Christian Meditation

As Christians, we are called to meditate on God's word and to be still in His presence.  Christian meditation can be traced back to biblical times. In the book of Joshua, God commands His people to meditate on His word day and night (Joshua 1:8). In the Psalms, David expresses his love for the Lord through meditation (Psalm 119:97) and encourages others to do the same (Psalm 1:2). Jesus himself often went away to a quiet place to pray and meditate, setting an example for his followers (Mark 1:35). In the Bible, the word "meditate" is often translated from the Hebrew word "hagah," which means to ponder or mutter. This suggests that Christian meditation involves quieting the mind, meditating on Scripture, and uttering it to ourselves.

Step 1: Find a quiet place - The first step to meditating as a Christian is to find a quiet place where you can be alone with God. This could be a quiet room in your home, a garden, or a quiet corner in a park. Jesus often withdrew to a secluded place to pray (Luke 5:16). Finding a quiet place eliminates distractions and allows you to focus on God's presence.

Step 2: Settle your body and mind - Meditation involves stillness, both physically and mentally. Sit comfortably, with your feet flat and your hands resting on your lap. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, focusing on each inhale and exhale. This will help calm your mind and prepare your body for meditation. As you meditate, let go of any thoughts or distractions and focus solely on God's presence.

Step 3: Read and reflect on Scripture - As Christians, God’s word is the foundation of our meditation. Choose a passage or verse from the Bible to meditate on. Read it slowly and deliberately, allowing the words to sink into your mind and heart. Then, reflect on what the passage means to you personally. Think about how it applies to your life and how you can apply it to your daily walk with God.

Step 4: Speak God's word to yourself - In Christian meditation, we are not only called to meditate on God's word, but also to speak it to ourselves. As you meditate on the chosen passage, repeat it to yourself in a quiet, almost whisper-like tone. This will help embed the words into your mind and heart and allow you to focus solely on God's word. This practice resembles the Hebrew word "hagah," which means to mutter or utter.

Step 5: Prayer and thanksgiving - As you conclude your meditation, spend some time in prayer and thanksgiving. Thank God for His word and the time you spent meditating on it. Pray for any personal insights or challenges that may have come to mind during meditation. Most importantly, thank God for His presence and the stillness and peace that come with meditating on Him.

Christian meditation is a powerful way to connect with God, quiet the mind, and deepen our understanding of His word. Following the steps outlined in this article, we can cultivate a deeper relationship with God and experience His peace and presence in our daily lives. As we meditate on His word, may we be transformed and renewed by the power of His truth (Romans 12:2).