Biblical Meditation: Chewing on Scripture, Not Gobbling It
Can you ever have too much of a good thing? This is a question I often wrestle with in my personal devotional life. We all know the importance of quality time in our relationships, but sometimes life gets busy and quantity takes over. In my quest for spiritual growth, I find myself consuming sermons, audiobooks, and Bible studies – a constant stream of "Bible stuff." But lately, I've been wondering if this is the best approach.
There's something undeniably valuable about the concept of meditation. In our culture, the word often conjures images of mindfulness exercises and deep breathing. But classically, meditation was about contemplating a concept and allowing it to truly resonate within your heart, mind, and soul.
Traditionally, monks would meditate with a stone in their mouth. This constant reminder served as a metaphor for a thought or truth from scripture that needed time to settle and do its work within them. It's not about quickly moving on to the next nugget of wisdom, but rather allowing scripture to marinate and transform us.
Do you ever take the time to truly meditate on scripture? Do you ever take a thought from a sermon or your reading and simply sit with it – for a day, a week, or even a month?
To be honest, this is an area where I can improve. I confess, I often find myself rushing through multiple books, prioritizing quantity over quality. But the times I've slowed down and truly contemplated a scripture passage, the insights and treasures I've found have been incredible.
This week, I challenge you to consider incorporating a practice of biblical meditation into your spiritual life. Choose a thought or verse that resonates with you, and let it dwell within you. Here are a few examples that have been particularly meaningful for me:
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” - 1 John 4:18
”Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” - Romans 8:26
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” - John 14:27
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” - 2 Thessalonians 3:16
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” - John 15:9
Remember, it's not about consuming vast amounts of scripture, but about allowing God's word to truly nourish your soul. So, slow down, savor the message, and allow it to work its wonders within you.
With You;
Pastor Tim
