Meditation // I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. ( Ps. 119:15)

What is Biblical Meditation?

Grab a dictionary, electronic or hardcopy, and the word Mediate or the variation meditation will be broadly defined as "to think deeply about something."   I have often said, that: thinking deeply, is likened to a slow chew or churning of an idea or concept until it is broken down into digestible useful and helpful morsels.  So, as we apply this term --meditation,  to our biblical process of handling God's word, one easy way to interpret what we mean is,

"Biblical meditation is the slow chewing or churning on biblical principles and truths [in the Word of God], until they are broken down into digestible [applicable] morsels which are useful and helpful for Christian development and living."

This form of mediation is not a folding of the arms, while your legs are crossed on a yoga mat accompanied by audio instructions to empty your mind and give your whole self ( mind-body-soul) over to nothingness. Biblical Meditation employs and engages all our senses and our whole being, calling us to fill our minds, hearts, and soul with the tried and true promises of our God.  As we meditate, that is thinking deeply on the promises of God, we become not empty, but are filled with truth and hope for our today and tomorrow. We are reminded that "Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4)  We find ourselves - purpose and identity, rather than losing our sense of being. Through our chewing and churning, we are fortified in the truth that we are loved, treasured and cared for by a heavenly Father who wants us and calls us his own.  'You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit. (John 15:16)

Beloved, biblical meditation is key to a Christian's spiritual formation and growth. While it's not the format mediation that is based on the Eastern principles as most commonly known today, that's not to say you cannot sit quietly, and create the most optimal atmosphere that will enhance your experience as you interact with scripture and minimize distractions and interruptions.  In addition, mediation can be mobile and practiced with gospel friends. 

We live in a very fast-paced world, and often sitting still for 5 minutes is difficult...perish the thought! 

Nonetheless, I have seen results in my meditation pursuit of deepening my knowledge and love of God by utilizing the technology at my disposal. So, if my mediation timeslot has to be delayed or interrupted due to mommy duties or work demands, I quickly switch modes to my preprepared inventory of biblical resources to continue nourishing my soul and call my mind and heart to think deeply about God's word. My mobile resource pack includes a bible reading plan, podcasts, audiobooks, sticky notes with scripture to memorize and often music that promotes gospel focus and keeps my gaze on God's promises and truths.

The goal of Biblical mediation is focused on increasing one's knowledge for the love and taking pleasure in God. Hence, the Christian meditating on scripture is the act of deliberately focusing on God's Word and allowing the truths to change the heart attitudes in light of God's love.

Bible Roots

The word "meditate", occurs 14 times in 14 verses in the KJV.

Meditate: primarily, "to care for" (akin to melete, "care;" cp. melei, "it is a care"), denotes

(a) "to attend to, practice," 1Ti 4:15, RV, "be diligent in" (AV, "meditate upon"); to practice is the prevalent sense of the word, and the context is not against this significance in the RV rendering; some mss. have it in Mar 13:11

(b) "to ponder, imagine," Act 4:25.

Source: Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

Why meditate?   ...because scripture itself tells us to...

Joshua 1:8 ESV 

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.

Psalm 119:11 ESV  

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 1:1-6 ESV 

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. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; ...

Colossians 3:16 ESV 

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.

Philippians 4:8 ESV 

Finally, brothers, 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.

Psalm 119:15 ESV

I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.

Psalm 1:2 ESV 

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law, he meditates day and night.

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV 

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness...

Psalm 119:97 

Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.

The above verses of scripture and many more in the bible signals us to meditate on the Word of God and points to the benefits of doing so always. Whether you can handle huge chunks at a time or small morsels, the idea here is to get to reading God's Word and take steps to meditate upon each percept and principle so that it is helpful in your daily life.