Meditating - by reading, studying and memorising
" Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. (NIV)." 2 Timothy 2:15-16
Reading and studying go together. We read the Word daily in order to have a constant touch of the life of God.
Study of the Bible is a more intense look at the Word of life. A consistent study time is always a product of a deep desire to know more about God.
Ask God to give you a deep desire to know Him more. When you are hungry for more of God, God's word will effortlessly become part of your daily diet.
Reading
"Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation." 1 Peter 2:2 (NIV)
Reading the Word of God is like drinking milk. Milk causes babies to grow. God's Word will help us to grow in the knowledge of the Lord.
The most common hindrance to reading the Word is the perception that we are not understanding what we are reading. Spiritual growth is a gradual process. We did not understand everything about Jesus before accepting him as our Lord and Saviour. Simple faith in His saving blood was sufficient for the mighty power of God to work on our behalf.
In like manner, a consistent reading of the Word is sufficient to bring about a real change in our life. Read God's Word consistently and ask the Lord to grant you understanding.
There are two helpful ways every Christians can read the Word to benefit from it.
- The daily reading as time permits. This can vary from a few hours to a few minutes. It would be a healthy habit to set regular time aside each day to read the Word. Fifteen minutes every day is better than two hours periods once a month.
- Filling up time. This can be done over weekends, holidays or any period when you can get the time. Read the Word in large volumes. Epistles like Ephesians, Colossians, Galatians, Timothy, Peter and John are short books. Each of these books can be read easily in one day.
It would benefit you greatly to determine to finish reading one or two of these books in one day. This would help you to focus on the Word. It would also give you material that you could study later.
Studying
"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe." Hebrews 5:12-13 (NKJV)
Studying God's word is necessary if we are to grow beyond the babe stage of being a Christian. Your spiritual growth is measured by how much of the life of Christ you have flowing through you and working in you and not by how long you have been a Christian. It's possible to be ten years in the faith and still be a spiritual babe.
Spiritual babes never have their character changed by the word of God because they do not dwell in the Word for long enough. They may have a mental understanding of the Word and might even think they are God's special gift to the Church, but their lack of maturity causes more problems than solutions. They go around thinking every other Christian is carnal. Spiritual babes have an over exaggerated opinion of themselves and often show it. They never settle down in any particular Church and are often seen floating from church to church.
As you read God's Word certain parts of it will minister to you more than others. Study the part that ministers to you the most. Studying God's Word should be fun and interesting. You are getting to know more about the almighty God. It should be something you look forward to.
Never let the study of God's word become a religious affair. Done to make you feel good. When study gets boring go to God in prayer and ask Him to give you a fresh revelation of His Word. If your mind starts to wonder while reading the Word start reading it out aloud to yourself .
Use some of our bible studies to help you in your study.
Study involves comparing scripture with scripture. Ask yourself what God's Word means. You will be delighted as you discover Him minister to your heart.
Study of God's Word should always be relevant to you. Do you need healing in your life? Study what the bible says about it. Don't just take one preacher's Word about it. You have the Holy Spirit in you and He desires to teach you personally.
Memorising the Word
When God specifically ministers to you through a particular Word try to memorise that Word by heart.
When you keep the word of God in your heart it is easier to meditate on. It also helps to renew your mind. God's written word is extremely powerful when mingled with faith.
Memorising the Word is best done with scriptures that have blessed our heart. Memorising should not be a chore but a delight.
Remember; it's not how much of the Word you read that makes you a better servant of God but rather how much of the word has touched and changed your life.