September 2026  by Bailey McKinley

Bible Verse Mapping

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”
Isaiah 40:8

How do you memorize Scripture?

Do you commit to reciting a specific passage every day? Do you write verses on sticky notes and place them where you’ll see them daily? Or maybe you’re one of those lucky ladies who can read a passage once and remember it without much practice!

However you do it, one thing is certain: Scripture is important.

John 1:1 reminds us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

But what if we went beyond simply reading Scripture or trying to memorize it?

What if we were challenged to slow down, sit with a passage, and dive even deeper into what God is saying through His Word?

Wisdom Shared: Learning From Others

Last night, a lovely friend of Sheologie, Sandi Garcia, sat down with us ladies and walked us through the process of verse mapping, step by step.

She even printed an example for everyone and took the time to walk the ladies through how they could do it on their own.

What I loved most about listening to Sandi explain the process was seeing her genuine love for digging deeper into God’s Word. She made the whole process feel approachable, practical, and even fun!

I especially loved how Sandi showed us how we can take a passage from the Bible and apply its truth to the world we are living in right now.

She pointed us to Romans 12:2, sharing:

“The world is constantly trying to tell us what to think, how to live, and what should matter. Romans 12:2 reminds us that as Christians, we don’t have to let the world be our mold. God wants to renew our minds so that our lives reflect Him.”

Isn’t that such a powerful reminder?

When we slow down and dig deeper into a specific passage of Scripture, progression begins to take place. God begins to transform the way we think. As our thinking changes, the way we live begins to change. And as our lives change, we become more aware of what God desires for us.

Scripture mapping gives us a simple way to pause, ask questions, look at context, and allow God’s Word to move from something we simply read into something we truly understand and live out.

Sandi’s 7 Simple Steps To Verse Mapping

Step 1 — Start with the Scripture
Choose the passage you want to study and write it out.

Step 2 — Circle the Key Words
Look closely at the words and phrases that stand out. What words are repeated? What words seem especially important?

Step 3 — Ask Five Questions
Ask: Who? What? How? Why? What is the result?
These questions can help you slow down and uncover what the passage is really communicating.

Step 4 — Look at the Context
Don’t study a verse in isolation. Look at the verses before and after it. Consider who wrote it, who it was written to, and what was happening when it was written.

Step 5 — Find Cross-References
Let Scripture help explain Scripture. Look for other passages that connect with the verse or theme you are studying.

Step 6 — Look for the Commands
Is God asking us to do something? Is there an instruction, warning, or action we should pay attention to?

Step 7 — Look for the Purpose
Finally, ask yourself: Why does this matter? What is God showing me through this passage, and how can I apply it to my life?

A Call To Action

So, what passage are you currently trying to write on your heart?

I want to challenge you to take that passage and go a little deeper.

Print off the beautiful blank verse mapping document Sandi created, follow the steps she shared, and give yourself permission to slow down and really study the Word.

We know that the Word of God is true. And there is something powerful about taking the time to write God’s promises on our hearts so that when trials, temptations, doubts, and difficult moments come our way, we have Scripture to stand on.

We don’t just want to read God’s Word…

We want to know it.

We want to understand it.

We want to live it.

And we want to carry it with us.

Until next time, shine bright, sisters-
Not for praise, but for the One who saves.
Bailey