Introduction to Biblical Meditation

We are called to meditate on God as an essential part of Following Jesus. Yet today, many Followers of Jesus are nervous of the concept of ‘meditation’ because of the New Age, Buddhism and Hinduism association with it. There is a fear that meditation in any form, opens us to evil spirits or false teaching. These are concepts of mediation that have been altered and appropriated by religions that are false and twisted the truth of what God has created. We need to reclaim the biblical narrative of meditation as it is robbing us of an important way of interacting with God and His Word.

How can we do Biblical Meditation without any fear?

Lets first work through what it is not. Eastern meditation teaches that in order to relax, we need to empty our minds, to mindlessly repeat a phrase or mantra to gain an altered state. It says that we need to use visualisation to create our own reality and that it is an inner journey to find our true centre of being without God.

However, Biblical meditation isn’t primarily for our relaxation, nor to control our breathing and it is never mindless…

In fact the opposite is true, as we are to focus our minds (sometimes using breathing) on the Word of God, which may result in relaxation. It is learning to quieten our hearts through filling our minds with Scripture and that will build a deeper intimacy with Jesus. Philippians 4 v 8 we are told to “Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.” Hebraic understanding of meditation was to memorise scripture and it was their primary means of prayer.

“But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.” Psalm 1 v 2 Amp

Through out the Old Testament, a few different hebraic words are used for meditation, we are only going to look at ta few;

• “Hagad” which means “to groan, sigh or murmur”, this is active thinking or thoughtful study which demands an outward expression. It is connected to sound, as in the sound we make when musing, or murmuring.

• “Siyach” means “deep contemplation, ponder, utterance, prayer and communication”. It is a picture of turning and around something in our mind to gain greater understanding so that we are transformed by its truth.

• Strongs Exhaustive Concordance definition is “reflection, devotion, meditation and prayer.

• The greek word is “Meletao” - “To take care of, revolve in one’s mind, imagine, attend to carefully”.

If we approach meditation with our western mindset, which is to only use our human reasoning, applying our mental faculties to simply acquire mental knowledge. This is our ‘self’ in action and using ‘human’ reason which results in earthly ‘wisdom’. Or perhaps, we approach scripture that we are the master over it instead of we coming under scripture and it being the master over us.

Instead… we are to present ourselves and our faculties to God for Him to use as He wills.

The Biblical narrative of meditation is to surrender all of ourselves to God, so that He can use every part of us, as He fills and flows through our heart, mind and soul by His Spirit. God is the one who grants us revelation through our hearts and minds (our faculties) as we yield to Him and to the indwelling of Holy Spirit. This results in a wisdom that is from above (James 3 v 17). It is our reasonings with God so that we receive a spirit of wisdom and revelation. Finally resulting as Jesus did in John 5 v 19 - 30, that we do what we see and hear what our Father is doing.

“This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success.” Joshua 1 v 8 Amp

Biblical meditation is Holy Spirit utilising every faculty of our hearts and minds to bring His revelation-light which aides in our transformation in becoming more like Jesus. It helps us sit quietly and mull and think over a piece of scripture, piece by piece, slowly breaking it apart and learning to dwell on each word. It implies wonder, and remembering God in His Glory and to contemplate about who God is in His fullness.

What is the difference between Meditation and Reading Scripture?

In many ways, they are quite similar to reading and studying the Word. Daily Bible reading is like regularly eating food for nourishment to our souls, and Bible study deepens our understanding, where we are educated and convinced in our minds. Biblical meditation is savouring every morsel of God and His rich, living-giving Word, where we are persuaded and enticed by God. we liken it to eating chocolate slowly… where you allow it to melt in your mouth, paying attention to each nuance of flavour and texture.

The Basic Practice

While aspects of meditation can vary, the practice itself isn’t complicated. Here are some different aspects of Biblical Meditation and what it could possibly look like:

To Begin:

In Scripture - Take a single verse or paragraph and explore the mean of each word. Have a listening heart to His speaking to you through these words. Psalm 119, the psalmist asks for “understanding the way of God’s precepts”. You can ask and seek understanding on what God is saying about Himself, your world and your heart.

In Reason - Isaiah 1 v 18 God calls you to “Come let us reason together”. Allow Holy Spirit to guide your reasoning process. Ask Him what He does want to show you in this particular verse? Surrender to His Word and revelation.

To Record it - Deut 17 v 18 - 19 says to write down. Maybe you can keeping a journal, or write down certain scriptures on your phones or on a note card. So that you can meditate on it throughout your day. Then you can memorise it so that you are able recall it through out the day.

To Speak & Imagine - You need to learn to ponder on the Word of God, to personalise it and to speak it out aloud over yourself, and give yourself permission for your imaginations to be active in this process.

To Feel and Hear - Allow the Word of God to reveal what God feels and thinks about you, so you can personally experience (hear) His love and heart for you.

To Reflect and Remember - Reflect and meditate on God Himself. In Psalm 27 v 4 it says “to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord” and to remember His works… Psalm 77 v 11 - 12 “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder [meditate] all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds”

In Nature and Worship- Training your soul to mediate on the God’s glory and majesty in nature. Johnathan Edwards in His Private Diary said “And as I walking there [in his father's pasture], and looked up on the sky & clouds; there came into my mind, a sweet sense of the glorious majesty & grace of God, that I know not how to express… The appearance of everything was altered: there seemed to be, as it were, a calm, sweet cast, or appearance of divine glory, in almost everything… And while I viewed, used to spend my time, as it always seemed natural to me, to sing or chant forth my meditations; to speak my thoughts in soliloquies, & speak with a singing voice“

To Apply and Act - As you begin to accept His revelations as Truth, then you need to act on it. If there is any hidden sin exposed to repent from it and then choose to stand on the Truth of what has been revealed to you.

Remembering that Holy Spirit is your guide in this process. You are totally dependant on God, sometimes you may need to spend more time in silence, or maybe it is more ‘reasoning’ time. Surrender to the flow of where and how Holy Spirit is guiding you.