Scripture Meditation

“Blessed is the one… whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.”

PSALM 1:1-2 (NIV)

●  LOVE GOD

What if one verse could stay with you all day?

Meditation is often thought of as something practiced by Eastern religions. But meditation is deeply rooted in Judeo-Christian practices for thousands of years. Many think of meditation as emptying our minds. Being in a way and state where there is no activity. But Christian meditation is not that at all, instead of emptying, Christian meditation seeks to fill our mind with the truths of God, particularly through the contemplation of his word.

THE PRACTICE

Sitting with the words

To practice meditating, first choose a verse or passage of Scripture that you want to focus on. Read it slowly and gently - more than once to become familiar with this passage and what it is saying. Instead of filling our mind with a frenzy of noise, thoughts, or activity. Allow your mind to rest. Sit with these words. Think about them, what they mean, and what they show you about God. And when your mind drifts (because it will) gently come back, recenter and focus on the passage, allowing it to settle and permeate your thoughts.

Meditation can be for a few minutes all the way to many days or weeks. Many find that times of focused meditation lead to meditative reflective moments throughout the rest of our days, where situations and circumstances bring the Scriptures back to our attention.

RESOURCES

Companions for the journey

Celebration of Discipline
Book by Richard Foster. Includes a chapter on the discipline of meditation.

Lectio 365
Free app. Daily time meditating on a passage and responding in prayer.