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CONNECTING WITH GOD THROUGH BIBLICAL MEDITATION

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, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. (Psalm 1:2-3)

FOR THIRTY DAYS they had wept and mourned the death of their great leader—the one who had led them out of centuries of terrible slavery. They had followed him faithfully for forty years as they maneuvered the wilderness in search of God’s promise land. Most of a generation had died, and now Moses was gone.

In his place rose Joshua, whose job it was to take possession of the land God had prepared for the Israelites. Joshua had received great promises from God. Every place the sole of his foot touched, God would give to Israel. None of his enemies would be able to stand up against him. God would never leave or forsake him. But in order for Joshua to possess the land, God instructed him to meditate. Joshua 1:8 says, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

Why was meditation such a key to Joshua’s success? Among other things, it was in his times of meditation that the Lord spoke His strategy to Joshua for moving forward. The strategy needed to conquer one enemy would not work for the next. Joshua needed a fresh, new revelation for every step he took. To understand the strategy he needed for the next move, he had to connect with God. And he did so through prayer and meditation.

One of the ways God has provided for success in our own lives is contingent on our willingness to take time to meditate on His Word. Why is that? It is because if we just read the Bible without taking the time to give it thought, we don’t have the opportunity to really understand what we’ve just read. Without meditation, when can the words of truth provide refreshment to our soul and spirit? And how can prayer flow out of a passage that has been read, but not been understood?

Pastor and author Donald S. Whitney puts it this way: “Meditation is the missing link between Bible intake and prayer. … There should be a smooth, almost unnoticeable transition between Scripture input and prayer output so that we move even closer to God in those moments. This happens when there is the link of meditation in between.” (1)

WHAT IS BIBLICAL MEDITATION?

One problem many Christians have with the idea of meditation is that it has become identified more with non-Christian practices than with biblical Christianity. “Meditation” is often associated with New Age methods of self-actualization, and is a prominent observance in many spiritually counterfeit groups and movements. But we must remember that meditation is both commanded by God and modeled for us in the Scripture. We should not be afraid of scriptural meditation simply because the world has adapted it for its own purposes.

Pastor Whitney stresses, “The kind of meditation encouraged in the Bible differs from other kinds of meditation is several ways. While some advocate a kind of meditation in which you do your best to empty your mind, Christian meditation involves filling your mind with God and truth. For some, meditation is an attempt to achieve complete mental passivity, but biblical meditation requires constructive mental activity. Worldly meditation employs visualization techniques intended to ‘create your own reality.’ And while Christian history has always had a place for the sanctified use of our God-given imagination in meditation, imagination is our servant to help us meditate on things that are true (Philippians 4:8). Furthermore, instead of ‘creating our own reality’ through visualization, we link meditation with prayer to God and responsible, Spirit-filled human action to effect changes.

“In addition to these distinctives, let’s define meditation as deep thinking on the truths and spiritual realities revealed in Scripture for the purposes of understanding, application, and prayer. Meditation goes beyond hearing, reading, studying, and even memorizing as a means of taking in God’s Word. A simple analogy would be a cup of tea. You are the cup of hot water and the intake of Scripture is represented by the tea bag. Hearing God’s Word is like one dip of the tea bag into the cup. Some of the tea’s flavor is absorbed by the water, but not as much as would occur with a more thorough soaking of the bag. …Meditation is like immersing the bag completely and letting it steep until all the rich tea flavor has been extracted and the hot water is thoroughly tinctured reddish brown.” (2)

BENEFITS OF MEDITATION

Throughout the Bible, meditation on God’s Word is linked with many benefits for us to enjoy. Here is some of what the Bible has to say:

1. We gain strength. “Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders. My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word” (Ps 119:27-28).

2. We gain hope. “I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees. Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope” (Ps 119:48-49).

3. We gain wisdom. “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me” (Ps 119:97-98).

4. We gain insight and understanding. “I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts” (Ps 119:99-100).

5. We please God. “May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD” (Ps 104:34).

6. We connect with God’s promises for us. “My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises” (Ps 119:148).

7. We connect with God’s power and goodness. “They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness” (Ps 145:5-7).

8. We prosper. “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, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers” (Ps 1:2-3).

RENEWING OUR MINDS

Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Meditating on God and His Word is a key to renewing our mind. The twists and turns our lives take can often leave us confused. Confusion is normal. God does not condemn us for it. But we must work to get past our confusion by spending time inquiring of the Lord. As Joshua took his place of leadership, the Lord asked Joshua not to fear, but to meditate day and night upon Him and His covenant promises that He had spoken through the ages. As Joshua was faithful to obey, God showed Him the new method for the new season. It was through Joshua’s time with the Lord that the Lord could reveal His strategies.
God is the same today. If we will spend time with Him, remembering the promises He has made to us, and inquiring about that which confuses us, He will be faithful to bring us clarity. That is how we put on the mind of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 2:16). This is how our minds are renewed.

MEDITATION CONNECTS US WITH GOD

Beyond the renewing of our minds, Christians need to understand what God wants to accomplish in our lives. But so many of us walk around aimlessly with the belief that either God does not speak to individuals today, or that He is not interested enough in our specific situations to speak to us. We live day-in and day-out knowing God is watching, but perhaps never understanding that He desires active participation and interaction with us. If you long to hear God speak to your heart, take some time to meditate on Him. Be quiet and still before Him. Ask Him for a clear word. Be open to how He might want to communicate with you. We must position ourselves in such a way that we can hear from Him when He is ready to communicate. Be persistent until you know you have heard from the Lord regarding your life.

Your answer may not come within a few minutes or even a few days, but keep expecting. God will speak to you in some form or other. When you feel you have heard from God, write it down. Pray about it. Meditate on it. Let it build your faith for what God longs to do for you. But don’t assume that God does not or cannot communicate with you. The Lord will richly bless you as you take time to focus your heart and mind in meditation on Him and His Word.

With blessings,
Jack and Rebecca Sytsema

(1) Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, Colorado Springs, CO: Navpress, 1991), p. 67.
(2) Ibid.

.©2006, Children of Destiny. All rights reserved.

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CONNECTING WITH GOD THROUGH BIBLICAL MEDITATION
SCRIPTURE GUIDE

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, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
(Ps 1:2-3, NIV)

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
(Ps 19:14, NIV)

Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.
(Ps 48:9, NIV)

I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.
(Ps 77:12,NIV)

May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD.
(Ps 104:34, NIV)

Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them.
(Ps 111:2, NIV)

I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.
(Ps 119:15, NIV)

Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders. My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.
(Ps 119:27-28, NIV)

I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees. Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.
(Ps 119:48-49, NIV)

Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me.
(Ps 119:97-98, NIV)

I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts.
(Ps 119:99-100, NIV)

My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises. Hear my voice in accordance with your love; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your laws.
(Ps 119:148-149, NIV)

I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.
(Ps 143:5, NIV)

They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
(Ps 145:5-7, NIV)

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will.
(Rom 12:2, NIV)

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things.
(Phil 4:8, NIV)

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
(Luke 2:19, NIV)

"For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
(1 Cor 2:16, NIV)

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