Assigning Scripture Meditation in Homework
If the Bible is completely sufficient for the task of counseling, then it must teach us what a person has to do with it in order to be instructed and changed by its words. And it does! And one practice the Scriptures commend repeatedly, though often overlooked, is that we meditate on them. Why, then, don’t we regularly assign Scripture meditation in the homework we give?
Consider what benefits the Bible says can come from meditation:
Bible meditation helps us be careful to obey and do (not just hear and know) what the Bible says—Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-2; Psalm 119:11-16, 43-48, 145-148.
Bible meditation helps us bear fruit and prosper spiritually, no matter our circumstances—Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2-4.
Bible meditation helps us trust God, instead of being fearful and anxious, trusting in ourselves or others—Joshua 1:6-8; Psalm 1:2-4 with Jeremiah 17:5-8; Psalm 77:4-20; Psalm 119:23-24, 46-48, 76-78, 147-148.
Bible meditation helps us remember what the Bible says—Psalm 119:15-16; James 1:22-25.
Bible meditation helps us love and delight in God and His Word—Psalm 1:2; Psalm 63:5-7; Psalm 119:14-16, 47-48, 77-78, 97, 103.
Bible meditation helps us understand what the Bible says, and how we should apply it—Psalm 119:27, 97-100; cf. 2 Timothy 2:7.
Bible meditation keeps us from walking in the counsel(ing) of the wicked—Psalm 1:1-2.
When we meditate on the Bible, the Word of God itself becomes our counselor—Psalm 119:23-24.
Through Bible meditation, a person can become wiser than their teachers/counselors—Psalm 119:97-100.
If those bullet points are true (look up the verses above so you will believe they are!), then it is certain our counseling ministries would benefit greatly from incorporating meditation into the Word work we assign.
One practical idea for how to start is simply to fold Scripture meditation into the homework you’re already giving. For example: instead of asking a counselee to memorize a verse, ask them to memorize and meditate on it. Instead of just asking them to pray about a certain situation, give them a Scripture passage to meditate on in order to fuel those prayers. Instead of only asking them to listen to a certain sermon or teaching, ask them to spend time prayerfully meditating on the truths or Scriptures that were shared after they’re done. You could do the same with any reading assignment. Or you could add to whatever devotional times in the Word you may already be assigning for reading or study: “Before you leave that devotional time, pick a verse from your reading or study to take with you through the day, to meditate on whenever you have discretionary thought time or in times of temptation.” Hopefully you’re getting the idea!
May God give us all grace—counselor and counselee alike—to be able to say, “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97).