Getting Started

Slowing down won’t happen on its own. And a life lived at a nonstop pace doesn’t leave room for enjoying God deeply. Neither does it allow opportunity to wonder at Scripture or call it to mind repeatedly.

If you want these things to be characteristic of your life, then they must be a priority for you. And if they are, indeed, priorities, then they have the right to be planned into your schedule.

Could you find a time each week to begin meditating on Scripture? Scheduling even ten minutes would allow you time to interact with a Scripture so that it becomes meaningful to you. Ten minutes week after week can make a big impact in your life over time.

During the remaining six days of the week, take five minutes to turn your attention to the Scripture again – consider the verse in relation to your life, and talk to God about it.

Stay with this one verse as long as it is meaningful to you and God is using it to strengthen and encourage you.

Here are some ideas on how to choose a verse:

• Start with a verse that stood out as you read Scripture.
• Choose a verse that comes up in your life over and over.
• Find a verse that speaks truth relative to a situation you are facing.
• Pick something God impresses on your heart even if you don’t understand why.

Challenge

What verse or short passage would you like to begin meditating on? (If you need help choosing a verse, consider the truths in the song “How Firm a Foundation” found in 1 Corinthians 3:11, Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 43:2, Romans 8:35-39, Hebrews 13:5, and Deuteronomy 31:6.)

Find a time during your week that you can set aside to begin meditating on a verse. 10-15 minutes is an ideal amount of time.

Decide when during your day you want to review the verse(s) and reflect on the truth you are finding.

Display the verse in some way in a place you will regularly see it – a mirror, your car’s dashboard, a planner, your phone, etc.