How Do You Meditate on Scripture?

JAM2b · Feb 6, 2022

I'm never sure how you are supposed to do this exactly. Do you read it over and over? Memorize it and then think about it?

When I try to meditate on Scripture my mind wonders unless I'm writing it down. I'll take a verse and write it over and over repeatedly.

TzephanYahu · Feb 6, 2022

Hi @JAM2b

Great question.

The Hebrew word for mediate is the same word to describe an animal chewing the cud. If you understand that process, in say a cow, it will help you understand meditation further.

For example, I may meditate on a Psalm for a day, week or month (sometimes year!). I roll the words around my mind and dissect them - like teeth chewing through grass over and over. I think about the meaning and motive behind the words, the choice of words, the thoughts raised, the conclusion (or lack of one), I pictured the environment of the author and his heart, I think of the application for me, I try and equate situations in my life or faith that matches, its importance, its structure, what it doesn't say, and so on...

But here is the key. Be prepared to say at the end of your ponderings. "I don't know" or "I'm not sure I get it all" at the end of it. Be prepared to come back to chew it over again until you have really digested it fully.

The biggest mistake you can make in your mediations is rushing or assuming you have understood the passage. The goal isn't to understand it. The goal is to live it and experience it spiritually and digest it so it melds with you. Then, in time, the sustenance from that mediation will bring vitality to you as when the need/situation arises.

I hope something in that helps you. And enjoy it! Biblical mediation is a fun pastime and awesome for self-development and even on occasion hearing from the Holy Spirit.

Peace.

Maria Billingsley · Feb 6, 2022

It simply means to think about it. No need to repeat, memorize or even write it down. It is not so much about the words on the page, it is the meaning behind those words that we should meditate on. This is walking in His Holy Spirit daily.
Blessings

Anthony2019 · Feb 6, 2022

I love sitting in a cathedral and listening to Anglican chant, especially the Psalms.

public hermit · Feb 6, 2022

You might consider Lectio Divina, which is an established practice of meditating on the scriptures.

Lectio Divina - Wikipedia

Trusting in Him · Feb 6, 2022

It's not about what we do, but letting His word wash over us.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (Philippians 2:5)

For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:11)

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)

Ask God to reveal these things to you as you read and think on His word.

Albion · Feb 6, 2022

Yes.

However, I'm sure that different approaches work for different people.

Gregory Thompson · Feb 6, 2022

What I do is pray over each word and let God speak through it.

Since that method is kind of involved. A good template to give perspective is the strongs definitions for a word.

For each word, there are multiple possible translations and you might see this if you pick up an amplified bible.

So praying over the passage and letting God speak through it brings out a special manifestation of these meanings.

If the concept of "praying over it" doesn't make sense, or is not in your application tool box: I would recommend to prayerfully ponder on the possible meanings of each word and then write out what the passage would look like today in your own words based on the possible meanings of each of the words in the passage.

A free online tool that can help with this is www.blueletterbible.org.

BobRyan · Feb 6, 2022

Memorize, think about what it means, pray it to God if it is a promise in the Psalms.

Here is a great way to meditate on a great many Bible texts in the Gospels regarding the life of Christ... a world class Commentary on the Life of Christ (for example) - every chapter is a form of meditation on it.

chapter 1 "God with Us"
The Desire of Ages "God With Us"

Index to all chapters
The Desire of Ages

JAM2b · Feb 6, 2022

These are some great responses. Thank you.

Trusting in Him · Feb 6, 2022

Some bible passages are better for this than others, the book of psalms is great for meditating on. The psalms are full of and rich with meaning. They were such favorites with the puritans in their era! They were also extremely popular with the Covenanters as well for the same reasons.

Waymarker · Feb 6, 2022

"Meditate" is too fancy a word, just keep it light..

Paul said - "I'm worried lest you be led astray from the simplicity of Christ" (2 Cor 11:3)
Jesus is easy enough to understand-
"And the common people heard him gladly" (Mark 12:37)
"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13)

disciple Clint · Feb 7, 2022

Discover The Power of Ignatian Meditation to Engage with Jesus - Soul Shepherding

lastofall · Feb 7, 2022

[for me anyway] the way it works is: Faith cometh only by hearing the Word of God, and by none other; and hearing is not mere listening, but is to submit to and rely upon God's Word: along with this is that we must learn to not think above that which is written, that we may avoid exaggeration and over-estimation, wherein thinking above that which is written dwelleth.

aiki · Feb 7, 2022

Writing out Scripture is fine - as far as it goes. Study God's word, too. Investigate it. Understand proper interpretive hermeneutic principles and apply them to a careful sifting-through of Scripture. Stop and pray about what you're reading, giving God opportunity to enlighten your understanding, comfort you, strengthen and convict you, if necessary.

A good basic primer on personal Bible study is the book "How To Read the Bible for All It's Worth," by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart.

Finally, and most importantly, approach the study of God's word submitted to God, yielded to Him as the living sacrifice that you are supposed to be (Romans 12:1; Romans 6:13-22; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:6). There is little God will do in your life so long as you are standing outside of His control, a rebel to His will and way, which is the condition of every believer so long as they neglect to remain "under the mighty hand of God" throughout every day. Bible study becomes very mechanical, a duty, a mere ritual, when one is not filled with God's Spirit. And the Spirit only fills those who place themselves consciously and constantly under His control.

NothingIsImpossible · Feb 8, 2022

I've found that the more I read stuff over and over, the more I start having eye opening discoveries. Things that when younger, I didn't see before when reading. By that I mean much like a riddle, you may not see the answer at first. But one day you get it and now you see the answer.

sunshineforJesus · Feb 9, 2022

Thats the best definition of meditating on Scripture.

Waymarker · Feb 9, 2022

Over-study might not always be a good thing..

-
Jesus said:-"You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." (John 5:39-40)

How Do You Meditate on Scripture?

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Pax et bonum!

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Change is inevitable, feel free to spare some.

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is so in love with God

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