Meditation is a practice that involves focusing the mind in silence or on a mantra or text in order to increase awareness, relax the body and mind, and connect more deeply with God. The Bible has a few things to say about meditation and its role in the spiritual life of believers.
The most common Hebrew word translated as “meditate” in the Old Testament is hāgâ, which means to murmur, mutter, speak in an undertone, or ponder something deeply. When the Bible refers to meditation, it is often in the context of deeply reflecting on or thinking about God’s word and His works.
Here are some key verses about meditation in the Bible:
- “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:1-2)
- “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.” (Psalm 143:5)
- “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)
These verses promote meditation on God’s word and works as beneficial for spiritual growth. When believers meditate on Scripture and God’s faithfulness, it strengthens their trust in God and motivates them to obey His commandments.
In the New Testament, the Greek word translated “meditate” is meletaō, which means to ponder, imagine, premeditate, or rehearse. The Bible mentions meditating in the following contexts:
- “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16)
- “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8)
- “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
These verses instruct believers to meditate on God’s word, virtues, and truth. Meditating on these things fills the mind in a positive way and leads to peace and thankfulness.
Benefits of Biblical Meditation
The Bible presents meditation as something beneficial and even essential to the spiritual life. Some of the benefits seen in Scripture include:
- Deeper understanding of God’s word – As we slowly reflect on the meaning of Scripture, we gain insight we may have missed on a quick reading.
- Strength to obey God’s commands – Internalizing and personalizing Bible verses through meditation helps us live them out.
- Peace and comfort – Meditating on God’s faithfulness and promises gives us confidence in Him.
- Wisdom and discernment – Careful focus on biblical truth helps us make wise choices.
- Guards against sin – Dwelling on God’s word hides it in our heart and keeps us from sin (Psalm 119:11).
- Right perspective – Meditating on honorable and excellent things trains our mind in righteousness.
The psalmist declares the blessings of meditating on Scripture: “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103). As we ponder and personalize God’s word, it nourishes our spirit like honey to the soul.
How to Meditate Biblically
Scripture does not prescribe a single method for meditation. However, based on the Bible’s teachings and examples, here are some principles for meditating in a biblical way:
- Choose a specific passage or verse to meditate on.
- Read the passage slowly and thoughtfully several times.
- Reflect on the meaning of keywords, phrases, and truths in the passage.
- Consider how the passage applies to your life and situation.
- Visualize biblical scenes or truths to understand them deeply.
- Recite verses or truths from the passage out loud.
- Journal, pray, or sing your reflections from the meditation.
- Apply the passage by concrete acts of obedience.
The goal is not just to understand the passage intellectually, but to engage the heart and spirit as well. Meditation is meant to lead to transformation, not just information. It synthesizes mind, emotions, and will to apply biblical truth to life.
Differences from Eastern Meditation
Meditation practiced in Eastern religions or New Age spirituality often differs from biblical meditation in significant ways, including:
- Emptying the mind vs. filling the mind – Eastern meditation promotes emptying oneself or all thoughts. Biblical meditation fills the mind with Scripture and spiritual truths.
- Chanting mantras vs. focused thought – Mantra chanting is meant to silence the thinking mind. Biblical meditation engages focused thinking on God’s word.
- Visualization vs. visualization – Visualizing one’s “god self” or human potential is contrary to visualizing biblical imagery to build faith.
- Spiritual power vs. the Holy Spirit – Methods like transcendental meditation promise psychic energy, mystical experiences, or tapping into the “Christ consciousness.” Biblical meditation seeks the power of the Holy Spirit.
- New Age ideas vs. biblical truth – Ideas of universal oneness, inner divinity, or metaphysical manipulation find no correlation in Scripture.
In practice, non-biblical meditation is inward-focused, aimed at altered states, mystical experiences, or psychic abilities. Christian meditation focuses outside oneself on Scripture, rehearsing God’s truth to transform thinking and behavior according to God’s word.
Cautions Regarding Meditation
While the Bible presents godly meditation in a positive light, there are a few cautions to note regarding meditation:
- Meditation should never be used as a replacement for Bible study and intellectual learning. It supplements but does not supersede understanding Scripture accurately and systematically.
- Meditation on ideas or experiences outside the Bible can lead to unbiblical thinking and living. Stick to Scripture as the “safe space” for meditation.
- Meditation should prompt us to action, not just navel-gazing. We gain wisdom from meditation in order to live wisely.
- Eastern forms of meditation that empty the mind or involve chanting mantras are to be avoided, along with visualizing anything contrary to Scripture.
- Be aware that overzealous or unbalanced meditation may become more about mystical experiences than true transformation into Christlikeness.
With these cautious considerations in mind, biblical meditation can rightly take its place alongside other spiritual disciplines like prayer, worship, fasting, and celebration.
Practical Tips for Meditating on Scripture
Here are some practical tips to start experiencing the blessings of meditating on God’s word:
- Set aside quiet and regular time to meditate, free from distractions and responsibilities.
- Begin with a prayer of preparation, asking the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts.
- Choose passages suited to meditation. Psalms and the teachings of Jesus work well.
- Read slowly, listening for a word or phrase that stands out to you.
- Repeat the word or phrase quietly to yourself, reflecting on its meaning.
- Consider how the passage applies to your current context and concerns.
- Close with a prayer of response, putting into action what you have reflected upon.
- Journal thoughts and insights gained from your meditation time.
- Discuss your reflections with a spiritual mentor or friend for encouragement.
Starting small with 15-20 minutes per day is advisable when developing the discipline of meditating on Scripture. As we taste the goodness of God’s word in quiet moments of pondering, we will begin to understand why the psalmist proclaimed: “Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97). Our minds and lives will flourish as we prayerfully listen to what the Holy Spirit whispers to us in the words of life.