What do you all think when I say the word ‘meditation’? Hold onto that thought. Now what would you think if I said that meditation is an important tradition for the Christian faith? I remember my time in seminary as we were discussing spiritual disciplines and meditation was a struggle for some people because of the immediate connection to Eastern religious practices. Meditation isn’t something that we do to find answers to questions (fill ourselves up) nor is it emptying ourselves so that something else can fill us up.
In a biblical sense, meditation is focusing on God’s Word so that the truth of it can be transformational in my life. The first words God gives Joshua as he is preparing to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land are:
This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. (Joshua 1:8)
The Psalms are loaded with the importance of meditation:
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (Ps. 19:14)
I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises. (Ps. 119:15-16, 148)
And just in case you think it is only an Old Testament concept:
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 (meditate) about such things. (Philippians 4:8)
So, what is meditation exactly from a biblical perspective? Meditating on the Scriptures can be done in several different ways but at the heart of all of them is bringing the truth of those verses into my very being. Whether it is reading the verses multiple times internally while praying over them or simply speaking them out loud repeatedly it allows the Holy Spirit to activate the truth of the Word within us. The Scripture becomes a part of me and my equilibrium (or default) state. I am able to call it to mind at a moment’s notice and it can guide me when problems or temptations arise in my life.
For example, if I am someone who struggles with self-worth and self-esteem that can be debilitating (this is a real-life example of my life). Fear of judgment from others can completely incapacitate this person. But there are scriptures that speak against this lie of the Devil…I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:14) and am created in the very image of God (Gen. 1:26-27) and can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). As I meditated on these verses, the Holy Spirit forced me to change my view of who I was because otherwise I was calling God a liar. Now, having meditated on them, I can call them to mind instantly when Satan tries to lead me astray regarding my identity in Christ.
Meditation is a valuable spiritual discipline in our Christian walk. There are many excellent resources out there to choose from to learn more about how to integrate meditation (or other spiritual disciplines as well) into your personal devotional time. Richard Foster’s book Celebration of Discipline is a timeless classic that I highly recommend as a starting point. God promises that “His Word does not return to Him empty, but accomplish that which I purpose and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11) Meditate on the perfect Word of God and be blessed!