Biblical Meditation
Jos 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.
METHODS TO AVOID: –Mantra meditation, Transcendental meditation, -(so called) Spiritual meditation, New Age meditation -Movement meditation(Yoga). uses repetitive words, phrases, or sounds that claim to promote ultimate relaxation and alleviate stress.empty minds, focuses on self, gods,
Meditate on the Word of God, the works of God, and the ways of God.
WHAT IS BIBLICAL MEDITATION One Hebrew word for “meditate” is “hagah” which means to speak, utter, study, rehearse, and muse over something internally. “siyach” which is translated “meditation” which can be either internal musings or spoken aloud.
Both terms mean to ponder something until barriers to understanding have been eliminated and to return repeatedly to a subject to carefully consider it. Both involve dwelling on, thinking on, remembering, and considering the truths of God’s Word
Robert J. Morgan defines Biblical meditation as “…the powerful practice of pondering, personalizing, and practicing Scripture.”
Meditation is reviewing God’s Word by mulling it over in your mind. You are not thinking your thoughts, but you are reflecting on God’s thoughts. Meditation is analogous to a cow’s process of mastication which is the term for how they chew and digest their food. Cows bring up previously digested food for additional chewing of the “cud”. It is spiritual digestion.
“…pondering various thoughts by mulling them over in the mind and heart. It is the processing of mental food. We might call it ‘thought digestion’: Chewing upon a thought deliberately and thoroughly, thus providing a vital link between theory and action. What mastication is to the physical body of a cow, meditation is to your mental and spiritual life.” It is not he who reads most, but he who meditates most who will prove to be the choicest, sweetest, wisest and strongest Christian.”
Thus, meditation is not simply an academic exercise. It is meant to be transformative, meaning that it will change your life. It is not only a process of analysis, but a call to action. Andrew Murray describes meditation as “holding the word of God in your heart and mind until it has affected every area of your life.
HOW TO MEDITATE
–Season. In this busy world fueled by media and technology, you will never find time to meditate. You must make time to meditate.Set aside a specific time each day for meditation. Select a time where you are mentally alert. For some, this may be early morning. For others, it may be in the evening
-Seclusion. Find a quiet place where you can be alone. Mat 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door,
Dr. Charles Stanley notes: “You and I are blessed and cursed with constant communication through our phones, tablets, and computers. But true communion with the Lord demands some seclusion. So let’s turn off the TV, music, and phone notifications and listen for God’s voice. Claim a block of time for the Heavenly Father today, even if you start with only five minutes.”
–Surroundings. Orchestrate surroundings conducive to meditation. Here are some options to consider: -Establish a relaxing environment: A fireplace, a warm blanket, a comfortable chair, or a beautiful location outside in God’s creation. -Use soft Christian music,garden,scenery, to eliminate environmental distractions.
-Silence. (External & Internal) Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).Silence your phone, the television, and other distractions. As Frances Roberts stated: “Silence will speak more to you in a day than the world of voices can teach you in a lifetime.” A.W. Tozer advises: “Deliberately tune out the unpleasant sounds and come out of your closet determined not to hear them. Listen for the inward voice till you learn to recognize it…Call home your thoughts. Gaze on Christ with the eyes of your soul. Practice spiritual concentration.” -Quiet yourself in the presence of the Lord. Eliminate distractions. Sit in silence for a few minutes before you begin. In Satisfy Your Soul, Dr. Bruce Demarest writes: “A quieted heart is our best preparation…Meditation refocuses us from ourselves and from the world so that we reflect on God’s Word, His nature, His abilities, and His works…So we prayerfully ponder, muse, and ‘chew’ the words of Scripture…The goal is simply to permit the Holy Spirit to activate the life-giving Word of God.” The Bible says: “
–Supplies. You will need the following basic supplies: -A journal to record your meditations. -Pens or pencils. -Your Bible. -Different versions
–Select a verse or passage of Scripture for meditation. It may be a passage that the Lord has quickened to your heart or one drawn from your regular systematic Bible study. It may be a verse from a devotional reading, one that deals with your present circumstances, or a passage you have heard in a sermon.
–Read the verse or passage slowly, thinking carefully about each word and phrase. With each recitation of the verse, emphasize a different word and meditate on that word within the context of the whole scripture
-Meditate on each word and phrase of the verse or passage. David Shepherd says to “Read it to get the facts, study it to get the meaning, meditate on it to get the benefit.”
–Use questions and answers. Psalm 77, written by Asaph, indicates that when he was unable to sleep because of troubling circumstances, he meditated: I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. (Psalm 77:1-2) 47 As part of his meditation, Asaph posed questions and pondered the answers: Will the Lord cast off forever? and will he be favorable no more? Is his mercy clean gone forever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah. (Psalm 77:7-9)
Use a journal to: -you don’t have a thot till its written down.Outline the Scripture. -Summarize the basic truths of the passage. –Paraphrase the passage in your own words. –Visualize the Scripture by drawing a sketch or diagram to illustrate it. -Memorize the Scripture so that you can meditate on it continually. Thomas Manton states, “Remember that memorization is a first step to meditation. You cannot chew what you have not placed in your mouth!” -Make the verse or passage you are meditating on accessible. Here are some ideas: -Post the verse as a screen saver on your electronic device
-Pray about the passage. Remember that meditation is meant to be transformational, not just informational. Ask God to search your mind and reveal to you any wrong attitudes, motives, and thinking: Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalms 139:23-24) Thomas Manton explains that “What we take in by the Word we digest by meditation and let out by prayer.”
-Apply the passage to your life. -Does this passage reveal something I should stop doing? -Does this passage reveal something I should do? -How can I apply this passage in my life today? -Does this passage reveal a sin I need to confess? The Bible Meditation requires a response. To respond to Scripture is to agree with it and to apply it by putting it into practice in your everyday life. William Secker states that “contemplation is a perspective glass to see our Savior in; but examination is a looking-glass to see ourselves in.” Before you conclude your time of meditation, sit quietly and soak in the presence of the Lord. Listen for God to speak to you through the Holy Spirit and through your thoughts and impressions. Ask yourself: explains it this way: But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (James 1:22-25)
CONCLUSION
You have studied the methods of meditation and seen examples of the methods. Now it is your turn to apply what you have learned by meditating on a verse, passage, and topic as you do the test for this ch
Knowledge must turn to action no matter what.screensaver,password,card or post it note,morning, evening, commute, exercise,
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Transcendental meditation encourages one to empty their mind. David. W. Saxton notes: “Sadly, in recent years many associate meditation with false religion of the Far East. They view meditation as a process of emptying the mind rather than, as Scripture commands, filling the mind with divinely revealed truth.” Transcendental meditation also uses mantras, but the mantra is original and unique to each practitioner rather than a common one. Again, this is vain repetition against which the Bible warns (Matthew 6:7).
–Spiritual meditation is a term used in Eastern religions, such as Hinduism and Daoism. The focus is on silence and seeking a connection with any god or the universe in general. The Bible declares there is only one God and we are to worship Him: And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth…(Exodus 20:1-4) –New Age meditation seeks to change a person’s perceptions of self and the world in order to support the New Age philosophy and goals. The object is self, whereas in Biblical meditation the object is God. New Age meditation promotes altered states of consciousness, development of psychic powers, and spirit possession. These are all practices of the occult against which the Bible warns
Focused meditation involves concentration using any of the five senses. Examples include focusing on your breathing patterns, counting beads, staring at a candle flame, etc. The focus of Biblical meditation is the Trinity of God, His works, and His Word. -Movement meditation is an active form of meditation involving bodily movement. Yoga is perhaps the best known form of this meditation. Many Christians who do not understand the history behind yoga think it is simply a means of physical exercise, strengthening and improving flexibility of the muscles, and relaxing. Yoga, however, is an ancient practice which is derived from India and is believed to be the path to spiritual growth and enlightenment. Many believers engage in it without understanding of the subtle underlying meanings. The word yoga means “union” or “yoking”. The goal is to unite one’s self with the infinite Brahman, the Hindu concept of “god” which is an impersonal spiritual substance that is one with nature and the cosmos. This is also called “pantheism,” the belief that everything is God and that reality consists only of the universe and nature. The yoga philosophy makes no distinction between man and God. The various positions in yoga have spiritual meanings related to Hindu gods. Hinduism teaches that this world is nothing more than an illusion. In Hindu and Buddhist writings, yoga is described as a way of escaping the endless cycle of reincarnation and the laws of karma. The physical exercises and positions, along with the breathing techniques, were originally developed for spiritual and religious reasons. Examples are the poses of the cobra, greeting the sun, and the mountain all of which are positions designed to welcome Hindu gods.
ROUTINE MEDITATION
When you wake up in the morning. Take a few minutes when you first awaken–perhaps before you even get out of bed–to meditate.
During your commute. Meditate during your commute whether you travel for work, errands, or pleasure by private vehicle or public transportation. Earphones and media with soft Christian music are helpful to drown out competing noise. When you walk. Whether you are taking a walk for pleasure, exercise, or to a specific destination, meditate as you walk. Earphones and media with soft Christian music are helpful to eliminate street noise. God communed with Adam and Eve prior to the fall as they walked in the garden (Genesis 3:8). Enoch walked with God regularly and one day he walked right into eternity (Genesis 5:22-24). Isaac meditated as he walked in the fields (Genesis 24:63). When you exercise. When you exercise your physical body by lifting weights, walking, running, swimming, or riding a bicycle, exercise spiritually by meditating on the Lord. When you awaken at night. Insomnia is a perfect time to meditate on the Lord.
Before bedtime. Take a few minutes to meditate on the Lord, His Word, and His work through you and in you that day. God commanded Joshua: “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night…” (Joshua 1:8)
SPECIAL TIME
REGULAR TIMES
Every believer should set aside a daily time for prayer, worship, study of the Word, and meditation. If you do not schedule a set time for something, you usually don’t get around to doing it. The guidelines in the next chapter will help you prep.
