You may find it helpful to read the chapter Intro to Scripture Meditation before trying any of the Scripture meditation activities.
As with all of the meditation activities, beginning and ending the time with prayer and silence is recommended. Remember not to rush. If helpful, end the activity with journaling about your time of meditation on the passage.
A Shift in Perspective
This activity is helpful for meditating on stories or narrative passages.
Read through the passage once and notice the different people or perspectives in the story. For example, in John 11:38-44 (Jesus raising Lazarus), there are Jesus, Mary, Martha, Lazarus, the disciples, God the Father, etc. If it is helpful, you can write down a list of the different points of view in the story.
Choose a few characters/perspectives that you would like to focus on. (You can do all of them, though this may be a lot for some stories.) Read through the story again, and focus on the story from one character’s perspective. Pause and dwell on what you have just read. Repeat this process for each of the characters you chose. If you find that a particular reading or perspective stirs up thoughts or emotions, take some extra time to pray about the impact God’s Word has on you.
Possible Scriptures for meditation:
- Mark 4:35-41 – Jesus calms the storm
- Mark 10:46-52 – Jesus heals a blind man
- Matthew 14:22-33 – Jesus and Peter walk on water
- Luke 5:17-26 – Jesus’ authority to forgive
- Luke 8:41-56 – Jesus’ power over sickness and death
- Luke 10:38-42 – Sitting at Jesus’s feet
- John 9:1-7 – God’s power revealed through brokenness
- John 11:38-44 – If you believed you would see the glory of God
A Shift in Emphasis
This activity can be helpful for meditating on a single verse or phrase. For all meditation, it is important to understand the passage and its context. This is especially vital in an activity like this when we are focusing on only a few words.
Open to the passage and read it slowly. On the first read-through, put special emphasis or focus on the first word. Pause.
Repeat the passage again, but shifting emphasis to the next word. Continue with this pattern, rereading the passage and focusing on the next word until every word has been emphasized. Pause after each reading to dwell on the text and on each word. If you find that a particular reading or word stirs up thoughts or emotions, take some extra time and talk to God about the impact His Word has on you.
For example:
Be still and know that I am God.
- Be still and know that I am God.
- Be still and know that I am God.
- Be still and know that I am God.
- Be still and know that I am God.
- Be still and know that I am God.
- Be still and know that I am God.
- Be still and know that I am God.
- Be still and know that I am God.
Possible Scriptures for meditation:
Genesis 50:20 – God meant it for good
Psalm 34:8 – Taste and see
Psalm 73:28 – It is good to be near God
Matthew 6:33 – Seek first the kingdom of God
Matthew 11:28, 29, or 30 – Come to me, all who are weary
John 6:35 – I am the bread of life
John 8:12 – I am the light of the world
John 10:9 – I am the door
John 10:11 or 14 – I am the good shepherd
John 11:25 – I am the resurrection and the life
John 13:35 – Loving one another
John 14:6 – I am the way, the truth, and the life
John 17:26 – That the love of the Father may be in us
1 Peter 2:9 – A chosen people
1 John 3:1 – See what great love the Father has lavished on us
1 John 3:20 – God is greater than our hearts
Revelation 1:8 – The Alpha and the Omega