How can I meditate on God’s Word?

Answer

The spiritual practice of meditation is not exclusive to Christianity. Many non-Christian religions and secular groups also engage in meditation. However, when the Bible references meditation, as it frequently does, it is not the type of meditation that aims to detach, quiet, or clear the mind, as seen in Transcendental or Buddhist meditation practices. The Scriptures promote meditation that actively involves the mind to comprehend God’s Word and apply it in life. How can we meditate on God’s Word in a way that leads to fruitful and righteous lives before God?

In ancient Hebrew culture, meditation always entailed actively exercising the mind. Thomas Watson, a Puritan minister from the seventeenth century, dedicated much of his life to biblical meditation, both engaging in it and instructing on it. He aptly described the practice in his book “Heaven Taken by Storm” as “a holy exercise of the mind, whereby we recall the truths of God, ponder them seriously, and apply them to ourselves.”

Following Watson’s definition, we can meditate on God’s Word by recalling His truths. Remembering involves actively recollecting what we know about God from His Word: “On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night” «When I remember thee upon my bed, And meditate on thee in the night watches. », (Psalm 63:6). According to Psalm 1:2, a blessed, fruitful, and righteous individual delights in the Word of the Lord “and meditates on his law day and night.” This meditation is continual (“day and night”) and centered on God’s Word (“his law”). We meditate on God’s Word by saturating our minds with it day and night.

God instructed Joshua to engage in vigorous and constant meditation: “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; 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” «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. », (Joshua 1:8). Here, biblical meditation expands from merely thinking to speaking (“on your lips”). The passage also states the purpose of meditation, that is, obedience to God’s Word, which produces prosperity and success before God.

Watson’s description of meditation includes serious contemplation or pondering of God’s truth. Psalm 119:15 says, “I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways” (NLT). So biblical meditation involves deep reflection and study of God’s Word. When we read the Bible, are we reading it slowly and intentionally? Are we thinking about the significance of the words and how they relate to our lives and the lives of others? If so, we are meditating on God’s Word.

Meditation requires time and effort. It can’t be rushed. It involves withdrawing from the distractions of this life so that we can fix our thoughts on God and His Word. By shutting out the noise of this world, we are better able to focus our attention on God and understand His ways: “I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes” «I have more understanding than all my teachers: For thy testimonies are my meditation. », (Psalm 119:99).

Finally, as Watson touched on, biblical meditation seeks to apply God’s Word to our lives. Psalm 19:14 illustrates this truth: “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Meditating on God’s Word becomes pleasing in God’s sight because it results in the transformation.

Information of our lives is transformed as we read and speak God’s truth and actively ponder it. The Holy Spirit enables us to put that truth into practice. In Philippians 4:8–9, the apostle Paul paints a beautiful and comprehensive picture of biblical meditation: “Finally, brothers and sisters, 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. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

Meditation is a way of internalizing God’s Word—taking it deep into our hearts—so that the Holy Spirit can work through it to guide, teach, purify, and transform us from within. We can listen to the Bible, read it, and memorize Scripture to get it into our minds, but then we must also ponder it continually in our hearts so that we gain a deeper understanding of it and how it applies to our lives.

Here are four practical tips for meditating on God’s Word:

1. Carve out a specific time and place each day when you are least likely to be interrupted or distracted to be alone and meditate on God’s Word.

2. Start with prayer and ask God to help you with your meditation. You can ask the Lord to draw you closer to Him, open your eyes to His truth, help you apply that truth in your life, and transform you as you meditate on God’s Word.

3. Choose a small section of Scripture. Ponder what the passage means. Study it in depth so that you can understand it in context. Take notes. Ask questions. Memorize the passage. Ask God what He wants to say to you through the text.

4. Consider how you can apply the passage to your life practically, and ask God to help you follow through in obedience to what He shows you.