Back to the Basicsናሙና

Psalm 119:15 - "I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways."

There is one spiritual discipline that often remains underappreciated and under-practiced: meditating on scripture. This practice is a powerful opportunity to deepen our understanding of God's Word and our connection to Him. Just as in any quest for deeper knowledge, meditating on scripture is a deliberate, thoughtful, and necessary approach that enables us to uncover the profound treasures within God's Word.

Scripture is far more than just a compilation of stories and verses; it is a living spring of divine wisdom and guidance. It is in the very DNA of our faith journey! One powerful testament to the significance of meditating on scripture can be found in the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans. In Romans 15:4, he writes, "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us so that through the endurance taught in the scriptures and the encouragement they provide, we might have hope." This verse reminds us that the scriptures are not confined to the past but continue to teach and instruct us today! We must take the time to meditate on these timeless truths day after day.

Meditating on scripture can not be merely a passive practice but instead, it must be an active engagement with the living, breathing, powerful Word of God. It's a tool to help us rediscover the basics of where our faith lies, ultimately deepening our relationship with our Father.

Meditating on scripture may look different for every believer. Here are some simple tips on how to begin practicing this meditation. First, focus on a time when you will prioritize practicing meditation. Sometimes simply committing to practice a spiritual discipline can be the most difficult part. Second, pray! Praying before reading the word of God is absolutely necessary. The next step is to pick a verse and read it slowly. Read it once, read it twice, read it three times! This is not the time to skim or see how many chapters you can breeze through. Think about what stands out to you in the scripture. What do you notice about God? What does this scripture say about God’s love? What about His judgment? When you begin asking questions while reading scripture, you begin seeing the Lord in a fresh light.

It can be difficult to implement meditating on scripture into your daily time with the Lord, but it is game-changing. We have the opportunity to read the word of God through a new lens when we practice this spiritual discipline. The Bible should never feel bland or boring -- there is something new to read every time we open the Word, as long as we have first opened our eyes.