The Bible contains a number of passages that tell us to “meditate” on God’s word, works, and attributes. Many Christians today thus ask what it means to meditate and how exactly one should meditate. In a culture that is enamored with unbiblical definitions and practices of “meditation,” there can be a lot of confusion. Biblically speaking, how should Christians meditate?
What “meditate” means
Before defining how one meditates, it is important to briefly note what the word means in the biblical context. Christian scholar Donald S. Whitney defines meditation as:
“deep thinking on the truths and spiritual realities revealed in Scripture, or upon life from a scriptural perspective, for the purposes of understanding, application, and prayer.”1
This definition fits well with how Scripture uses the word. For example, Psalm 1 famously begins:
“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers,” (Psalm 1:1-3).
Who is the blessed man? The one who meditates on God’s word day and night. The term here implies an active and willful focus on the commands and teachings of Scripture. Indeed, rather than the word “meditate,” many early English translations said that he would “exercise himself” in the law of the Lord.2 The blessed man is the one who constantly mentally trains himself to remember and obey the word of God.
In addition to the words of Scripture, we are also told to meditate on God Himself and on His works:
“My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night,” (Psalm 63:5-6).
“I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds,” (Psalm 77:12).
But, even in such cases, the meaning is the same: thoughtful reflection for the purpose of better understanding and future obedience.
How to biblically meditate
To meditate is simply to think about something with focus and intention. There are no special techniques needed. It doesn’t involve a higher plane of consciousness or mystical hearing of the divine voice. It is not a revelatory experience. It is simply a disciplined act of the mind.
Still, in this age of distraction, some advice on how to maintain focus and think deeply can be helpful. Keep in mind, however, that none of the suggestions here are necessary. Neither do they bring with them any sort of power or spiritual experience. These are just some possible tools you might find helpful.
Memorize important passages
This one is as close to a mandatory rule as we are going to get. If we are to, as the Psalmist says, meditate on God’s word both day and night, we need to have some of those words in our head. If I am to think and reflect on the Scriptures while driving, jogging, working, etc., I need to be able to call passages to mind without always having them open in front of my eyes. Scripture memorization is an important aid to consistent biblical meditation.
Start by memorizing individual verses that contain important gospel truths, ethical commands, promises of God, or statements about the nature of God Himself. These are all valuable for us to call to mind often throughout the day. From there, work your way up to longer passages.
Many people think they cannot do this. But with time and discipline, we all can retain more Scripture than we realize! Once, during a medical treatment that temporarily affected her memory, my wife decided to push back against this side effect by trying to memorize large sections of Scripture. It was just as a way of trying to keep her mind sharp, but she wound up able to recite the entire book of James and several of Paul’s shorter letters from memory!
For some tips on getting started, see “How to Memorize Scripture” and our “List of Verses to Memorize.”
Meditate by asking foundational questions
Whether you are meditating on a verse from memory or an open Bible in front of you, train yourself to pause and ask fundamental questions about the text. Think about things like:
- “What does this passage tell me about God?”
- “How does this passage point me to the gospel of Jesus Christ?”
- “What does this passage challenge or command me to do?”
- “What promise or hope does this passage offer to the suffering or struggling believer?”
- “What warnings are found in this passage?”
- “What should a Christian believe based on this passage?”
- “What should a Christian do based on this passage?”
Don’t force the passage to answer these questions and don’t contrive easy answers that don’t really come from the passage itself. Rather, carefully reflect on the words and their broader context to discover the answers.
Meditate via tracing the grammar
This may not sound edifying or spiritual at first glance, but we gain much understanding by simply thinking through the grammar of a verse. One good rule is “follow the pronouns”. Find all the pronouns in your chosen passage (I, you, we, they, he, she, it, this, that, etc.) and identify to whom or what exactly each of them is referring. This can feel tedious for a while, but once it becomes a habit you will find that this one simple discipline provides a great deal of clarity and even has apologetic value! (note, for example, how it exposes the error of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ abuse of Proverbs 8).
Carefully noting the grammar of a verse or passage has a second benefit as well. Not only does it clarify specific details we might have missed, but it also forces us to slow down and think meaningfully about every word and phrase in the passage. Mentally working through the passage with this kind of careful slowness is, by its very nature, meditating on it.
Drive yourself to prayer
It’s easy to let our mental reflections become a mere intellectual exercise. Instead, let your efforts to meditate on God’s words drive you to greater devotion to prayer as well. When you stop to think on a passage of Scripture, ask God to help you understand, believe, and obey the passage. While you reflect on a verse, thank God for any insights you find and praise him for the wisdom of His word. Never forget that the words, works, and person on whom you are to meditate is the real, living God of the universe! Let your focused reflections drive you to worship.
Conclusion
Christian meditation is not a distinctive set of spiritual rituals or pseudo-eastern relaxation practices. It is simply a careful reflection on the Scriptures and, through them, on the grace, commands, works, and attributes of God. If we simply take time to remember His word and carefully apply it to our lives, we will be meditating in the biblical sense of the term. This basic habit is one every Christian should cultivate.
