My friend, Jim, was a remarkably disciplined person. He exercised daily, kept his weight in check, rarely missed a Sunday at church, and strictly followed a read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year plan. So I was surprised when he told me that he felt stagnant in his spiritual growth.
Jim had been a Christian for ten years and recalled his early years in the faith as times of joyful progress in knowledge of Scripture and prayer. “I felt like I was learning something vital and important every time I heard a sermon or did my daily Bible reading,” he said. But now Jim felt his spiritual practices were being done out of sheer discipline and duty rather than delight.
Jim knew that life as a follower of Christ was based on faith and not feelings. Yet he longed to find more joy in his study of Scripture, and he especially wanted to develop a more fruitful prayer life.
“Do you ever meditate on Scripture?” I asked Jim. “Meditate?” he replied. “I thought that was something done in Eastern religions. It sounds weird to me.”
When I explained to Jim that meditation was actually a thoroughly biblical concept, and one that might help renew his love for Scripture and help guide him in his times of prayer, he was eager to learn more. What I write about here is what I shared with Jim. I share this with a prayer that it will deepen your joy in God as you engage with His Word.
What is Biblical Meditation?
Jim’s initial concerns about meditation are quite common. Many people associate it with the idea of ‘emptying our minds’, achieving a state of inner peace, or a focus on ourselves and not others. But biblical meditation is different. Biblical meditation is pondering the words of Scripture with a receptive heart, trusting the Holy Spirit to work in you through those words.
Let’s consider the key parts of this definition:
Pondering: Biblical meditation is different from simply reading or studying the Bible. Reading and study are important, and can even enable us to meditate properly by helping us to understand the original meaning of a verse or phrase in its context. But to ponder is “to weigh in the mind” or reflect upon something. By definition, it implies careful consideration and focused attention upon its object. We reflect upon the meaning of words or phrases and let them dwell in our minds. We don’t just move straight on after reading; we ponder.
The Words of Scripture: Biblical meditation is distinct from other forms of meditation because the focus of our “pondering” is Scripture. Our goal is not to empty our minds but to renew them by focusing on God’s words. Meditation occurs when we rehearse and reflect upon a word, or words, found in the Bible. There are a few things that can help us to ponder the words of Scripture.
Systematic reading and study of the Bible are of great value in laying the groundwork for meditation. It’s important that we consider individual passages in light of their place in the whole story of Scripture, particularly how the Old Testament fits with the New to unveil the entirety of God’s plan for us in Jesus Christ. Careful study provides the space in which our Biblical meditation can take place.
Along with reading and study, memorisation of Scripture is a great support to reflecting upon a passage or verse of Scripture throughout the day. But memorisation is not the same as meditation. God’s words are sometimes compared to physical food (like in Ezekiel 3:1-3 where God’s servant is told to eat a scroll!). If the reading, hearing, and memorisation of God’s words could be compared to the intake of physical food, we can think of meditation as the slow chewing of that food to make sure all of the nutrients are available to the body. Meditation allows us to receive more of the nutrients and spiritual strength found in a verse or phrase of Scripture.
With a Receptive Heart: Biblical meditation calls for an attitude of receptivity toward God and His Word. We must approach our times of meditation with expectant faith, trusting that God will speak through sacred Scripture to give us what we need. To reflect on Scripture we must first be ready to receive. Jesus has promised that those who seek will find (Luke 11:9), and we can trust that God will reward those who seek Him with a better understanding of His will and His ways (Hebrews 11:6).
Trusting the Holy Spirit to Work in You: The Spirit of Christ is our great Helper and Teacher in meditation. The Spirit guided the writers of Scripture to give us the words of God (2 Peter 1:20–24), and illumines the minds of believers to understand those words. Jesus promised His followers that His Spirit would dwell in us, teach us and guide us into the truth (John 14:17; 14:26; 16:13). As we give focused attention to a word or phrase in God’s Word, the Holy Spirit often helps us to see it in a new light, gaining insights we might have missed by hurriedly reading through a passage. Christ’s Spirit is our great Helper in meditation, and we need to trust the Spirit to work in us through the words of Scripture.
The Benefits of Biblical Meditation
The great motivator to biblical meditation, or the benefit that we gain by it, is simply knowing God better. We’re invited to listen to the words of Jesus, knowing that He is our shepherd and we are His sheep whom He loves (John 10:27). This is the great benefit of Biblical meditation, but here I’d like to highlight two other benefits.
It Empowers our Prayer
As we meditate on a verse or phrase from Scripture, we’ll often see biblical truth that we need to apply in our lives. As Christ’s Spirit brings that truth to light for us, we can participate in the Spirit’s work of changing us as we pray for that truth to be applied. This can bring fresh vitality to our prayer lives and enable us to pray with greater confidence.
Biblical meditation is one of the best ways we can unite Scripture with prayer. As we ponder the words of Scripture with receptive hearts, the Holy Spirit will often show us ways we need to change in light of those words. A verse that speaks of love for our neighbours may prompt us to pray, “Lord, please make this a reality in my life.” A verse that promises God’s wisdom may stir us to ask, “Lord, please give me wisdom for the issue I will face today.”
It Helps us Experience God’s Peace
Meditation calls for focused attention on what God has revealed. It doesn’t necessarily have to last long, but it’s likely that fruitful meditation will be slow–even if just for a few minutes. By necessity, it involves pausing from our non-stop world. Because of the pace, it helps to calm our souls in God’s presence. The prophet Isaiah pointed to the soul-steadying benefit of focused trust in God when he wrote: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you” (Isaiah 26:3). In Psalm 119 we read, “Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble (v. 165). One of the wonderful benefits of biblical meditation is a greater experience of God’s peace in the midst of a stress-filled, non-stop world.
How to Meditate on Scripture
After explaining the concept of biblical meditation to my friend, Jim, and pointing out some of the benefits, he seemed eager to add the practice to his daily devotional time. “I think I understand the concept,” Jim said. “It’s not necessarily the amount of Scripture that you read, but the amount you process and apply. I guess sometimes less is more, even when it comes to reading the Bible!” Jim’s only question was whether he could practice meditation in the “right way.” I assured him that there was no standard technique for how to meditate on a Bible verse, but I thought that a few practical suggestions might be helpful when beginning this practice.
Where to Start
Begin by selecting a verse or phrase of Scripture. Be sure you have read the surrounding verses so that you can understand the verse or phrase in its context. It may be helpful to write the chosen verse on a small card or highlight it on your phone. Read it over several times, trying to memorise it as best you can. Then slowly contemplate the verse word by word, thinking about each word and what it conveys about God, His plan, and His work in your life. Do the words reveal something about God? About ourselves? How can we respond to or pray about what these words mean? As appropriate, pray as you ponder the words of this verse.
Let’s try it with a verse from Jude.
Jude 24 reads:
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy. (ESV)
The first thing we might notice in reading the verse in its context is that it is only the first half of a long sentence. It is part of a doxology—a statement giving glory to God. The doxology of verses 24 and 25 concludes the book of Jude. After reading the verse over several times, we can prayerfully ponder it word by word.
To him
This reminds us that all honour for what follows is due to the Lord (verse 25 clarifies this for us). We are reminded that our hearts and mouths should be filled with praise “to him.”
who is able to keep you from stumbling
As I reflect on these words, I remember that I am prone to failing in many ways. Maybe a recurrent sin comes to mind, but God is able to keep me from this. The words “who is able to keep you” remind me that my trust in living a more faithful life must be in Him. I cannot keep myself from stumbling, but He can!
The words,
and to present you blameless
cause me to ask, How could God possibly present me blameless before His throne in light of all my sins? The answer is found in the completeness of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. The One who suffered for my sin now keeps me from stumbling. These words continue to direct my focus Godward.
The next phrase,
before the presence of his glory with great joy
brings to mind the day when I will stand before Him. Without Jesus, I could not exist in “the presence of his glory.” Yet the One who presents me has done such a remarkable work in saving me that I can be there “with great joy.”
What new thoughts has meditation upon Jude 24 brought to mind? Am I moved to praise the Lord with greater gratitude for all He has done for me? Do I have a deeper appreciation for the salvation Jesus has provided for me? What does verse 24 reveal about God? About myself? How should I respond? How can I pray in light of this?
Whether you choose to meditate upon an individual verse or a larger passage of Scripture, remember that meditation requires time and focused attention. As Christians in this technologically driven world, we have much to gain from the recovery of the ancient practice of biblical meditation. The greatest benefit will be growing love for the One who has revealed Himself in Scripture. And that seems a worthwhile way to spend some time.
Respond: Consider Psalm 121, a short psalm of only eight verses. After reading the psalm slowly two or three times, meditate more deeply by prayerfully pondering it, phrase by phrase or verse by verse.
David Beaty is the pastor of River Oaks Community Church in Clemmons, NC. He earned a master of divinity and a doctor of ministry degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. David has a passion for prayer, evangelism, and global missions. David and his wife, Anna, have two children, Anna and Matthew.
This article was adapted with permission from the Discovery Series titled Biblical Meditation. You can read the whole booklet here.
