Biblical Meditation Learning how to meditate may be the key that will unlock the joys of Scripture and the life-changing power it contains. Meditation is the bridge between being a “hearer” of the Bible and a “doer.”
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D on Whitney
N AUGUST OF 1989, I FOUND MYSELF IN THE bush country of East Africa, living in a tent in front of a mud-and-sticks church building, six miles from the nearest settlement. As one who had been involved in mission trips before, I had learned to anticipate swallowing with difficulty some of my American expectations (not to mention a few other things!). But one thing that shocked me was the lifestyle of the professing Christians I encountered. Lying, stealing, and immorality were generally accepted, even among church leaders. Theological understanding was as scarce as water, and doctrinal errors as common as malaria. It didn’t take long for me to discover the root of the problem: No one in the church had a Bible, not even the pastor. They had a few Bible stories that would be retold, and the pastor knew about six sermons that were repreached time and again. My traveling companions and I purchased some Bibles for the church, leaving with a prayer that the Word of God would transform the lives of those infant believers. A healthy Christian life is impossible without the daily intake of God’s Word.
14 LifeAction.org/revive
I grew up watching my dad read the Bible regularly. Between his example and the encouragement of Sunday school teachers week after week, I got into the Bible reading habit early in my life. In fact, I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t a Bible reader. Even today I sense my need for Scripture, and I crave the opportunity to meet with God through it. After all, the Bible is the primary means by which I can experience God personally and hear from Him directly. What I’ve found, however, is that most people didn’t have the upbringing I had; and for whatever reason, Bible reading and meditation are scarce. Many professing believers who carry their Bibles to church every week know little more about it than those African believers in the bush.
What’s the Problem? Some people have no appetite for Scripture, which indicates they aren’t Christians. But for those of us who are sincere in our faith, there are two main hindrances to our Bible intake: the pressures of time, and the perceived lack of benefit we get from reading.
.com Resource Listen to an interview with Tom Harmon as he shares his personal experience regarding the power of memorizing Scripture. Find it at LifeAction.org/Scripture.