Over time, the more we read and study the Bible, the more we will learn and grow. God created our minds for logical comprehension and spiritual discernment through the power of the Holy Spirit. But even when we don’t immediately understand what we are reading, we can rest assured that just the taking in of God’s Word for ourselves will nourish deep places. We don’t have to understand all the inner workings of our stomach for our body to be nourished by physical food; spiritual food is much the same.
Bible Reading
Campbell McAlpine
That great saint of the 17th Century, Mme Jeanne Guyon, encouraged people to ‘pray the Scriptures’. She said that ‘praying the Scriptures’ was not judged by how much was read, but by the way it was read. She said that reading quickly was like ‘a bee skimming the surface of a flower, but ‘praying the Scriptures’ was like the bee penetrating into the depths of the flower to remove the deepest nectar.
George Muller
If God does bless us in reading His word, He expects that we should be obedient children and that we should accept the Word as His will, and carry it into practice. If this be neglected, you will find that the reading of the Word, even if accompanied by prayer, meditation, and faith, will do you little good. God does expect us to be obedient children and will have us practise what He has taught us. The Lord Jesus Christ says, ‘If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.’” And in the measure in which we carry out what our Lord Jesus taught, so in measure are we happy children. And in such measure only can we honestly look for help from the Father, even as we seek to carry out His will.
Kris Vallotton
Today, we have people traveling the entire world, looking for the key to true greatness. We have life coaches, online courses, seminars and universities all promising to “change your life” and give you the secret to success. Many of these things are good, and certainly some of them can help you grow. But God’s one-liner makes it clear and straightforward: Meditate on His Word, and then do it!
Margaret Parker
God intends His Word to shape us surrounding ourselves to the power of His word means, among other things, reading its images in context. The Bible is put together in such a way that its words will move us in the direction God desires.
Bill Johnson
While Eastern meditation tries to get people to empty their minds, biblical meditation focuses on our filling our minds—and our mouths—with the truth. Joshua 1:8 says, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” One of the definitions for the Hebrew word “meditate” is “to mutter.” Meditating involves repeating the words God has said out loud. As Joshua was told, this regular repetition of what God had said is the key to our ability to do the Word.