How do you meditate on the Word? According to Dictionary.com, meditate means “to engage in thought or contemplation; reflect.”
Joshua 1:8 reads, “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” (NLT)
The Word instructs us to meditate on the Word of God day and night.
There are a myriad of ways to think about, contemplate, and reflect on God’s truth. If you have not done this before, I’ll share with you ways that work for me. Perhaps one or several of these methods will work for you. Or at least spur some ideas that will work for you.
Bible Reading Plans
Choose a Bible reading plan. There are so many plans available online and on the phone apps–30 day plans, 90 day plans, 6 month plans, and one year plans.
Every year my husband and I choose a one year plan to read the entire Bible. And each year, I choose a new translation to read from so I glean new insights as I read the passages. The Word of God has never become boring, but always excites me as I learn something new all the time!
If you need help choosing a Bible reading plan, click here or click here to choose some options.
Write Out Scripture
When I take time to hand write a passage into a journal, it slows my thoughts down and allows time for what I’m writing and reading to sink from my mind to my heart. I find this particularly helpful if I’m writing a passage that has become familiar to me. When I slow down my thought process, I see a different part of the verse I never paid attention before. That’s when God’s word begins to speak to me.
Shannon Long at Sweet Blessings posts ten minute Scripture writing plans each month. I like the printables she creates and the Scriptures she puts together for the purpose of daily Scripture writing. Here is a topical plan on Wisdom. Visit Sweet Blessings for more options.
Record What God Says to You
Once I write out a Scripture and a portion of the Word speaks to me, I write down what I felt the Lord said to me in that passage. Sometimes that is merely rewriting what the Bible says in my own words. Other times, it is asking questions and answering them.
Turn the Passage into a Prayer
Some Scriptures that I write out, I then turn around and rewrite that passage as a prayer back to the Lord. This is merely putting God’s word into your own words and writing it as a prayer. Many of the Psalms are especially good for praying them back to the Lord.
Memorizing Scripture
Another form of meditating on the Word is to memorize a verse or two (or three). For this, I will write the passage on a 3 x 5 card and carry it with me. I will pull it out and repeat a phrase out loud until I have it memorized. I continue this process until I can say the whole verse from memory.
Meditating on the Word of God places His Word in our heart. When our heart receives His truth, we are transformed and renewed from the inside out. Then we will desire to walk in obedience with Him as we get to know Him through His Word. And He promises we will prosper and succeed in all we do!
May you prosper and succeed in all you do!
