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Psalm 119:27
Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders.
A couple of days ago, I was writing about the Sabbath. We looked at things related to work and rest. And those are important – foundational – to taking a Sabbath. Equally foundational is awe, wonder, and respect for God.
Even in the middle of the week, we can take a “mini-Sabbath” by meditating on God. Taking time to remember and process his Law. Ruminate (chew over, work with, digest) on the things of God – his invisible qualities (divine nature and enternal power) as revealed by creation.
Genesis 24:63
He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching.
There is certainly Biblical precedent for meditation. However, there is also a good deal of confusion about meditation. Many people misunderstand Christian meditation based on their perception of eastern mysticism. That, however, is not the case.
Eastern mysticism would have us become one with nothingness. To be empty. To be nothing.
Christian meditation, however, is a shifting of our focus to become one in heart, mind, and soul with God – the Ultimate Reality. It is the act of emptying ourselves of ourselves to be filled with and submitted to the Holy Spirit. It is to become who we were intended to be from before the foundation of the earth – our hearts and minds refocused to God’s priorities and our bodies strengthened and given life by the same Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead.
It is the renewing of our minds and bodies by the washing of the water of the word and the power of the Holy Spirit – and a changed faith begs a response of action.
In essence, biblical meditation is thinking; and contemplative New Age meditation is simply not thinking … and that is something to think about.
From the Lighthouse
There is certainly more to be said of Christian meditation. I can wholeheartedly recommended Centering Prayer: Renewing an Ancient Christian Prayer Form
by M. Basil Pennington.
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I would like to see some NT verses about meditation. I like that you mentioned eastern religion meditation. Meditating is not used much by Christians because they are possibly afraid to emulate some other form of religion, not realizing that it is Biblical. Mostly, I think Christians probably don’t meditate because they don’t make time outside of services.
I would like to see some NT verses about meditation. I like that you mentioned eastern religion meditation. Meditating is not used much by Christians because they are possibly afraid to emulate some other form of religion, not realizing that it is Biblical. Mostly, I think Christians probably don’t meditate because they don’t make time outside of services.
Donna,
Good points. I certainly think that you’re right that many Christians are afraid to meditate because they don’t know it’s in scripture and that they don’t make time outside of Sunday morning corporate worship.
Do you know of any New Testament passages that reference meditation (either the word or the concept)?
Donna,
Good points. I certainly think that you’re right that many Christians are afraid to meditate because they don’t know it’s in scripture and that they don’t make time outside of Sunday morning corporate worship.
Do you know of any New Testament passages that reference meditation (either the word or the concept)?
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I am enjoying your blog