How to Meditate on Scripture

Colossians 3:16 encourages us to let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in our hearts. We are to use His words to teach and counsel each other, Paul writes. We are to sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. These are all examples of an ongoing, ever-deepening conversation between us and God. Let the words of Christ live or dwell in your heart. Use the words in daily conversation. Sing the words with thankful hearts. Remember, God has more to say to you than anyone else. No one cares more for you or about you than Him. And the Bible is uniquely God-breathed. In my last post, I talked about praying Scripture as a spiritual practice. Today, I want to encourage the ancient practice of lexio divina (Latin for “sacred reading), as a means of meditating on Scripture.

I’ve seen this practice written about in a variety of ways, but I remember it best using…

The Four R’s

1. Ready and Read

2. Reflect

3. Respond

4. Rest

Now, anytime you list things in numerical order, folks in our culture can’t help but see them as sequential steps. First this, then this, then this, and so on. But these aren’t so much steps as they are descriptions of the back-and-forth dynamic that occurs in a living, organic relationship with God! They overlap and blend, as conversations are apt to do. It might feel a bit stiff at first. You might need a cheat sheet for awhile, but eventually, as you learn to make yourself available to God in this way, it will become second nature. So, let me walk you through it. The first thing will always be first.

Ready and Read

Instead of simply flipping open your Bible and jumping right in, close your eyes, take a breath and make yourself available to God. Open your heart to Him as best you can. You’ll get better at it. I mention this because our Bible reading can sometimes become so mechanical. Good Christians, we’ve been told, do it once a day, whether they like it or not. You’re supposed to read the Bible. But you’re not just reading the Bible when you read the Bible. You’re being attentive to your relationship with God, meditating on what He said about you, about Himself, and so many other things. It’s a love letter, a really, really good love letter. You need to learn to ponder, savor and treasure every word, storing them up in your heart until they become a part of you.

In a relationship, in any healthy relationship, people are present to one another and present to what’s happening that day. It’s not just about reading the Bible, it’s about listening to God in an attentive and unhurried way. When you have a relational view of God, Bible reading becomes a place where you can meet together for conversation. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy the presence of God. You can actually enjoy reading the Bible and if it’s not enjoyable to you, then it’s probably because it’s a duty to perform instead of an opportunity to be with the lover of your soul. It can become mechanical, but it’s meant to be relational.

So, take a moment to prepare your heart, then read the text slowly, attentively, carefully. I often will limit what I’m reading to only a paragraph or a couple of verses. I also like to read the text aloud so I can hear it and not just see it. The idea is to simply acquaint yourself with the text. Then…

Reflect

Read the text again, slowly, and as you’re reading, pay attention to words, phrases or truths that attract you, address you, stir you, unnerve or maybe even disturb you — things, as we say, that seem to be highlighted or leap off the page. Jot them down or mark them in some way. Then take some time for reflection. What do these words bring to mind? Why might you need to hear them right now? What might God be saying to you, personally?

Remember, reflection or meditation is about soaking in a phrase or idea or becoming absorbed with a single line or phrase. It’s like taking a bite of your favorite candy bar and letting it simply melt in your mouth. You’ll know you’re getting better at meditation when you’re no longer in charge of the process — analyzing, rationalizing — and you open yourself up to what the Spirit might want to say to you in the text. Remember, God has more to say to you than anyone else and your relationship with God is nothing if it’s not personal.

Meditation is not asking, “How does this apply to me?” Application is left-brain analysis where we connect the dots between the biblical principles and life situations. For example, application asks, “What does this passage have to say about how I behave when no one is looking?” But meditation is more right-brained and intuitive. When we meditate on Scripture, we invite God to speak to us rather than figuring it out for ourselves. We invite the Holy Spirit to tell us things that we would never think of on our own. How many of you know that the Holy Spirit knows things you would never think of on your own?

The Spirit speaks to us in surprising ways, especially when we read slowly and attentively. Have you ever read something in the Bible and said, “I’ve never seen that verse before?” Or, “That verse was just for me?” even though you’ve read it dozens of times? That’s the work of the Holy Spirit, highlighting the Scriptures just for you! I spend a good bit of time in reflection, soaking in what God is saying to me. Then…

Respond

A relational view of your relationship with God requires that you not only hear from God, but you respond. I often use two questions to prompt a response. The first is, “Is there an invitation here? Something God is inviting me to do or pray about?” And the second is, “How is this highlighted text a gift from God to me today?” You, then, simply talk about it with God, telling him how you feel about what he showed you. I often ask him questions or just sit with him for a while. There’s a rhythm to these things, like any conversation. One moment you’re sharing and another you’re listening. You might even ask God to give you an action step.

For example, one hazard of what I do for a living is that I’ve often been hurt by others. One pastor described the ministry as death by a thousand cuts. But it doesn’t have to be that way. My wife has been practicing a discipline for some time now and, unbeknownst to her, I’ve been doing it as well. It’s simple, really. Anytime the enemy brings to mind something hateful someone said or did, and you know how he loves to do that, I’m practicing the discipline of praying for that person. When I reach out in love, praying blessing on them, whatever the enemy might want to do in the memory just melts away.

Look. It’s taken me years to get comfortable having a conversation with God. But, as author Larry Warner likes to say, “Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly.” It will be awkward at first. You’ll get better at it as you practice, but you need to practice. Then, finally,

Rest

Rest with what God is saying to you. Carry it with you. Let the truth soak in more deeply. Spend a moment in thanksgiving or worship. Read, reflect, respond, and rest. It doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s a conversation. Would you like to have a conversation with God?

Go Deeper

My favorite treatment of this practice is found in When the Soul Listens by Jan Johnson, pp. 44-53.