Blessed is the man…[whose] delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.  Psalm 1:2

Many things demand our attention. We’ve been conditioned to absorb information as rapidly as possible, and it can be a struggle to focus on concepts that require more time or study.

When it comes to scripture, keys for combating distraction when reading are to read aloud, write a summary of what you read in your own words, or even listen to a reading of scripture. Meditating on scripture is also a good practice. You can meditate by quietly pondering, looking into cross references found in your Bible or by an online search into the linguistic and cultural context of the texts. This is a scholarly way scripture.  For others, meditating might include memorization, so we can carry truth, comfort, and hope in our minds as we go into every situation. You can meditate on scripture by repeating it over and over, or even singing it!

Give your study of scripture an appropriate amount of time. Meditation is like savoring a meal rather than gulping it down without chewing. You can incorporate mindfulness into meditating on scripture by consciously bringing your awareness to the present and welcoming God to into your thoughts. Don’t feel discouraged if your mind strays, this is natural. Instead, gently redirect your thoughts back to the present and back to scripture. Practice will make meditating on scripture more natural and help God’s Word to permeate all parts of your life.

Resource reading: Deuteronomy 11:18-21