Ignation Scripture Meditation

WHY MEDITATE ON SCRIPTURE?

Meditation helps us to become “careful to do everything written in the Word” (Joshua 1:8).
It is mentioned more than 15 times in the Psalms.
It’s a spiritual discipline, which is: practicing how to become attentive to that small voice and willing to respond when we hear it.

Psalm 48:9
Within your temple, O God,
we meditate on your unfailing love.

Psalm 143:5
I remember the days of long ago;
I meditate on all your works
and consider what your hands have done.

Psalm 145:5
They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

Psalm 119:9-16 (The Message)
How can a young person live a clean life?
By carefully reading the map of your Word.
I'm single-minded in pursuit of you;
don't let me miss the road signs you've posted.
I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart
so I won't sin myself bankrupt.
Be blessed, God;
train me in your ways of wise living.
I'll transfer to my lips
all the counsel that comes from your mouth;
I delight far more in what you tell me about living
than in gathering a pile of riches.
I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you,
I attentively watch how you've done it.
I relish everything you've told me of life,
I won't forget a word of it

How is meditation on Scripture different from study of Scripture?

IN THE “STUDY METHOD YOU…
• Dissect the text
• Ask questions about the text
• Read and compare facts
and new ways of applying the facts


IN MEDITATION METHOD, YOU…
• Hear the text and enter into it
• Let the text ask questions of you
• Read to let God speak to you

HOW DO WE DO THIS
• Pick a small passage from the scriptures. Jesus' parables work best for this method. (You can use the parable of The Lost Sheep at the end.)
• Be a “fly on the wall”: If you had been present, what sights, sounds, tastes, smells and textures would you have experienced?
• Let God put you in the passage, perhaps becoming the person Jesus is speaking to. Let Jesus look you in the eyes, sitting face to face, and speak to you. What do sense as Jesus speaks to you? What facial expressions do you notice?
• Use your imagination, but still be WORD-centered
• Approach Scripture in non-controlling manner: Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.
– James 1:21

Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (Luke 15:1-7)
***Taken from Jan Johnson’s Seminar