Paying close attention to Jehovah’s sayings is a life-or-death matter. And these sayings must sink deep into our heart if they are to motivate us to do what is right. This is where meditation comes in. Bible reading without meditation is like a shower that passes quickly and soon dries up​—momentarily refreshing but with no lasting benefits. Meditation is like a steady rain that sinks in and stimulates growth. How, then, can one learn to meditate?

Meditation, however, can be done at a much deeper level. Have you ever watched a cow chewing the cud, or ruminating, as it is called? To “ruminate” also means to meditate. But a cow cannot ruminate on an empty stomach, any more than we can meditate with empty minds. Hence, a study of the Bible has value, for the more you study, the more spiritual thoughts you have to “chew.” And even if you rate yourself as a poor student, you will find that as you apply yourself, study will gradually become easier, more pleasurable. New thoughts will connect with old thoughts. Seemingly disconnected thoughts will begin to organize themselves into coherent patterns. And as Solomon said, “to the understanding one knowledge is an easy thing.” (Proverbs 14:6) But it takes time. And if studying God’s Word is not presently one of your main enjoyments in life, why not ponder, or meditate, on this right now?