IBS-37 Dwelling on the Word: Meditation

 

The Big Idea: Bible meditation is an excellent way to immerse in the Word of God, strengthening our friendship with God and accessing His help for our daily life.

Living by the M & M's (Memorization /Meditation)

A verse in the Psalms calls it “hiding God’s Word in your heart.” This refers to memorizing the Bible but it also applies to reflection.

I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11 (NLT)

Memorize words: easy. I can memorize the Lord’s Prayer in Portuguese but not knowing Portuguese it is not meaningful or useful to me. More than pure memorization, meditation lets Scripture flow and process in our heart and mind.

It is also a Biblical command!

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. Joshua 1:8 (NLT)

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippiens 4: 8 (NLT)

Tips for Learning to Meditate on God’s Word

1. Invite the Holy Spirit to be a part of your meditation process. He is the author of the Word and is our counselor (John 14: 26). One of His roles is to teach us understanding.

2. Let your mind linger on a phrase or a verse, reflecting over and over on the same words. I like to think of it like ironing as the hot iron repeats over the same section to smooth it out.

3. Mull over each word or phrase in your mind. Reflect on the meaning, and various nuances of it.

4. Put it in your own words. I call mine the "Di version".

5. Pray it back to God, using words and concepts in the verse. Expound on it to God.

6. Put emphasis on a different word of a phrase each time, reflecting how that Word is significant. Example from Psalm 23:1

THE Lord is my shepherd.

The LORD is my shepherd.

The Lord IS my shepherd.

The Lord is MY shepherd.

The Lord is my SHEPHERD.

7. Think what God might be saying to you. Don’t expand on what you think, but dwell on the wording of that particular verse.

8. Try out conversation with God. Is He speaking to you through this verse? Listen. really listen with your heart. Then, what would you say back to Him?

9. If you have not done so already, consider memorizing this verse. That in itself is a worthwhile exercise and useful for future meditation.

Meditation is a buzz word in our secular spiritual minded society. Meditation on the Creator of the universe and His Word to us is of the highest value to our life.

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This post is thirty-seventh in a series as a Practical Starter Guide for Inductive Bible Study.
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Reflect:

1. Have you done any form of meditation, either for stress reduction or Biblical reflection? Was it rewarding or was it a bit difficult? How might reflection on the Word of God be of higher value to you than secular meditation?

2. Take a moment right now to reflect 1 minute on a phrase from the Bible . You can time yourself if you wish. If this is your first time it may seem like it a minute goes on forever. “The Lord is my shepherd.”

3. Would you ever consider adding some meditation time to your devotion to God, or increasing the time you spend in devotions?