In my home office, I have a beautiful script decal over my desk which reads “Be Still and Know that I am God, Psalm 46:10. I wish that I could say this reminder carries through while at work at my desk, but sadly, it is not the case…
If you were to peek into my office lately, you would find me feverishly working and researching personal matters. Hardly the picture of being still, knowing that “God has got this”.
How about just a random day? You will find me going, going, going. I never seem to sit still! And I am retired! I could easily make at least some time to sit and relax, but I don’t give myself permission to.
Can you relate to either of these scenarios? It doesn’t have to look exactly like mine, but you get the gist. In today’s world, it is hard just to be still, let alone be still before the Lord…
If we took the Lord with us during our busy days, we would find that despite the constant motion, our minds would be still and would “rest” in Him.
Let’s take a look at three simple ways to meditate on scripture throughout the day.
Don’t Overcomplicate Bible Reading
"The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple." Psalm 119:130
Many of us, I’m sure, can feel overwhelmed when we see a large task before us. For me, that’s packing for vacation. To calm the overwhelm, I sit down a week before and prepare several lists, breaking down the packing categories into manageable parts. Once those lists are done, the anxiety lifts. On packing day, I go through the items, ticking each one off as it goes into the luggage.
I think we can sometimes approach the Bible in this manner. We see this very large book with MANY chapters, and we think, " How can I possibly read, let alone comprehend, all of this? Or we can get legalistic about how much of the Bible we read, thinking we must read several chapters daily to be a good Christian. But then, when we don’t have the time to read that much, we don’t open the Good Book at all.
It doesn’t have to be that complicated. The Lord meets us where we are. Sure, it’s good to make Bible reading a priority in your day, and reading at least a chapter will give you the context you need, but if you don’t have that kind of time, don’t let that stop you from reading any of God’s Word. I have had many times when the Lord has spoken volumes to me through just one verse. He doesn’t have a word count to reveal Himself to you.
The first simple way to meditate on God’s Word throughout the day is not to overcomplicate how and when you read the Bible. No matter how little time you might have or how little you read, you are still nourishing your soul with God’s Word. Those Words will stay with you once you consume them.
When we see the word “meditate,” we think it means we must sit in total silence for a long time, memorizing the verse(s). Meditating on God’s Word throughout the day looks different than that. It is as simple as calling to mind His Word and its gist, letting it work in you however it is meant to. Whether calming you, encouraging you, strengthening you, or convicting you. Let the Lord speak to you throughout your day by recalling those life-giving Words. It’s as simple as that!
Daily Habits to Ensure Bible Consumption
"I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word." Psalm 119:147
Years ago, a friend told me that before her feet even hit the ground in the morning, she would take time to open up her Bible and read. If she didn’t, she knew the day would get away from her, and she wouldn’t make the time to read it later.
When I spend time in the morning reading the Word and do so consistently, I start to notice that my whole attitude changes throughout the day. At day’s end, I’m not disappointed in myself about how much I have sinned throughout the day, but instead realize that my besetting sins have dissipated. AND it’s not even a conscious effort on my part! It just happened!
One way to read the Bible first thing in the morning is to set your alarm earlier so you have time to read the Word. In full disclosure, when I tried this, I found that I still wasn’t awake enough and would start to fall asleep while reading or wouldn’t retain what I read. BUT if you are someone who wakes up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, this would be a great way to ensure you’ve read your Bible.
Another easy habit you could put into place is to stop scrolling on your phone as soon as you wake up. If you are awake enough to retain what you’ve consumed on social media, you are awake enough to read the Word—preaching to myself right now.
The final way for those of you who are in a very hectic season of life, whether needing to beat rush hour traffic early in the morning or you are a young mom that was up all night with a newborn or have kids you need to coax to get ready for school every morning, is when you sit down to have breakfast or find another quiet time in your morning, take that as an opportunity to read the Word. Even if it is just one verse, it will accompany you throughout the rest of your day. I promise, you will see your attitude shift, evidence that you meditated on God’s Word throughout the day.
Easy Tools for Meditating on God’s Word
"But whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers." Psalm 1:2-3
When I became a new Believer, I couldn’t get enough of the Word. But then my life got so much busier. Not only did I begin homeschooling my children, but I also had a busy at-home medical transcription business. I was becoming frustrated because I didn’t have the time to read my Bible. I then got creative and used the following tools to ensure that.
I was still feeding on the Word, even if at times it was just one verse:
I placed one of those daily scripture stand-up flip books in a highly visible place, which provided a verse for each day of the year. Every time I walked by it, I would re-read the verse and reflect upon it.
During one season, I literally had a Bible in every room I went into, and yes, that included the bathroom, the only place a mom can find peace! Lol. I read a verse or two and let it soak in.
A more recent discovery is a 365-day scripture journal that provides a verse for each day and lines for writing out how the Lord is speaking to you through that verse. It's great to have on the bedside table for easy access when you wake up in the morning, taking in one verse and writing out some quick insights. The act of writing will help imprint it on your mind, enabling you to carry it with you throughout the day.
And finally, smartphones can be a bad distraction at times, BUT there are lots of Bible apps that show a verse of the day on your lock screen. Every time you look at your phone, you can re-read the day’s verse and reflect upon it.
Using these tools will help you to meditate on God’s Word throughout your day.
Father, help us to be intentional about meditating on your Word throughout the day. In Jesus name, Amen.
What season of life are you in?
What approach will you take to meditate on God’s Word throughout the day?
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/miljko
