The idea of meditation is not new. The Bible says that Isaac went out to the field to meditate in the evening.
Genesis 24:63- And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.
The Jews were commanded to meditate on the Law so that they could perform what it required.
Joshua 1:8- This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Meditate appears in the bible 14 times.
In the New Testament, Paul admonishes Timothy to meditate upon certain things- mainly Scripture reading, preaching, and doctrine.
I Timothy 4:13-16- Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
What does it mean for a Christian to meditate? It's not the "emptying of the mind" that eastern religions perform. The word meditate means to engage in contemplation or reflection or to focus one's thoughts on. It's actively engaging the mind in contemplation. The short answer is thinking on Scripture. We’re taking time to really think deeply about it. And the deeper we think, the more God can use it to change us.
Philippians 4:8- Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
When we study the Bible, we should be comparing Scripture with Scripture. Seeing what the Bible says about the specific subject. Bible study is all about getting to know and understand God’s thoughts on a matter. It can take hours to properly study one subject.
Meditating is not as in depth or broad as study. It's going over one verse. Pondering it, praying about it, and asking how it affects your life. There is no written procedure in the Bible for meditating on Scripture.
But I thought I would include a few tips here in case you haven’t tried it before:
A good way to begin is to get away from distractions. Turn on a fan to dampen outside noises. Make sure you have something to write on, and pray- asking God to show you what He wants you to see.
Now, read your Bible. It doesn’t have to be long. Maybe one chapter. Sometimes just a small passage of Scripture.
Does any singular verse jump out at you? Focus on that verse. Read it a few more times. What do the words mean? Pray about it. Ask God what does it convey?
Take a moment to think about it. Can you envision the situation around the verse? What was the author trying to convey? Are there multiple ways to look at it?
Now personalize it, try to apply it to your life. Does it give you guidance for your situation? Is it convicting you for sin or comforting you in a grief? Maybe it answers a question you’ve been wondering about.
This step may take a few minutes, or it may take all day! Write the verse down and carry it with you. Think about it throughout the day when you shower, while driving, or doing chores. Is there more you can learn from it?
Lastly, if possible, apply it to your life. Practice the lesson you’ve learned. Share it with others, or write it down in a journal to look back on. I have noticed that my viewpoint on certain verses has changed with time and experience; this is where having a journal comes in handy! It's also a great place to write down your blessings so you don't forget how much God has done for you!
There are so many verses in the Bible that could mean one thing to me and yet the Lord could use it to give something else to you. The amazing thing about God is that He will personalize His Word to us through the Holy spirit when we meditate on it.
