It is not hasty reading but serious meditation on holy and heavenly truths that makes them prove sweet and profitable to the soul. Just as the honey bee abides a long time on the flower before she gathers the sweet, so it is with spiritual reading and meditation.

Meditating on God's Word means to mull it over - to reflect upon - to ponder it - to dwell in it. It is spending enough time in Scripture until you recognize God speaking to you personally through it.

This kind of soaking in Scripture is what Jesus Himself practiced, as evidenced by His quick recall of the Scriptures against the devil after his baptism and His quoting of Scripture on the cross. This same saturation of Scripture should be the aim of all believers.

To meditate, begin by focusing on one short passage of Scripture at a time. Read it aloud several times slowly, letting its words sink in. If possible, rephrase the passage in your own words to gain a more familiar understanding of its meaning. Try to focus on the overall message and themes of the passage, rather than a particular verse or phrase. Write down your thoughts about what you are reading and asking God to help you apply what you have learned to your life. Occasionally, you may need to go back and reread the passage if your mind becomes distracted. Whenever you notice your attention wandering, consciously redirect it to the Scriptures and pray for rededicated concentration.