We are a people whose lives are filled with noise. This is not necessarily because we seek it, but because our culture is saturated with it.
This morning during a run through my neighborhood I saw a father and his young daughter getting ready to leave for school. One of the car doors was open and the radio was turned up very loud, so I could clearly hear an advertisement for a local car dealership. It reminded me of one basic change I made in my life a few years ago: I stopped leaving my car stereo set to play anything from my phone or the radio. This meant that if I wanted to listen to something, I had to intentionally select that before I got on the road. I discovered that my drives became much more peaceful. And, if my wife or my children were riding with me, it allowed space for conversation.
The spiritual discipline of meditation does not happen without silence. Please understand that in Christianity, meditation does not consist of emptying one’s mind and allowing random thoughts to fill it. As followers of Jesus, our goal in meditation is to fix our minds and hearts on the Word of God. Our bibles reveal to us who God is, and who we are in light of who He is. We should know the Bible, but not for the sake of “Bible knowledge” … we should know the Bible to help us draw closer to our Heavenly Father.
Knowing the Word was a foundational practice for Old Testament Israel. God instructed them to keep His Word (which consisted only of the Law and the Prophets at the time) on their minds and in their hearts. There are numerous examples in Scripture of people pulling away from the busyness of life into a still, quiet place so that they could hear the voice of God. They relied mostly on their memory of the Word because written copies were scarce, while we rely heavily on the printed version of the Bible or even Bible apps on our mobile devices. Regardless of how we access the Word, we must do so in a way that allows us to truly focus.
If the absence of noise from a car stereo can allow space for conversation with our friends and family, so too can the absence of noise in our lives allow space for conversation with our Lord. Years ago, I read a simple explanation of an ancient practice of meditating on God’s Word. I share it below as a way to help you learn to meditate on Scripture on your quest to know the Lord.
Lectio Divina (divine reading)
Lectio. First, select a Scripture passage, take a short section, and then with a listening heart read the text aloud, slowly and deliberately. When you find a word or phrase or sentence that speaks to your heart, pause in your reading.
Meditatio. Second, meditate or mull over the word or words. Allow God to settle the word into your soul. Allow it to probe your attitude, emotions and aspirations.
Oratio. Third, return the Scripture you have just read to the Father by praising him for its work in you. Talk to the Father about your reading.
Contemplatio. The final stage is resting in the Lord’s presence. This is the act of simply being with God.
Bill Hull, Christlike: The Pursuit of Uncomplicated Obedience
Dan Londeree 