Last week we plunged into the Spiritual Discipline of biblical meditation and learned that it stands totally opposed to our current culture’s definition of meditation.
From our exploration, we discovered that biblical meditation is the act of thinking deeply on the truths and spiritual realities revealed in Scripture or upon life from a spiritual perspective. Concerning Scripture specifically, biblical meditation calls for careful consideration of a Scripture passage in its original context, rumination of its full meaning, and evaluation of its application to one’s own life.
Biblical meditation is the filling of your mind with a verse or passage of Scripture and letting it soak in deeply. It is what God instructs us to do – to set our mind on (Colossians 3:2), think on (Philippians 4:8), fill our minds (Joshua 1:8). Meditation is an active process for the purposes of understanding, application, and prayer.
A Toolbox of Methods for Meditation
We understand that God has created us and wired us uniquely. We go about our tasks differently. We process information differently. Therefore, we can surmise that a method of biblical meditation that works well for one of us might not be the most effective for another.
Additionally, some passages of Scripture are better suited to certain meditation methods than to others. And some days we simply need to try something new to mix things up and keep from getting into a rut.
Knowing this about ourselves and our task, it is helpful to compile a toolbox of biblical meditation methods to work from than relying on one singular method to be used to the exclusion of all others.
As you work to fill your toolbox, here are ten ideas to get you started.
10 Thought-provoking Ways to Meditate on Scripture
1. EMPHASIZE DIFFERENT WORDS IN THE TEXT
Read your chosen Scripture verse over and over. Each time you read it, place the stress on a different word.
For example: John 11:25 (Stress the word in bold.)
“I am the resurrection and the life.”
“I am the resurrection and the life.”
“I am the resurrection and the life.”
“I am the resurrection and the life.”
“I am the resurrection and the life.”
“I am the resurrection and the life.”
“I am the resurrection and the life.”
This method takes a verse or phrase and turns it like a diamond to examine every facet. Simple, yet effective, this practice of emphasizing different words in the text helps us to think deeply on the truth that comes to mind each time the diamond of Scripture is turned.
2. REWRITE THE TEXT IN YOUR OWN WORDS
As a language arts teacher, one of the most effective exercises I used for assessing if my students understood a reading passage was to have them rewrite the passage in their own words. If their rewritten passage made sense, it was a pretty clear indicator of understanding. In addition to that, it has been proven that meditating with pen in hand helps with focus, attention, and stimulation of thought.
For this biblical meditation method, imagine that you are sending the passage you’ve chosen in a message to someone. Consider how you would faithfully convey the content of the passage, yet without using the exact words of the text.
3. SET AND DISCOVER A MINIMUM NUMBER OF INSIGHTS FROM THE TEXT
This is a new-to-me method I discovered in Donald Whitney’s Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. I’m attracted to the challenge and anxious to try it.
With this method you determine at the outset that you will not stop meditating on your text until you discover at least a certain number of insights from it. Don’t go easy on yourself choosing a small little number like two or three. Remember that the goal is to meditate (think deeply) on Scripture. Setting a higher minimum number such as ten or twelve will help you push past what is already familiar and seek what is deeper.
4. MEMORIZE THE TEXT
There are so many benefits to the practice of memorizing Scripture. Among them is the fact that memorization is an effective means of meditation. The mental repetition required by the process of memorization simultaneously fosters reflection. And the bonus here is that after you have memorized a verse of Scripture, you can meditate on it anytime you choose.
5. PRAY THE TEXT
Pray God’s Word back to Him. Read it thoughtfully, respond to what you read, or make it personal by substituting your name for any personal pronouns. Praying God’s Word back to Him is especially effective in helping you express the spirit of the psalmist in Psalm 119:18, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.”
6. ASK HOW THE TEXT POINTS TO SOMETHING ABOUT JESUS
This approach examines the text to see how it might point to something about who Jesus is or what He did.
7. CREATE AN ARTISTIC EXPRESSION OF THE TEXT
This approach consists of giving tangible expression to your meditations with a sketch or some other material manifestation of your thoughts. There is no end to the list of creative possibilities here. For instance, you might choose to sketch, paint, create an illustrated Bible journaling entry, write a poem, compose a song, choreograph a dance, or more.
8. DEVELOP A MEDITATION MAP
A Meditation Map is a diagram that outlines information in a more visually appealing and memorable way than words on lines. To develop your map, place the idea you want to explore in the center of a blank page. Then as ideas come while you meditate, connect them by lines to the central image. Each idea should radiate out from the central idea. Keep working out from the central idea by connecting subcategories with thinner branches, and so forth.
If you are intrigued but not quite sure yet, a quick internet search for mind maps will provide a helpful model.
9. ASK WHAT QUESTION IS ANSWERED OR WHAT PROBLEM IS SOLVED BY THE TEXT
Using this biblical meditation method, you regard the text before you as the answer to a question or the solution to a problem. Begin your deep thinking on the passage by asking yourself, “What is the question?” or “What is the problem?”
10. LOOK FOR APPLICATIONS OF THE TEXT
The outcome of our meditation should be application. For this method, ask yourself questions as you read passages of Scripture.
- “How am I to respond to this text?”
- “What would God have me to do as a result of my encounter with this part of His Word?”
- “How should I ‘do’ this portion of God’s Word (James 1:22)?”
- “Is there something I need to start, to stop, to confess, to pray about, to believe, to say to someone?”
For the most profitable time of Scripture meditation, consider adopting the stance that you will not close your Bible until you know at least one thing the Lord wants you to do with the passage you are meditating upon.
Application
At this point, you have ten thought-provoking, highly effective tools in your box. Don’t be content to let them sit while you collect more. Start today to put them to good use.
Choose one intriguing method from this list and apply it to deep thinking on a favorite passage of Scripture today.
