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Meditating on God’s Word 
Lisa Matthews 


Reading the Bible is obviously a worthy endeavor. We can all agree that the intake of Scripture is beneficial and crucial for your Christian life and spiritual well-being. Yet, without a proper understanding, it can become rote, even tedious. Understanding and applying Scripture is difficult without the spiritual discipline of meditation. Donald S. Whitney writes in Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, "The failure to linger is the reason why many fail to remember or find their hearts warmed by the fire of God's Word."  Linger on the Word to keep yourself from wandering from the Word.


    Christians worldwide often begin a new year with a lofty Bible reading plan. Every January first, we are fired up to read the Bible in a year, only to fizzle out by Easter. This aim to live in obedience, seeking God's wisdom and guidance through His Word, is admirable. But failure to accomplish the goal largely stems from a lack of biblical meditation. We consume passages, but don't connect to them. We read yet do not retain, resulting in a lack of maturity and biblical application in our lives. Frustration and embarrassment lead to giving up this pursuit.


    After the death of Moses, Joshua comforted the Israelites by telling them, "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 success (Joshua 1:8)." Joshua emphasizes that it is God who leads them through His Word. His advice rings true for us all.  


    Psalm 1:2 describes the blessed one "whose delight is in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night." Further in Psalm 119:57, we read about “one who loves the Word meditates on it day and night”. These passages describe an approach to Scripture which may seem foreign to us. Yet, without Bible reading and meditation, we lack direction and have no spiritual compass by which to live. The Holy Spirit works by using what God has already said in His Word (John 14:26). Your heart becomes fertile ground for the Holy Spirit's empowerment when it is filled with Scripture. Meditating on Scripture is also the vehicle for renewing your mind (Romans 12:2). It provides the "lovely, true, pure, honorable things" that Paul describes in Philippians 4:8. Use meditation to maximize your Bible reading and finally complete that Bible reading plan. 


    Understanding the spiritual need to meditate is one thing, but what is the process? Meditating on God's Word begins with prayer. Pray and ask for the Spirit's help and guidance before reading the Bible. Begin with your current reading plan or book of the Bible you have chosen. Then select a verse or passage that resonates with you, one that describes life application, or one of God's promises, and endeavor to understand the text by using a study Bible or commentary. Re-read the passage with the meaning and application in mind, then seek to obey His Word by putting it into practice. Repeat these steps daily, and you will find your reading is no longer rote or tedious; you will instead look forward to learning and growing in sanctification day by day (Psalm 119:15).