Approaching Formative Scripture Reading with Both Head and Heart

Abstract

Scripture continues to play a very important role in my formative walk with God, yet keeping both “head” and “heart” in my Scripture reading and study has been a challenge. Two helpful insights for me involved, first, identifying two distinct but complimentary approaches to Scripture–-analytical reading and meditative reading–-and, second, intentionally welcoming both approaches as I read and study Scripture. In this reflective essay I describe aspects of my journey and engagement with Scripture, clarifying my understanding of these two approaches to Scripture, and sharing some of the fruit both approaches have yielded for me–-including a meditative poem from an episode in Jesus's ministry.