Practicing this Spiritual Discipline can result in: a deeper understanding of Scripture, answer the question: What does this passage of Scripture teach, and lead to spiritual growth.
Suggestions for meditating on Scripture-from the book: “ Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life”, by Donald S. Whitney
Following are the Six Steps to Meditation for Spiritual Growth:
1. Select a passage of Scripture to read, a verse, several verses or a chapter.
2. Begin to identify phrases, words, or terms that impress you from the passage of Scripture.
3. Select something specific from the passage of Scripture that can be the focus of your meditation.
4. Meditate on what you have read.
1. Review the passage of Scripture repeatedly, looking more deeply into what impresses you in the passage.
2. Review a verse or verses several times ( at least 7 times ) focusing on a different word or phrase in the passage each of the 7 times. Seven times is only a suggestion and you should review as many times as you are led.
3. Meditate on what you have reviewed.
1. Rewrite the Scripture passage, a verse in the passage or verses in the passage in your own words.
2. Rewriting can be connected to what impressed you in the passage ,especially what impressed you as you reviewed the passage of scripture repeatedly.
3. Rewriting all or part of the passage of Scripture does not have to be precise, at this point you are beginning to gain insight regarding the passage of Scripture.
4. Meditate on what you wrote.
1. Formulate a biblical principle from the text, asking the question : What does this particular passage of Scripture teach ?
2. Think of an illustration that would help to explain the passage of Scripture, perhaps a story, event or object.
3. Think of applications for the passage of Scripture- What should you do in response to the teaching of the passage of Scripture ?
4. Meditate on what the passage teaches and your response to that teaching.
1. Ask how the passage of Scripture points to some aspect of God’s law or to the gospel.
2. Ask how the passage of Scripture points to something about the person and work of Jesus Christ.
3. Ask what question is answered or what problem is addressed by the passage of Scripture.
4. Meditate on the answers to each of these questions.
1. Pray through the passage of Scripture. Turn the words of the passage into prayer. Pray to God about the things that come to mind as you consider the passage of Scripture.
2. Memorize the passage of Scripture, a verse or verses from the passage.
3. Identify a minimum number of insights into the passage of Scripture.
4. Ask how the passage of Scripture speaks to your current issue or question.
Bible Study Tools (You may want to acquire these books to aid your study of God’s Word)
- Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words
- Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible
Meditation: Deep thinking on the truths and spiritual realities revealed in Scripture for the purpose of understanding, application, and prayer