Often we talk about meditating on Scripture, but it has been a while since we have taken the time to talk about how to do that. It’s possible that not knowing how is the biggest thing keeping some of us from engaging in this discipline of “delight” (Psalm 1:2; 119:15-16).
While the mainstay of most of our spiritual diets consists of reading the Bible, the Bible most often exhorts us to meditate on Scripture. Scripture meditation is simply thinking deeply about a short portion of the Word. How do we do that?
The first step, of course, is to decide what verse you’d like to use. It could be from your devotional reading, from a sermon you’ve recently heard, from a passage that you have memorized, etc. It is usually best to use Scripture that you know well. If meditation is thinking deeply about the meaning of a text, we really need to understand the text before we try to meditate on it. If we have studied it ourselves or heard a message preached on it, we’ll be more likely to meditate based on an accurate interpretation of the passage.
Upon selecting a text, try one or more of the following methods.
1. Write the verse in your own words.
This will require you to take the time to think about what each word means and how it is contributing to the overall meaning of the verse. You may find it beneficial to re-write it in your own words several different ways. You can then take the best of the best and make one final paraphrase. Remember, the objective is not to come up with our own translation. You simply want to use this as a tool to help you think through the verse and what it means.
2. Look for applications of this text.
Here you can set out to come up with as many practical ways of living the verse as you can. Again, this forces you to think through exactly what the verse is saying in its context. Be as specific as possible. For example, let’s say you are meditating on Ephesians 4:25, (“Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another”). The application, “When my spouse asks me what I’m thinking I’m actually going to share it rather than saying everything is fine” would be better than, “I’m going to try to be more honest in all situations.”
If you’re meditating on a verse that does not contain a straightforward command, you can look for applications by asking yourself, “What specifically will my life look like if I believe this?”
3. Read or recite the verse with emphasis on a different word each time.
… not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
… not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
… not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
… not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
… not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
… not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Eph 2:9).
Here also, the idea is to think through each word and find how that word is contributing to the meaning of the verse as a whole. What significance does that word bring to the verse?
4. Discover a minimum number of insights in the text.
You simply set a number and make that many observations of the verse. Taking Ephesians 2:9 above as an example (with the context in mind), I could list the following insights:
- there is a right way and a wrong way to be saved
- works will not bring me to salvation
- God saves by grace so that I may not boast of myself in my salvation
- I can place no hope in my own works
- no one has a right to boast before God
5. Ask the Philippians 4:8 questions.
Philippians 4:8 reads, Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
With this method, you just take your verse and pose questions based on Philippians 4:8. What is true about this, or what truth does it exemplify? What is honorable about this? What is right about this? What is pure about this or how does it exemplify purity? etc.
This method is particularly useful with narrative portions of Scripture.
6. Pray through the text.
Again, using Ephesians 2:9 as my text, I could pray, “Lord, I humbly recognize that my salvation is all of grace and has nothing to do with any works done by me. Please convict me of any boasting in my heart related to my salvation. Help me to despair of fleshly works, knowing that I am saved by grace alone, and yet help me to be conscious that works should result from your work in my life.”
You don’t need to do all of these each time you meditate. Just choose one or two. Try them all eventually and you will find the methods you like best. It seems to be the case that delight in the Scriptures leads to meditation and meditation on the Scriptures leads to delight. So press in!
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