A friend recently posed some good questions about what it means when followers of Christ say that we make a practice of reading the Bible. Now he is a follower himself so I think it’s safe to say he’s heard all the right answers to this point. No sense in repeating too many trite phrases.
What does it really mean, in practical terms, to read the Bible each day in ways that are personally meaningful and part of the change process in our lives? How is that different from reading any other book that cites valuable facts and stories for reference purposes?
Now honestly, I hope you’ll help all of us out if you’ve clicked the “read more” link. This is where things get a bit harder and many voices in touch with God are helpful. Here’s my experience so far.
A truly personal reading of the Bible for me is rooted in an understanding that the Bible represents foundational parts to the narrative of human history. There is deep history not written in this book that is still part of the fabric of time that this book is written in. So everything I read I take, as a follower, to be the story of my people. It’s a common view found in many places in the Bible even that we become part of a spiritual ancestry and can claim these examples as insiders in some sense. Recognizing that starts me down the road of “How does this fit with life as I see it, as scientists observe it and as artists speak of it?”
So when I meditate on Scripture, I pick up a passage, a phrase or sometimes a word and think about how that little piece fits in with the whole. Have I learned anything recently the snaps into place with this? Does this present a new possible connection between pieces of life that appeared scattered? Is there something I’m reading that God wants me to learn on an experiential level?
Meditation, as I often repeat the passages, words or phrase aloud or in my head… as I ask these questions of myself, then becomes an exercise to see what connections God might make in our head through the Holy Spirit or what truths he might make clear that were hidden before.
Now, to be clear, I should likely examine myself before meditating. Have I set aside worries of the day for the moment and trust that God will address these things in the next hour or half-hour? Is there any offense against God or outstanding wrong against another person? Can I resolve it before I start? I so, it’s probably wise.
And that’s most of it. It’s not really hard to do and it doesn’t mean an escape from all thinking in my understanding. It just means I focus seriuosly on a truth or two.
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Sunday April.2.2006 at 8:35 am PDT
The Bishop
Richard Foster puts it this way: “In the discipline of meditation we are not so much acting as we are opening ourselves to be acted upon. We invite the Holy Spirit to come and work within us – teaching, cleansing, comforting, and rebuking. We also surround ourselves with the strong light of Christ to protect us from any influences not of God…What happens in meditation is that we create the emotional and spiritual space which allows Christ to construct an inner sanctuary in the heart.”
Sunday April.2.2006 at 12:42 pm PDT
jake
In a way it is not hard to do, but in ways it is very hard. By this I mean actually taking the time to slow down and reflect, the clear the mind of daily worries. In reality it probably takes very little time, but sometimes the feeling of slowness that it can produce is fought by our desire to be in high gears all the time.
Sunday April.2.2006 at 3:17 pm PDT
Parke
Some great thoughts guys. At some point soon, would you think about taking a moment to write out what these things look like in very practical terms in your lives? I think I probably need to do it as well so that our very spiritual words get beyond the words we often hear.
Monday April.3.2006 at 1:58 pm PDT
pbya
Nice write-up. I like the concept of viewing the Bible as telling the story of my people.
I think I do a lot of that asking myself questions thing.
Tuesday April.4.2006 at 6:11 pm PDT
jake
Meditation for me starts with convincing myself that 15-20 minutes is not much compared to the advantage of meditation. If my mind feel cluttered with things of the day, then I try to write notes that I know will remind me. That normally causes the flightiness to cease. Then depending on the meditation type I do a number of things. One is talk aloud. This focuses my mind a lot. Sometimes I will play a song, and really try to visual some aspect that I desire to learn. I use the song to allow me to float with the melody. I know Tiff likes to imagine herself in the narrative as one of the characters and then again as a different one, through several points of view. These are some means of meditation. I even do the mantra thing sometimes, where I simply repeat a phrase over again. And like you said, not Eastern, trying to lose myself, but rather trying to find myself.
Wednesday April.5.2006 at 8:55 am PDT
parke
Some great additions to the conversation, Jake. Thank you for taking the time.
Monday April.2.2007 at 10:08 pm PDT
tamar
I am so grateful for this post because early last month I was experiencing some dissatisfaction with my daily meditation. We are reading a series in my small group and I thought our curriculum would suffice for my daily devotion. I found myself missing somewhat empty. I also needed an unfiltered read. So I tried a few avenues and as of right now this is what I am doing. First I pray about what book the Lord would like for me to read and start at the beginning. I can not skip around. I need a step by step application of the word. This way I get a clear understanding of the context. Then I see how I can apply the principles to my day. I also pray for forgiveness in the areas that I am convicted. I recited and pray read the words I want to stick. The continued part of my meditation includes a friend. Shaun and I will then discuss our daily reading sometime during the day and pray these things over each others lives. I find the joining with a close friend makes my reading that much more intimate.
Monday April.2.2007 at 10:56 pm PDT
parke
Wow, you’re really digging back. I’m glad it was an encouragement to you, Tamar. It’s certainly a very valuable practice in general and your specific methods sound very beneficial.