5 Simple Ways to Meditate on Scripture

Do you ever wish you knew God better? Or that you had a better sense of what He wanted you to do or how He wanted you to live? 

You and me both. But here’s the good news: God isn’t unknowable. And there’s a simple practice that can help us know Him and His desires for our lives better. Let’s take a look at the first chapter of Psalms:

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 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 1:1-3 NIV

The Book of Psalms is all about connecting with God. And here, in the first verses of the very first psalm, we’re given a hint as to how we can connect with Him and lead the type of meaningful, fruitful life He wants us to lead—by meditating on Scripture.

But what is Scripture meditation? How do we practice it? And why is it so important?

Let’s talk about it.

What Is Scripture Meditation, Anyway?

The word “meditation” gets thrown around a lot these days, but what does it mean to meditate on Scripture? Well, let’s start by discussing the differences between traditional meditation and Scripture meditation.

Traditional meditation is about focusing your attention. You turn the volume down on your thoughts and worries by simply existing in the present moment. A lot of times, this looks like paying attention to your breath: By continually drawing your focus back to breathing in and breathing out, your fears and anxieties have less ability to weigh on your mind, and you’re left with a greater sense of calm.

Scripture meditation is also all about focus. But it’s about focusing on the Word of God. Rather than rushing through a reading or skipping over parts that aren’t interesting, you take your time with a particular passage, giving it your full attention, so you’re better able to unpack its meaning.

Why is this important? Because God’s Word is deep and rich. But if we don’t give it our full attention, we can miss out on a lot—including who God is and what He wants for our lives.

But you don’t have to miss out! Meditating on Scripture is simple—you don’t need any special tools or a six-episode MasterClass to figure it out. All you need is a Bible, a quiet space, and time.

Here are five tips to help you get started.

5 Ways to Meditate on Scripture

1. Go. Really. Slow.

Scripture meditation (also called biblical meditation) isn’t something that happens quickly. It’s about exploring a passage of Scripture and uncovering its meaning little by little. If a slower pace doesn’t come easily to you, here are some steps you can take to get the most out of your time reading:

• Carve out some time for yourself. Our lives keep us busy, and unless we’re intentional about dedicating time to reading God’s Word, it’s easy for the practice to fall to the bottom of our priority list. So pick a time and a place to study Scripture, and make reading the Bible your sole focus during that time.
• Pick a short passage. It can be tempting to read whole sections or chapters of the Bible in a single sitting, but when it comes to Scripture meditation, you will nearly always be better served by narrowing your focus. A handful of verses, a single verse, or even one part of a verse can be rich with truths about who God is and who we are.
• Read slowly. You’re not reading this passage to check a box. You’re reading it to see what you can discover. Take the time to consider individual words, visualize the passage you’re reading, and assess what kind of impact the words have on your heart and mind as you read.
• Resist the urge to move on. Stick with the passage for several days. Read it at different times of the day and in different settings. See how your understanding of it changes as you continue processing its words. 

2. Read Scripture Out Loud

Want to read Scripture even slower? Read it out loud. It’s hard to skim or gloss over parts of the Bible when you’re reading it word by word. This can help you start memorizing Scripture too.

Reading Scripture out loud also might change how specific passages impact you. Hearing about God and His love for you hits your heart differently than simply reading about these truths.

Also, genealogies—you know, those sections of Scripture that most people skip over? It’s easier to tackle those passages when reading them out loud. Figuring out how to pronounce each name can be a fun challenge, and there’s a good chance you’ll pick up on some cool, nerdy detail you would have totally missed if you were just skimming the passage while reading silently.

3. Memorize it!

Scripture memorization is one of the best ways to grasp the ins and outs of a Bible verse or passage. It requires you to slow down and spend lots and lots (and lots) of time with God’s Word, hammering it out in your head before it’s in there for good.

But once you have that verse memorized? You’ve unlocked something pretty extraordinary; you get to take that verse everywhere with you. On your morning drive, during a tough conversation, while meeting up with friends—no matter where you are or what you’re doing, that verse’s words can provide you with wisdom and direction.

Not only that, but memorizing a verse allows you to process its words in light of the things you experience each day, providing you with new ways of understanding it. More and more, you’ll be uncovering new insights about what God’s Word is communicating.

4. Talk to God About What You’re Reading (It’s His Word, After All!)

If you’ve been meditating on a passage and you’re having a tough time figuring out what to make of it, try talking to God about it.

When we choose to follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit—the third Person of the Trinity—dwells within us. One of the Holy Spirit's main roles in our lives is as a counselor. The Holy Spirit guides us and helps us understand how to navigate life. And that guidance includes illuminating Scripture for us and showing us how we can understand it better.

So the next time you’re meditating on Scripture and you’re not sure what you’re supposed to take away from it, try talking to your heavenly Father. Tell Him what feels challenging, and ask Him to show you the truth through the Holy Spirit.

5. Ask Yourself 3 Questions

Now, let’s get super practical. At the end of the day, slowing down and asking three questions about the verse or passage you’re reading can help you better understand the Bible’s words.

1. What does this passage tell me about God? Look for attributes of God in the text. Where do you see His love, justice, righteousness, and power?
2. What does this passage tell me about humanity? In what situations do people struggle? In what situations do people thrive? When does the relationship between God and humanity look most in sync? 
3. What might God want me to do as a result of reading this passage? Sometimes a passage might include specific instructions for followers of Jesus. Other times, a passage might simply inspire you to care for others better or lean on Jesus more. Keep an eye out for the ways the Holy Spirit might be directing you to respond to a specific passage.

You’ve Got This

It doesn’t matter whether you’ve been reading the Bible for decades or if you’re getting ready to open a Bible for the first time—there’s something you can learn about God and what He wants for your life through Scripture meditation.

All you need to do is pick a passage, take it slow, and get started. If you have questions, try talking to a pastor or a trusted friend—they can recommend passages to start with or things to keep in mind as you read.