In my home office, I have a beautiful script sticker on my desk that says, “Be still and know that I am God, Psalm 46:10. I wish I could say that this reminder continues when I’m at work at my desk, but unfortunately, that’s not the case…
If you peeked into my office lately, you would find me working feverishly and researching personal matters. That’s not really the picture of being still, knowing that “God’s got it.”
How about a random day? You will find me going, going, going. I never feel like I’m sitting still! And I’m retired! I could easily take at least some time to sit down and relax, but I don’t give myself permission.
Can you relate to any of these scenarios? It doesn’t have to look exactly like mine, but you get the gist. In today’s world it is difficult to remain still, much less to remain still before the Lord…
If we took the Lord with us during our busy days, we would find that despite the constant movement, our minds would remain calm and “rest” in Him.
Let’s take a look at three simple ways to meditate on scripture throughout the day.
Don’t Make Reading the Bible Too Complicated
“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 huge task ahead of us. For me, it’s packing for vacation. To ease the overwhelm, I sit down a week before and prepare several lists, breaking down the packing categories into manageable parts. Once these lists are completed, the anxiety disappears. On packing day, I go through the items, checking each one off as they go into the luggage.
I think we can sometimes approach the Bible this way. We see this very big book with LOTS of chapters, and we think, “How can I read, let alone understand, all of this?” Or we can become legalistic about the amount of Bible we read, thinking that we must read several chapters a day to be a good Christian. But then, when we don’t have time to read 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. Of course, it’s good to make reading the Bible a priority in your day, and reading at least one 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 God’s Word. It has often happened to me that the Lord speaks to me at length about it through a single verse. He doesn’t have to say a word to reveal himself to you.
The first simple way to meditate on God’s Word throughout the day is to not overcomplicate how and when to read the Bible. No matter how little time you have or how little you read, you are still nourishing your soul with the Word of God. These words will stay with you once you consume them.
When we see the word “meditate,” we think it means we should sit in complete silence for a long time, memorizing the verse(s). Meditating on God’s Word throughout the day is different from this. It’s as simple as remembering His Word and its essence, and letting it work in you as it is meant to. Whether it’s to calm you down, encourage you, strengthen you or convince you. Let the Lord speak to you throughout your day as you remember these life-giving words. It’s that simple!
Daily habits to ensure Bible consumption
“I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have placed 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 took time to open her Bible and read it. If she didn’t, she knew the day would get away from her and she wouldn’t take the time to read it later.
When I spend time in the morning reading the Word and do it regularly, I begin to notice that my whole attitude changes throughout the day. At the end of the day, I am not disappointed in my sins throughout the day, but rather I realize that my stubborn 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 was reading. BUT if you’re someone who wakes up with bright eyes and a bushy tail, this would be a great way to make sure you’ve read your Bible.
Another simple habit you could implement is to stop scrolling on your phone as soon as you wake up. If you are awake enough to save what you have consumed on social media, you are awake enough to read the Word and preach to me right now.
The final way for those of you who are going through a very hectic time of life, whether it’s avoiding early morning traffic or you’re a new mom who’s slept through the night with a newborn or you have children who you have to coax to get ready for school each morning, is to sit down to eat breakfast or find another quiet time in the morning, to take advantage of this opportunity to read the Word. Even if it’s just one verse, it will carry you through your day. I promise you, you will see your attitude change, proof that you have meditated on God’s Word throughout the day.
Easy tools for meditating on God’s Word
“But he who delights in the law of the Lord, and meditates on his law day and night. This man is like a tree planted by rivers of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither; whatever he does prospers.” Psalm 1:2-3
When I became a new believer, I couldn’t get enough of the Word. But then my life became so much busier. Not only did I start homeschooling my children, but I also had a busy home-based medical transcription business. I was becoming frustrated because I didn’t have time to read my Bible. I then got creative and used the following tools to make sure.
I was still nourished by the Word, even if sometimes it was only a single verse:
I placed one of those daily scripture loose-leaf books in a very visible place, which had a verse for each day of the year. Every time I passed by him, I reread the verse and thought about it.
For one season, I literally had a Bible in every room I entered, and yes, including the bathroom, the only place a mom can find peace! Lol. I read a verse or two and let it sink in.
A more recent discovery is a 365-day Bible journal that provides a verse for each day and lines to write how the Lord speaks to you through that verse. It’s great to have it on the nightstand for easy access when you wake up in the morning, grab a verse and write down a few quick ideas. The act of writing will help imprint it in your mind, allowing you to carry it with you throughout the day.
And finally, smartphones can sometimes be a bad distraction, BUT there are many Bible apps that display a verse of the day on your lock screen. Every time you look at your phone, you can reread today’s verse and think about it.
Using these tools will help you meditate on God’s Word throughout your day.
Father, help us to intentionally meditate on your Word throughout the day. In the name of Jesus, 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
