Memorizing Scripture

I attended the Biblical Counseling Conference in October 2015. At the end of the last session on Saturday, the instructors showed a video portraying a counseling session. The counselor emphasized to the counselees the need to do homework. One of the main homework assignments for the counselees was scripture memory. Let us ponder this. Counseling is discipleship. We prescribe scripture memory to help people to change their wrong patterns of thinking into biblical patterns of thinking. This prescription would imply that all Christians should practice this spiritual discipline. However, in my experience most Christians do not memorize scripture.

Christians agree that scripture memory is important or at least that it is useful for some believers. However, people find memorizing scripture difficult. At my age, I find it very difficult. However, how can I counsel people to meditate or to memorize a passage of scripture, if I am not memorizing scripture myself? Furthermore, the bible teaches it is an important spiritual discipline to help all of us grow into Christ-likeness.

I started memorizing scripture after my first trip to Haiti. During my first trip, I had problems finding verses quickly in my bible. It made it difficult to hold conversations. Since then I have found it useful when I give soul care to patients in Haiti to have bible passages readily available. Since internet access is very limited in Haiti, having the verses and their references committed to memory, has been very helpful. The more verses I have memorized, the more tools I have to help people.

It also has been very helpful for my own spiritual walk. Even though I do scripture memory poorly, I find the very act of memorizing is a form of meditation. The more I focus on God's Word; the more I focus on The Word, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Here are some useful verses that encouraged me to meditate and memorize scripture.

Deuteronomy 11:18
“You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.

Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Psalm 1:1-2
Blessed is the man
   who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
   nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
   and on his law he meditates day and night.

Psalm 119:9-11
How can a young man keep his way pure?
  By guarding it according to your word.
With my whole heart I seek you;
  let me not wander from your commandments!
I have stored up your word in my heart,
  that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:97
Oh how I love your law!
 It is my meditation all the day.

Matthew 4:4
But he answered, “It is written,
 “‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
     but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

2 Timothy 2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.