memorize with Your Kids
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