What is Christian meditation?

Answer

Psalm 19:14 declares, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” So, what exactly is Christian meditation, and how should believers engage in it? Unfortunately, the term “meditation” is sometimes associated with mystical practices. To some, meditation involves emptying the mind while assuming unusual postures. To others, it means connecting with the spiritual realm. These ideas do not align with Christian meditation.

Christian meditation is distinct from Eastern mystical practices like lectio divina, transcendental meditation, and various forms of contemplative prayer. These practices are based on the dangerous notion that we should seek to “hear God’s voice” not through His Word but through personal revelations obtained through meditation. This has led to confusion in some churches, with individuals claiming to receive conflicting messages from the Lord, causing division within the body of Christ. Christians are instructed not to forsake the Word of God, which is “God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). If the Bible can fully equip us for every good work, why should we seek mystical experiences as a supplement?

Christian meditation should focus solely on the Word of God and its revelations about Him and His deeds (Psalm 77:10-12;143:5). David understood this well, describing the “blessed” individual as one who finds joy in the Lord’s law and meditates on it day and night.

“But his delight is in the law of the LORD; And in his law doth he meditate day and night.”, (Psalm 1:2). True Christian meditation is an active thought process whereby we dedicate ourselves to the study of the Word, praying over it and asking God to grant us understanding by the Spirit, who has promised to lead us “into all truth” “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”, (John 16:13). Then we apply this truth, committing ourselves to the Scriptures as the standard for life and practice as we engage in our daily activities. This leads to spiritual growth and maturation in the things of God as we are instructed by His Holy Spirit.