I love using music to learn scripture. I normally start to learn verses first and as I do I try to make it more concrete I add music. You can use it however you would like! Here are some options that may be helpful to you!
All links are word for word using ESV
Ok, Ok, I'm not an expert at creating or using a mind palace. If you want some expert advice, check out Josh Summers' book called Memorize What Matters -12 proven strategies to memorize the bible. In that book he provides some helpful information on how to get started using the mind palace PLUS I would consider him an expert in using a mind palace for scripture memory. So, check out his YouTube channel if you're interested in learning more about this. For me, I'm going to try to keep it simple and usable for anyone who wants to use a walking path. The locations for the verses in this mind palace are located on a walking path. You can tailor it for your path by changing the images to match your speed/walk. I'm not that creative when it comes to creating visual images so I asked Chat GPT to create a few different kinds of mind palaces. Mind Palace #3 I really liked but the images just didn't fit what I needed for myself on my walking path. I hope that you will be able to find one that you can tailor to your needs!
Mind Palace #1 (Short and easy version)
Verse 1: Door — The LORD has searched you and knows you.
Verse 2: Steps to house — He knows when you sit and when you stand.
Verse 3: Side walk to the path — He knows where you walk and where you lie down.
Verse 4: Mailbox — Words coming out before you speak.
Verse 5: Fence — He is in front of you and behind you, with His hand on you.
Verse 6: Hedge — This knowledge is too great to understand.
Verse 7: Street Light — You cannot go away from God’s Spirit.
Verse 8: Tall tree — God is in heaven and in the depths.
Verse 9: Clubhouse Pool — God is present everywhere.
Verse 10: Sign on path — God leads you and holds you.
Verse 11: path light on ground — Darkness will not hide you.
Verse 12: Sewer Drain — Darkness is not dark to God.
Verse 13: Brick wall— God formed you.
Verse 14: Look up to the sky— You are made by God.
Verse 15: Retention Pond on right — God saw you when you were hidden.
Verse 16: RipRap for Water Drainage— God knew all your days before they began.
Verse 17: 3rd Bench on path— God’s thoughts are important.
Verse 18: Ripples in the water — God’s thoughts are more than can be counted.
Verse 19: Water Drain in Pond— God opposes the wicked.
Verse 20: Marker Sign on path — People speak against God.
Verse 21: 4th Bench on path— You reject those who hate God.
Verse 22: RipRap #2 — You treat God’s enemies as enemies.
Verse 23:Camera on path— Ask God to search your heart.
Verse 24: path that lead back home— leads back home.
Mind Palace #2 Short Cue Phrases
Verse 1 (Door): God knows me
Verse 2 (Bench): God knows my actions
Verse 3 (Street sign): God knows my ways
Verse 4 (Stone): God knows my words
Verse 5 (Hedge): God surrounds me
Verse 6 (Path sign): God’s knowledge is great
Verse 7 (Curved path): I cannot escape God
Verse 8 (Tree): God is everywhere
Verse 9 (Open path): God is present always
Verse 10 (Bench): God leads and holds me
Verse 11 (Shade): Darkness cannot hide me
Verse 12 (Light pole): Darkness is not dark
Verse 13 (Bridge): God made me
Verse 14 (Pond): I am made by God
Verse 15 (Bushes): God saw me hidden
Verse 16 (Trail marker): God planned my days
Verse 17 (Stones): God’s thoughts matter
Verse 18 (Long path): God’s thoughts are many
Verse 19 (Trash can): God opposes evil
Verse 20 (Fence): God is spoken against
Verse 21 (Path split): I choose God’s side
Verse 22 (Corner): I reject evil
Verse 23 (Tree/bench): Search my heart
Verse 24 (Path forward): Lead me in the way everlasting
Mind Palace # 3 (starting point is your door to your home)
Verse 1: Front door — God carefully searching and knowing you.
Verse 2: Doormat — Footprints appear as you sit down and stand up.
Verse 3: Sidewalk/driveway — God measuring your steps and resting place.
Verse 4: Mailbox — Words coming out before you speak.
Verse 5: Gate or fence — God in front and behind, hand on you.
Verse 6: Path entrance sign — A glowing sign too wonderful to grasp.
Verse 7: Curved path — Wind swirling wherever you turn.
Verse 8: Tall tree — Ladder to heaven, roots deep in the ground.
Verse 9: Open stretch of path — Wings lifting you forward.
Verse 10: Bench — God’s hand guiding and holding you.
Verse 11: Shaded area — Darkness trying to cover you.
Verse 12: Light pole — Darkness turning into bright light.
Verse 13: Wooden bridge/planks — Hands knitting a body together.
Verse 14: Pond overlook — Reflection showing “wonderfully made.”
Verse 15: Bushes near pond — A hidden place where you are formed.
Verse 16: Trail map/marker — A book listing all your days.
Verse 17: Pile of stones — Each stone glowing like a precious thought.
Verse 18: Long path stretch — Endless sand being counted.
Verse 19: Trash can — Evil being firmly removed.
Verse 20: Fence — Angry words bouncing off it.
Verse 21: Path split — Turning away from the dark path.
Verse 22: Sharp corner — A bold boundary line on the ground.
Verse 23: Final tree or bench — God searching your heart with a light.
Verse 24:Straight path ahead — One clear path going forward with no branches.
Mind Palace #4
(Long winded version with imagery)Path: Garden Gate → Main Path → Trees → Ponds → Flowerbeds → Gazebo → Meadow → Exit Gate
Verse 1 — The Garden Gate
“O LORD, you have searched me and known me!”
Image: A gate swings open by itself as a large magnifying glass glows above it—God knows who’s entering.
Verse 2 — The Welcome Bench
“You know when I sit down and when I rise up…”
Image: A wooden bench that pops up and down like a seesaw—sit, rise. A long-distance telescope points toward you (“thoughts from afar”).
Verse 3 — The Winding Path
“You search out my path…”
Image: Glowing footprints appear on the garden path ahead of you.
Verse 4 — Parrot seen in the trees “Even before a word is on my tongue…”
Image:
Verse 5 — The Hedge Circle
“You hem me in, behind and before…”
Image: A round hedge encloses you gently, with a giant hand resting comfortingly on your shoulder.
Verse 6 — The Tall Tree Tower
“Such knowledge is too wonderful…”
Image: A towering tree stretching into the sky with a ladder that doesn’t reach the top.
Verse 7 — The Compass Stone “Where shall I go from your Spirit?”
Image: A stone compass on the ground—the arrows glow in all directions, showing you can’t flee God’s presence.
Verse 8 — Hill & Hollow
“If I ascend to heaven… if I make my bed in Sheol…”
Image: A hill with sunlight at the top and a hollow cave below—God stands in both.
Verse 9 — Sunrise Pond
“If I take the wings of the morning…”
Image: Wings of light rise over a sparkling pond.
Verse 10 — The Bridge
“Your right hand shall hold me.”
Image: A bridge over water with a giant gentle hand guiding yours across.
Verse 11 — The Shadowed Grove
“Surely the darkness shall cover me…”
Image: Trees darken suddenly, turning daylight to night.
Verse 12 — The Glow Tree
“The night is bright as the day.”
Image: A tree that glows brightly even in darkness, lighting everything around it.
Verse 13 — The Seed Bed
“You knitted me together in my mother’s womb.”
Image: A warm glowing seed beginning to sprout, knitted roots wrapping around it.
Verse 14 — The Reflecting Pool“I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Image: Looking into a still pond, your reflection sparkles with the words fearfully and wonderfully.
Verse 15 — The Secret Greenhouse
“My frame was not hidden from you…”
Image: A glass greenhouse where you see skeletal plant structures—nothing hidden.
Verse 16 — The Scroll Tree
“Your eyes saw my unformed substance…”
Image: Scrolls grow like fruit from a tree—each one labeled “DAY 1,” “DAY 2,” “DAY 3…” God’s plan for your days.
Verse 17 — The Jewel Garden
“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!”
Image: Jewel-like flowers gleam with gold, blue, and ruby light.
Verse 18 — The Sand Path
“More than the sand…”
Image: A path covered in infinite tiny grains of sand that shimmer endlessly.
Verse 19 — The Boundary Wall
“Oh that you would slay the wicked…”
Image: A stone wall at the edge of the garden, symbolizing God’s justice beyond the garden.
Verse 20 — The Poison Ivy Patch
“They speak against you with malicious intent.”
Image: Toxic vines whisper lies in the wind.
Verse 21 — The Divided Path
“Do I not hate those who hate you…”
Image: A fork in the road; one path marked LOYALTY TO GOD, the other rejection—you choose loyalty.
Verse 22 — The Weed Bed
“I count them my enemies.”
Image: Strong weeds growing thick—you pull them out decisively.
Verse 23 — The Heart Bench
“Search me, O God, and know my heart!” Image: A bench carved in the shape of a heart. A warm light shines on you like a spiritual X-ray.
Verse 24 — The Exit Gate
“Lead me in the way everlasting.”
Image: A golden path leading out of the garden through a radiant, open gate.
Welcome back friends! I am so excited that you are interested in memorizing Psalm 139 with me! I have been looking forward to this day for a while now. Not only because I wanted to get started on something new to meditate on but mainly because of the attributes of God laid out in this Psalm and the uniqueness of His relationship with us. This is one of my favorite psalms and I have memorized this in the past, but it was before I started a structured way of reviewing so its a bit rusty. However, one thing that I have found to be pretty cool is that I could still remember little nuggets about who God is and was able to share them with friends or anyone the Lord led me to comfort or encourage.
Are you ready to go on a journey with me for the next couple of months? We will be memorizing 2 verses a week and as we do we will dive into some keywords and map out a mind palace for a walking path.
So, pull up a chair and get ready to learn that this psalm shows us that God is eternal and has an eternal view of our life. He searches the depths and crevices of your life and mine, He knows all that we will do, say and think. He examines the path that we are currently walking on and who we do life with. He is present in our suffering, in times of darkness, while sleeping, when we feel alone, and during the blissful and contented times of life
He is the creator and sustainer of life. He knew you and I before we were even thought of or conceived. He wove us together while we were in our mothers womb., His thoughts of you are more than the sand.
What are you waiting for?? Even if you just memorized a short portion of this Psalm, you will be blessed inwardly.
So with that said, let's dive into Psalm 139 by doing a general overview. For the next 2 weeks, your task is to read the Psalm everyday. As you read it, ask the text questions using the 5 W's and H: Who, What, Where, Why, When and How. To help you get started you can follow along by listening to the podcast 👉or the youtube 👉video in the links
Preparing to Memorize Psalm 139 Part 1 - January 12th
Preparing to Memorize Psalm 139 Part 2 - January 19th
Monday: Learn verse 1
Tuesday: Review verse 1
Wednesday:Review verse 1
Thursday: Review verse 1
Friday: Add New Verse 139:2 then Review 1-2
Saturday: Review verse 2 then Review All verses together 1-2
Sunday: Review Verse 2 then Review All verses together 1-2
Monday: Review Verse 1-2 then add New Verse 139:3 Review 1-3
Tuesday: Review verse 3 then review all verses together 1-3
Wednesday: Digging Deeper Word Study -Search
Thursday:Review verse 3 Review all verses together 1-3
Friday: Review verse 3, Add New Verse 139:4 Review All verses together 1-4
Saturday:Move and Memorize Review verses 1-4
Sunday: Review All verses together 1-4
Monday: Review verses 1-4, Add New Verse 139:5
Tuesday: Review verse 5, review all verses together
Wednesday:Review verse 5, review all verses
Thursday: Review verse 5, review all verses
Friday: Add New Verse 139:6 then Review 1-6
Saturday: Review verse 6 then Review All verses together 1-6
Sunday: Review Verse 6 then Review All verses together 1-6
Monday: Review Verse 1-6 then add New Verse 139:7
Tuesday: Review verse 7 then review ALL verses together 1-7
Wednesday: Digging Deeper -Word Study
Thursday:Review verse 3 Review all verses together 1-7
Friday: Review verse 3, Add New Verse 139:8 Review All verses together 1-8
Saturday:Move and Memorize Review verses 1-8
Sunday: Review All verses together 1-8
Monday: Review verses 1-8, Add New Verse 139:9
Tuesday: Review verse 9, review all verses together
Wednesday:Review verse 9, review all verses
Thursday: Review verse 9, review all verses
Friday: Add New Verse 139:10 then Review 1-10
Saturday: Review verse 10 then Review All verses together 1-10
Sunday: Review Verse 10 then Review All verses together 1-10
Monday: Review Verse 1-10 then add New Verse 139:11
Tuesday: Review verse 10 then review ALL verses together 1-11
Wednesday: Digging Deeper- Word Study
Thursday:Review verse 11 Review all verses together 1-11
Friday: Review verse 11, Add New Verse 139:12 Review All verses together 1-12
Saturday:Move and Memorize Review verses 1-12
Sunday: Review All verses together 1-12
Monday: Review verses 1-12, Add New Verse 139:13
Tuesday: Review verse 13 , review all verses 1-13
Wednesday:Review verse 13, review all verses
Thursday: Review verse 13, review all verses
Friday: Add New Verse 139:14 then Review 1-14
Saturday: Review verse 14 then Review All verses together 1-14
Sunday: Review Verse 14 then Review All verses together 1-14
Monday: Review Verse 1-14 then add New Verse 139:15
Tuesday: Review verse 15 then review ALL verses together 1-15
Wednesday: Praying Psalm 139:1-18
Thursday:Review verse 15 Review all verses together 1-15
Friday: Review verse 15, Add New Verse 139:16 Review All verses together 1-16
Saturday:Move and Memorize Review verses 1-16
Sunday: Review All verses together 1-16
Monday: Review verses 1-16, Add New Verse 139:17
Tuesday: Review verse 17, review all verses together
Wednesday:Review verse 17, review all verses
Thursday: Review verse 17, review all verses
Friday: Add New Verse 139:18 then Review 1-18
Saturday: Review verse 18 then Review All verses together 1-18
Sunday: Review Verse 18 then Review All verses together
Monday: Review Verse 1-18 then add New Verse 139:19
Tuesday: Review verse 19 then review ALL verses together
Wednesday: Digging Deeper
Thursday:Review verse 20 Review all verses together
Friday: Review verse 20, Add New Verse 139:21 Review All verses together
Saturday:Move and Memorize Review verses 1-20
Sunday: Review All verses together
Monday: Review verses 1-20, Add New Verse 139:21
Tuesday: Review verse 21, review all verses together
Wednesday:Review verse 21, review all verses
Thursday: Review verse 21, review all verses
Friday: Add New Verse 139:22 then Review all verses
Saturday: Review verse 22 then Review All verses together
Sunday: Review Verse 22 then Review All verses together
Monday: Review Verse 1-22 then add New Verse 139:23
Tuesday: Review verse 23 then review ALL verses together 23
Wednesday: Digging Deeper- Word Study
Thursday:Review verse 23 Review all verses together
Friday: Review verse 23, Add New Verse 139:24 Review All verses together
Saturday:Move and Memorize Review verses 1-24
Sunday: Review All verses together
