Scripture Meditation and/or journaling
by DAVID GOODFELLOW on 01/24/19
Reading the Bible is a journey to hear from the Lord. It’s a time to pause and reflect on God and the truths of Scripture. Meditating and/or journaling as you read the Bible is a valuable way to process your thoughts, reflect on God, and apply the Scriptures to your life.
What better way to start the practice of meditating/journaling than during the winter months when we are often cooped up inside or don’t want to go out. I’ve included a few passages with meditating/journaling prompts to help you meditate, reflect, and consider how the Scriptures can be applied to your life.
His Understanding is Unsearchable / Isaiah 40:28
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
Neither God’s strength nor understanding can be equated with anything we experience here on earth. He is Creator, Everlasting, Omnipotent, and Inscrutable. He neither faints nor is weary and He has the ability to meet all our needs.
Is this your concept of God? In what other ways are God’s ways unsearchable? In what ways might you be underestimating Him? Humbly thank God for His limitless understanding and the depths of His great power.
The Wisdom of Knowing Christ / 1 Corinthians 1:24-25
…but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than humanity, and the weakness of God is stronger than humanity.
Knowing Christ personally is the greatest wisdom we can have. As “foolish” people, we who accept Christ’s offer of salvation will live eternally with God.
What does the phrase “wisdom of God” mean to you? If you have accepted Christ as your Savior reflect back to God what the wisdom of knowing Him means to you.
Making the Most of Our Days / Ephesians 5:15-16
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Paul directs us to make the most of our days and communicates a sense of urgency with the pervasiveness of evil in our world. We are wise to take advantage of every opportunity for service and to advance Christ’s purposes in this world, making the most of our limited days on earth.
Think about how you are using your time and how you might “redeem” it. To “walk circumspectly” means to step gingerly. Think about the path you are on in terms of the people you spend time with and the opportunities you have for service.
Wisdom is a Gift from God / Ecclesiastes 8:1
Who is like a wise person?
And who knows the interpretation of a thing?
A person’s wisdom makes their face shine,
And the sternness of their face is changed.
Wisdom is a gift from God and has the effect of brightening our face. Out of the depths of understanding, we are able to enjoy life and build others up.
We gain wisdom from knowing God and seeing life from His perspective. Think about the wise, godly people you know and their countenance. Is there someone who would benefit from the wisdom you’ve gained in knowing God?
Speak Wisely / Colossians 4:5-6
Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
We should be wise in our contacts with non-believers making the most of opportunities that God gives us to share the Good News of Jesus.
Are you conscious of your “witness” to those who don’t know Christ? Are you respectful and gracious? Is there something God is doing in your life that you might share and bring Him glory?
God Gives Generously / James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, let them ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to them.
During difficult circumstances, James tells us that if we need wisdom, we can pray to God, and He will generously give us what we need. The wisdom God gives during these times is often the way through the difficulty rather than how to make the difficulty go away.
Do you have a steadfast confidence that God controls all circumstances and is guiding all things for His good purposes? Ask God for wisdom in the things that challenge you today. Thank Him that He is able and always supplies our needs through every trial.
Be Humble / Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes shame;
But with the humble is wisdom.
Raging arrogance and presumptuous behavior hinders us from seeking the full wisdom of God. Pride assumes that it already knows the answers. The truth is that only God knows all the answers. We should humbly ask for guidance.
Can you think of a situation when you didn’t seek the Lord’s help before making a difficult decision? What was the outcome? Contrast that with a time when you humbly sought God and acted on His leading.
Do you underline Scripture (It’s okay to underline in your Bible) and/or write in the margins, take notes during sermons or Bible Study, or express your thoughts through journaling? If you don’t, why not try it during these next few months, and it will become a habit that will reap benefits.