The Disciplines: Scripture Meditation
September 16, 2022
What are “spiritual disciplines?” Author and pastor John Piper describes them this way:
“The spiritual disciplines are those practices found in Scripture that promote spiritual growth among believers in the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are habits of devotion, habits of experiential Christianity that have been practiced by God’s people since biblical times.”
If something’s been practiced by believers since biblical times, it’s probably pretty important, right?
The answer should be, of course, a resounding “Yes!” Yet many of us struggle to make these disciplines habits.
Today, we want to focus on just one of the many spiritual disciplines to help you grow in your walk with Jesus and equip you to begin to make these disciplines part of your daily life.
Let’s take a close look at the discipline of scripture meditation.
What comes to mind when you hear the word meditation? For some, it might involve a time of silent reflection, or for others, it might instantly take them to a statue of Buddha or other eastern religious depictions. Now, what comes to mind when you hear the word biblical meditation? What do you think it would look like?
Psalm 19 describes it as this,
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Let’s take a moment to learn more about the importance of meditating on Scripture and how we can begin to put this practice into our daily rhythms.
Meditation takes time. It takes time away from distractions, reading God’s Word, and listening. Meditation takes vulnerability, asking God to convict us of sin and heal us. Meditation takes faith, believing God is present — we listen to Him and respond.
This week, commit to setting aside an hour to meditate on a Psalm. Put your phone in a different room, find a pen, some paper, and a Bible, and go through the process of meditation. Write out the Psalm, make notes on what you observe, write out your prayer, and answer the questions,
1️⃣ What is God saying?
2️⃣ How is he calling me to respond?
And if you’re looking for somewhere to start, look no further than Psalm 19 [quoted above]!
As you incorporate the practice of scripture meditation into your life rhythms, you’ll begin to see your heart being reformed and God’s glory being revealed. We pray that through this discipline, God will continue to speak to us through His Word and give us the courage and faith to listen.