15 & 16 Mar 2025 (Pastoral Page) START MEMORIZING SCRIPTURE TODAY

By Dn Leong Pei De, Victor

Buoyed by the success of having memorized and recited 3 verses of the beatitudes in front of a crowd (and yes you were thoroughly forgiving), I was keen to soldier on. Scripture memory did not seem too difficult, especially when compared with other disciplines of fasting and solitude, and was turning out to be surprisingly fun. Committing the beatitudes to memory? That sounded like a meaningful and worthwhile challenge to embark on this Lent season, and so I decided to get started right away.

6 verses in, my mind started to wander. Let me check an email, is the item I ordered going to be delivered soon? I wonder how John is doing after his operation. In that instant when I had resolved to commit Scripture to memory, it felt like countless distracting thoughts were scrambling for my attention. Instead of pondering the approval of God for those seeking righteousness, the merciful and pure, I was concerned about securing the requisite approvals for a piece of work done. If this is your experience, brothers and sisters, don’t give up! To struggle and be discouraged by slow progress is a common experience faced by anyone forming a new habit. Start with small portions of scripture, even a verse at a time, and get increasingly good at it. This process is a practice of humility and patience.

Press on. What you’re committing to is a spiritual discipline that will be greatly rewarding. About memorizing Scripture Chuck Swindoll says “No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become more alert and observant. Your confidence and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified” (Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life). Phil 4:8 reads “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Scripture memorization is a key way for us to fill our minds with what we need.

My next struggle was simply that I did not feel like memorizing the Bible. It began as a shiny new challenge, but had started to feel like a chore despite knowing the benefits. Spiritual disciplines are habits of devotion, habits of experiential Christianity that have been practiced by God’s people. They are activities, they are something that you do. I had simply decided to the momentum and get going memorizing without a plan. A strategic way to approach this then is to form a healthy routine. Work Scripture memorization into your day by blocking out 15 minutes to spend with God in His word. Find someone you can be accountable to for this commitment, better still if your accountability partner is memorizing verses with you. Lastly, take advantage of the minutes- those minutes before a zoom call starts, or when you’re stuck idling in traffic, or while washing dishes. The great part about having Scripture in your head is that you can be engaging with Scripture and enjoying God on the go! Certainly the goal of practicing a spiritual discipline is actually about being and not the doing. 1 Tim 4: 7 reads “… Rather, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;’ (NASB). The goal is godliness, but the biblical means to that is to discipline yourself by the power of the Holy Spirit, with the right motivation. Scripture memorization is thus a means to an end - to get us storing texts in our minds about God so we can relate to Him as He really is.

Well, you’ve made it to the end of the page, you’ll be happy to know that I did make it to the end of the 12 verses. I will be continuing to recite and repeat these verses through my week and allow God to speak. Next time we meet, let’s have a go at reciting these verses together!