A Method toward a Deeper Understanding of Romans Chapter 8

1. Take five minutes to prepare yourself for prayer. Shut your eyes. Using your own preferred techniques, remove self-centered thoughts and still the aimless series of thoughts and worries. A mind neither focused on the self nor preoccupied with an undisciplined stream of thoughts is more ready to receive spiritual teachings. 
2. Carefully read Romans Chapter 8, preferably in a beautiful bible with a noble translation. 
3. Next, read Romans Chapter 8 alongside its German translation, as found here.
4. Listen to the Bach motet Jesu, meine Freude twice. The first time through, read the words as you listen to the motet. The second time through, just listen to the motet. 
5. If you truly listened and truly meditated on the text, you will understand more about the meaning of this chapter than you would either reading or listening alone. The art communicates meaning to the inner understanding in ways that words alone cannot. 

1. Note: This Bach motet features text from Romans chapter 8 and the German hymn "Jesu, meine Freude," by Johann Frank (1650).