Scripture has been woven into my life for as long as I can remember. What began as a Sunday School challenge to memorize verses has grown into a lifelong companionship with God’s Word. Along the way, I’ve discovered different practices—some familiar, some surprising—that have helped me see Scripture more clearly and hear it more deeply.
👉 In a world where our attention is scattered in a hundred directions, I’ve needed practices that pull me back to God’s Word.
Think of today’s post as a time-lapse journey through those practices: from early memorization, to devotional reading, to the tools of seminary study, and finally to the quiet, Spirit-led listening of lectio divina.
Bible Memorization
I was young—a 3rd grader—but that didn’t stop my church from planting Scripture deep in my life. Marjorie Stevens, my Sunday School teacher, leaned forward one morning and read from Proverbs 3:
“My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.” (vv. 1–2)
That year our challenge was simple: memorize verses. Every week I memorized Scripture, adding links for each memorized verse to a paper chain. That habit of memorizing Scripture stuck. The summer after high school, while working a midnight shift at a local sawmill to save money for my first year of college, I memorized the book of Philippians. To this day, whenever someone asks me: “If you could only read one book of the Bible for the rest of your life, which would it be?” my answer is Philippians. It has been my close companion ever since.
Devotional Reading
Later, I learned to read the Bible devotionally. The tool in my family’s home was a little book called My Daily Bread. Each entry included a verse to memorize, a short story, and a thought to carry into the day. I read it almost every morning through high school. Over the years I discovered other resources—My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers — click here to read today’s devotional — and A Guide to Prayer by Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck.
Even now, the church I pastor makes The Daily Bread available. And just this morning I opened A Guide to Prayer and read the daily prayers, the Monday Scripture reading—Jeremiah 23—and a short reflection from Carlo Caretto.
Inductive Bible Study
After high school, I went on to college and seminary to prepare for a life in ministry. Both schools gave me the chance to take Scripture seriously. I learned to notice the genres of the Bible—something Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart wrote about in How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth and to wrestle with Scripture in its original languages.
But the most life-changing shift came when I discovered the inductive method of Bible study. I took a class with Dr. Robert Traina on inductive Bible study using his textbook, Methodical Bible Study. To this day, I struggle to think of another class that shaped me more. I now teach hermeneutics in an MDiv program, and Traina’s updated textbook, now called Inductive Bible Study, is still the backbone of the course. I love passing along to students what Dr. Traina once gave me.
“Inductive Bible study is transformative.”
Lectio Divina
Later, as my journey bent more deeply toward Christian spiritual formation, I discovered lectio divina—the slow, prayerful way the church read Scripture from the 6th century onward.
👉 At a time when many are questioning whether the Bible still matters, I was surprised to discover this ancient way of listening that had been set aside by much of the Protestant and evangelical world.
What stunned me was not that such a practice existed, but that I hadn’t heard of it until I was working on a doctoral degree in spiritual formation.
What lectio divina showed me is what the early church’s best teachers had long known: there is a way to listen with our souls to the Word of God. Marinating ourselves in Scripture this way is essential before speaking or teaching it. The prophet Jeremiah puts it bluntly:
“If they [the prophets] had stood before me and listened to me,
they would have spoken my words.” (Jeremiah 23:22)
Once you dig into this practice even a little, you start to see the connection between the Holy Spirit and understanding God’s Word. As important as memorization, devotional reading, and inductive study are, Jesus reminded us not to overlook the Spirit’s role. Lectio divina gave that back to me.
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes,
he will guide you into all the truth.” (John 16:13)
Where I Am Today
I’ve just walked you through a time-lapse journey of my life with Scripture. These days, my life is still full of it. Preparing sermons for parishioners, leading guided conversations in our Sunday Seminary class, or giving lectures to students, I lean into the passages that take center stage each week.
I often memorize key verses so I can meditate on them while walking local trails. I still notice the genre, wrestle with the original languages, use inductive study to go deeper, and turn to lectio divina to hear more clearly what the Spirit is saying through these holy words.
This week I’m inviting you to walk with me into this amazing book—the Holy Bible—and explore ways of reading that will help you get more from it. Think of today as the trailhead for a journey into Scripture. Along the way, we’ll admire old paths, maybe discover some new ones, and pause now and then, mesmerized by the view.
👉 Because in the end, the way we read Scripture shapes the kind of people we become.
What’s Coming This Week
Series: What I’m Still Learning from God’s Word
Wednesday — The Well
The Practice That Opened My Eyes to God’s Word
A deep dive into the power of inductive Bible study + a practical tool for Scripture memorization.
👉 Paid subscribers will receive this week’s Scripture Memorization Practice Tool.
Thursday — Gone Hiking
The Quiet Practice That Saved My Ministry
A story about how listening to Scripture through lectio divina healed my broken heart.
Friday — Wanderings
A World without Scripture
A lament about our culture’s neglect of the Word—and the painful consequences it leaves behind.
💬 A Word for the Week
Every Monday, I share reflections like this one—always free and open to all. But if these posts are meaningful to you, would you consider becoming a paid subscriber?
Each week, paid subscribers receive a beautifully designed formation tool—a 1–2 page practice or guide—to help deepen your life with God and anchor these themes in real life.
👉 Click here to subscribe and get this week’s Scripture Memorization Practice Tool on Wednesday.
Janet! Isn’t that a terrible feeling. I recorded an hour and 15 guest whose time I didn’t wanna waste a couple weeks ago and finished and the stop record button on zoom and it said this call is being recorded. Ha ha! I had that same gut wrenching feeling of embarrassment and regret.