37 Bible Passages to Enrich Your Contemplative Practice

Discover 37 Bible passages to enrich your contemplative practice. Let these verses inspire and support you in your journey of silence and meditation.

1. Be still and know that I am God.”
   Be still and know that I am
   Be still and know
   Be still
   Be (NRSV) Psalm 46:10
2. …The Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. (NAB) Romans 8:26
3. But I have stilled and quieted my soul like a weaned child. Like a weaned child on its mother’s lap, (so is my soul within me). (NAB) Psalm 131:2
4. For those who enter God’s rest also cease from their labours, as God did from his. Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest. … (NRSV) Hebrews 4:10-11
5. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NRSV) Philippians 4:7
6. All of us, gazing with unveiled face on the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the Lord who is the spirit. (NAB) 2 Corinthians 3:18
7. Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. (NRSV) Isaiah 55:6
8. But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (NRSV) Isaiah 40:31
9. Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and shield. (NRSV) Psalm 33:20
10. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (NRSV) Hebrews 11:1
11. Oh God, you are my God, I see you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (NRSV) Psalm 63:1
12. I … do not consider myself to have taken possession. Just one thing: Forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit. … (NAB) Philippians 3:13
13. Deep calls to deep, in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. (NIV) Psalm 42:7
14. Whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (NRSV) Matthew 6:6
15. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him … ” (NRSV) Psalm 37:7
16. What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him. (NRSV) 1 Corinthians 2:9
17. This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.
    
    You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’ Therefore you will flee! You said, ‘We will ride off on swift horses.’ Therefore your pursuers will be swift! A thousand will flee at the threat of one, at the threat of five you will all flee away till you are left like a flagstaff on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill.
    
    Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” (NIV) Isaiah 30:15-18

18. Before they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking I will hear.” (NRSV) – Isaiah 65:24
19. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.” (NRSV) Colossians 3:2-4
20. Better is a handful of quiet than two handfuls with toil and a chasing after wind. (NRSV) Ecclesiastes 4:6
21. He has made everything appropriate to its time, and has put the timelessness into our hearts, without men discovering … the work which God has done.” (NAB) Ecclesiastes 3:11
22. So I am going to lure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak to her heart.” (NAB) Hosea 2:16
23. … The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (NRSV) Corinthians 3:6
24. For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation. For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from Him.” (NRSV) Psalm 62:1,5
25. For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation.” (NRSV) Psalm 62:1
26. Seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge, according to the image of its Creator. … Christ is all and is in all.” (NRSV) Colossians 3:9-11
27. In accord with the riches of His glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith that you … may have strength to comprehend … what is the breadth and length and height and depth, to know the love of Christ which surpasses all knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God (mystical union). … To Him Who is able to accomplish far more than we ask or imagine, by the power working in us. … ” (NAB) Ephesians 3:16-20
28. Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord.” (NAB) Psalm 27:14
29. … Their hearts may be encouraged as they are brought together in love, to have all the richness of fully assured understanding for the knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (NAB) Colossians 2:2-3
30. Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (NAB) 1 Corinthians 3:16
31. … God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, in the hope of glory.” (NRSV) Colossians 1:27
32. Now however, that you know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back. … ” (NRSV) Galatians 4:9
33. This, then, is how you should pray:
    “‘Our Father in heaven,
    hallowed be your name,
    your kingdom come,
    your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
    Give us today our daily bread.
    And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
    And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one” (NIV) Matthew 6:9-13
34. Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
    
    And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
    
    But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (NIV) Matthew 6:25-34

35. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
    
    Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (NIV) Philippians 4:4-9

36. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (NIV) Matthew 11:28-30
37. Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. (MSG) Matthew 11:28-30

Rod Janz, a partner with SoulStream, compiled these 37 Bible passages. May these words continue to inspire and uplift you on your journey.