How to Reflect:
How to reflect: the purpose of this exercise is to get in the habit of meditative scripture reading and memorization. The goal of this method is not to determine the meaning of a text and apply it, the goal of this exercise is to metabolize scripture. The food that we eat is eventually used by the body and becomes part of us. In the same way, our aim is to consume the word of God until it becomes part of us, evident in our thoughts, feelings, and actions.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN: choose a passage which you are going to work on for a MONTH. I recommend beginning with smaller passages and working your way up to larger segments of scripture. You might consider: Psalm 23, John 15, Philippians 4, John 3.
You will repeat this process as often as possible working on the same passage, but meditating on a different segment. The goal is to commit the passage to memory and to start seeing yourself living the passage.
Step 1: Listen to the passage
You can read it out loud, but I really like using an app that will read it to me. Bible App or the Calvary Baptist App will both do this.
Step 2: practice memorization
recite what you can of the passage out loud. I usually have the passage open and read as much as I can without then look down for help.
Step 3: meditate (choose 1 verse or even one phrase and practice Lectio Divina)
LECTIO DIVINA: read, reflect, respond [repeat 3x]
1. Read (Lectio – Reading the Word)
Read slowly, maybe aloud, more than once.
Pay attention to any words, images, or phrases that "shimmer" or stand out.
2. Reflect (Meditatio – Meditation)
Ask: What is God saying to me through this passage?
Don’t rush to application or theology. Let the Word work on your heart.
3. Respond (Oratio – Prayer)
Speak to God honestly in prayer, using the Scripture as your foundation.
Confess, give thanks, ask questions, or express emotions.
Turn the Scripture into a prayer—pray the text
Step 4: close in a written prayer:
the Lord’s Prayer Matthew 6:7-13
a Psalm
Valley of Vision
or other Christian prayer
