To meditate on scripture is the second step in God’s success plan. The first step was to read and speak scripture.
Why should we meditate on scripture?
When we meditate on scripture, it allows the Holy Spirit to give us revelation knowledge of how to apply God’s Word to our life, which is the key to personal transformation. The personal transformation we experience through revelation knowledge causes us to become more like Christ.
In this article, you will learn what meditating on scripture is, how it benefits you, and the process of how to do it.
What Does Meditate Mean?
According to Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary, ‘meditate’ means: To keep the mind in a state of contemplation; to dwell on anything in thought; to think seriously; to muse; to cogitate; to reflect. To contemplate; to keep the mind fixed upon; to study. Synonyms are: To consider; ponder; weigh; revolve; study.
I find it interesting when I do an Internet search for meditation; it doesn’t include any of the ideas of Webster’s definition. All the first page Google results concerning meditation is in relation to how some far eastern religion practices meditation.
Then there are the Google results on types of meditation. Depending on the article, there are anywhere from two to sixteen types of meditation. Again, they are all derived from some eastern religion.
From there, I moved on to a search of how to meditate. All the articles taught you to either empty your mind or to focus your thoughts on yourself or something to do with your body. None of the teaching involved God.
The Dangers of Common Meditation
I see dangers in the common ideas of meditation as found through a Google search. First, emptying your mind is not a good practice. It creates an empty space for satan to fill with his ideas. Danger, danger, Will Robinson! (You probably have to be of a certain age to understand that joke. If you don’t understand it, just Google it.)
Now, for the second problem I have with the common idea of meditation. Focusing on ourselves or our body is not biblical either. Our body is simply the earthly container for the real us, our spirit. We have a body, which contains our physical senses in order to interact and relate to the physical world around us. God never intended our body to be a conduit to Him. The purpose of our body, along with our physical senses, is to teach us how to interact with the physical world around us.
In fact, it is impossible for our body to interact with God. God is a spirit and we interact with Him through our spirit. Our spirit is the real us. Meditation, done God’s way, is through our spirit and the benefits are for our spirit. Our spirit will then renew our mind through meditation and our renewed mind will control our body.
This is the process of our personal transformation into the image of Christ. The key is for us to meditate scripture.
This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. (Joshua 1:8 CSB)
God’s Word and Meditation
God has a lot to say about meditation. Psalm 1:2 describes the ideal believer. “His delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.” (CSB) The Amplified Classic Edition says it this way. “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.”
I want and, in fact, desire to be a believer, as described in Psalm 1:1-3. Meditation is how we become this believer. Meditation must become a part of our daily life.
In this article, I will show you how to make it a part of your daily life.
The First Mention of Mediation in the Bible
We find the first mention of meditation early in the Bible. Genesis 24:63 tells us concerning Isaac, “One evening as he was walking and meditating in the fields, he looked up and saw the camels coming.” (NLT)
I think this isn’t a onetime incident. Meditation was a habit for Isaac. He daily walked in the fields praying and meditating. Isaac intricately wove meditation and prayer into his life. God’s blessing is evidence of this.
Of course, there is David as an example for us too. Meditation and prayer were a daily part of his life, too. He said in Psalm 143:5-6, “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all you have done; I reflect on the work of your hands. 6 I spread out my hands to you; I am like parched land before you.” (CSB)
Meditation in the New Testament
The word meditate is rarely used in the new Testament, but the concept is there. Paul told Timothy, “Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.” (1 Timothy 4:15-16 NKJV) The things Timothy is to meditate on are told to us in verse 13: “…reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”
To put it in our vernacular, Bible reading, preaching/teaching (exhortation), and Bible study. Study is a part of meditating on the Word of God..
Here is a great resource for more information on meditation:
Christian Meditation: Definition, Biblical Examples, & More (justdisciple.com)
Six Benefits of Meditating Scripture
1. Keeps us from sin (Psalm 119:11)
2. Through it we experience peace (Philippians 4:8)
3. Get an understanding of the Word (Psalm 49:3; Psalm 119:97-99)
4. Brings life to you and health to your whole body (Proverbs 4:20-22)
5. It is the key to personal transformation (Romans 12:2)
6. Be successful and prosperous (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3)
I don’t know about you, but I want these in my life. Meditation of God’s Word is a powerful force in the believer’s life. It will keep us from sin (If we will obey the Word we meditate on.)
It creates the peace in our life that surpasses all human understanding. (see Philippians 4:6) Meditation will give us a deeper understanding of the Word. It will bring life and health to your body and renew your mind to God’s way of living life.
Last, but certainly not least, meditating scripture, along with obedience, will make you successful and prosperous.
For more information on God’s Success System read my article:
A Life of Success Created In Three Bold Steps | Bold Life View
A garment that is double dyed, dipped again and again, will retain the color a great while; so is a truth which is the subject of meditation. Philip Henry
The Biblical Definition of Meditate
I looked up the Hebrew word for meditate in Joshua 1:8. It means:
1. To murmur
2. To ponder
3. To growl
4. To groan
5. To sigh
6. To speak
7. To devise
8. To plot
9. To muse
10. To whisper
Quite a list, isn’t it? To meditate on scripture includes all of these ideas. God’s way of meditation is not an emptying of your mind. It is not concentrating on your body or yourself.
To meditate God’s way requires us to do active thinking on what He has said. It involves your speech and your imagination. Instead of emptying your mind; (Exactly what satan desires.) It involves filling your mind with God’s words.
Meditation God’s way is not sitting still in a lotus pose quietly going, “Hmmm….” Meditation could involve being alone and quietly contemplating God’s Word. It can also happen while standing on the factory line or sitting in your cubicle working.
You can meditate scripture while cooking dinner with the kids running around and playing. It can be done at Walmart while shopping or sitting in a waiting room somewhere. Meditation done God’s way becomes a natural part of your daily life.
Those who would be in health do not sit still in their houses to breathe such air as may come to them, but they walk abroad and seek out rural and elevated spots that they may inhale the invigorating breezes; and thus those godly souls who would be in a vigorous spiritual state, do not merely think upon such holy doctrines as may come into their minds in the ordinary course of thought, but they give time to meditation, they walk abroad in the fields of truth, and endeavor to climb the heights of gospel promises. It is said that Enoch walked with God: here is not an idle but an active communion. The road to bodily health is said to be a footpath, and the way to spiritual health is to exercise one’s self in holy contemplation. Charles Spurgeon
Why You Should Meditate Scripture
I have covered the benefits of meditating on Scripture. Now I want to expound upon one concept of the benefits. Personal transformation.
We are told in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” (CSB)
Many translations use the word world instead of age. This verse tells us we are not to be conformed to this world’s current culture. Any part of a culture that is not in line with what God says should not be a part of our lives.
But wait a minute. How do I know what part of culture doesn’t agree with scripture? Great question. That is what Bible reading and study is all about and why we meditate on scripture. It allows God to show us His way of doing things so we can also do them.
Righteousness: God’s way of doing and being right.
What Happens When We Meditate on Scripture?
When we meditate on scripture, it allows the Holy Spirit to show us how we can apply what we read in scripture. As we speak, ponder, mutter, muse, and plot God’s Word, the Holy Spirit is helping us to see how and where to apply that Scripture to our life.
The Holy Spirit’s job is to teach, comfort, guide, and show us things to come. Meditating scripture, along with prayer, allows Him to do His job. Too often, we conform to the world and its culture because we don’t take the time to read the Word and then meditate on what we read.
Because scripture is so important for our life, God instructed the Israelites to keep scripture on their mind all the time. To bind it to their foreheads. This is meditation. It is dwelling on God’s Word throughout the day.
I Don’t Have Time to Meditate Scripture
“But” you might say. “I don’t have time to meditate on scripture all day. I am too busy with work and kids and all.” All of us have busy lives.
Let me ask you this. Did you ever have a problem that you worried about all day? When you had that problem, did you ponder it? Mutter to yourself about it? Study it from every angle? Imagine it? Plot a way to solve the problem? Speak to someone else about it?
Therefore, you did all the aspects of meditation when you worried. You can do the same with God’s Word throughout the day, too. It is simply a matter of priority and a decision to do it.
Meditation is prayer’s handmaid, to wait on it both before and after the performance. It is as the plough before the sower to prepare the heart for the duty of prayer, and the harrow to cover the seed when ’tis sown. As the hopper feeds the mill with grist, so does meditation supply the heart with matter for prayer. Gurnall
I still do this today when I am working on the job. I often have a printed scripture lying on my desk and meditating on it. Sometimes I meditate on a scripture for a day and sometimes I will meditate on the same scripture for a week or more.
This is not a hard process to incorporate into your life. I am thinking of something while I work. I choose for some of that time to think (meditate) on scripture.
Using Modern Electronics to Meditate Scripture
Today, modern electronics make it is easier than ever to meditate scripture. You can use a note taking program to do the same thing I use to do with a 3×5 index card. Onenote, Evergreen, and Google Keep programs for this, but I am sure there are dozens of others.
Type or copy the scripture into your note taking program. Then do just what I described doing.
Our modern digital age will even allow you to read it the scripture in many translations. When on your break or lunch, you can also enter notes on what you are learning. In this way, you will have a permanent record of what you learned while meditating. on
The Challenge
I challenge you to meditate on scripture for twenty-one days. Take notes on what you learn. Make an action plan to put the scripture into effect in your life. Do this every day for twenty-one days and you will see and feel the impact on your life.
As you do this, the Holy Spirit will give you insights that will surprise and astonish you. If you will earnestly do this for twenty-one days, I believe you will make it a habit for life.
Meditate Scripture and become a Psalm One Christian
Through meditation, you will become the Psalm 1 Christian we read about:
How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers! Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.
Here are the other articles in this series:
A Life of Success Created In Three Bold Steps
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