Meditation is a technique for resting the mind and attaining a state of heightened awareness and focus. It involves clearing the mind of distractions and focusing inwardly on a single purpose or subject. The Bible commands Christians to meditate on God's word day and night so that we may obey it. Christian meditation is rooted in pondering and thinking deeply about what we have read or learned from Scripture. Meditating on passages like Philippians 4:8 helps us dwell on teachings that can profoundly impact our outlook.

1. Meditationand the Bible – 8th July 2016
“Mymouth will speak wordsof wisdom;the meditationof my heart will give you understanding”
(Psalm49:3).
Meditationisa wordthat has come to be usedlooselyandinaccuratelyinthe modernworld.Thatis
whythere isso much confusionabouthow topractice it. Some people use the word meditates when
theymeanthinkingorcontemplating;othersuse ittorefer to daydreamingorfantasizing.However,
meditationisnotanyof these.Meditationistechnique forrestingthe mindandattainingastate of
consciousness(awareness) thatistotallydifferentfromthe normal wakingstate.Meditationisnota
part of any religionassome may wronglysurmise, butameansthat produces awarenessbyenhancing
“concentrationandfocus”of whichthe resultone may gaincan be verifiedasbeinghighlybeneficial on
the longterm.
In meditation,the mindisclear,relaxed,and inwardlyfocused onwhathe or she wantsto clearly
understandandlearn.Whenyoumeditate,youare fullyawake andalert,butyourmindisnotfocused
on the external worldoronthe eventstakingplace aroundyou.Meditationrequiresaninnerstate that
isstill and withone single purpose sothatthe mindbecomessilent.Whenthe mindissilentandno
longerdistractsyou,meditationdeepens. We canlearnfrom the gospel thaton manyinstancesitis
reportedthatJesuswentandprayedalone entirelyby Himself,althoughitisnotstatedasmeditating.
We can learnthisin Luke 5:16, “But Jesus oftenwithdrew to lonelyplaces andprayed”.
Meditationisa popularsubjectthese days.Witharenewedemphasisonspiritualismandalternative
medicine, Yogaandmeditationhasgainedpopularity.Yet,dependingonthe context,meditationcanbe
definedinavarietyof ways.Quite simply,meditationisdefinedasreflectingandcontemplating.It
makesno value statementanymore thanthinkingordreamingdoes.The subjectof a person's
meditationiswhatbringsvalue tothe act of meditating.
Christians maywantto know whethermeditationis Biblical. Meditationisgenerallyseenasapractice
of the NewAge movement.Thiscomesprimarilyfromthe movement'sassociationwithTranscendental
Meditation.However,TMis steepedinHinduphilosophy.The philosophyandbenefitsbehindTMare
similarwithHinduism'spractice thatseekstobringpeople intounionwithone's"higherself."As
Christianswe mustbearinmindthat all meditationis NOTTranscendentalMeditation orsimilar.Infact,
the Bible commandsusto meditate. We canlearnthat from Joshua1:8, “Keep this Book ofthe Law
alwayson your lips;meditate onit day and night,sothat you may be careful to do everythingwritten
in it. Then you will be prosperousand successful”. We canread here where Godtellsusto meditate on
His wordday andnightso we will obey it.The words,"meditate"or"meditation"are mentioned atleast
20 timesinthe bible.Butmeditation'sassociationwithNew Age philosophyandEasternmysticism such
as Yoga has frightenedoff manyChristians.
In the OldTestamentthere are twoprimaryHebrew wordsformeditation. Haga,whichmeanstoutter,
groan,meditate,orponder. Sihach,whichmeanstomuse,rehearse inone'smind,orcontemplate.
These wordscan alsobe translatedas dwell,diligentlyconsider,andheed. Christianmeditationis
rootedinthe Bible.Infact, the Bible commandsustomeditate aswe read above in Joshua 1:8. Asfor

2. Christians,meditation issteadfastly ponderingorthinking withconvictionoversomethingyoudeeply
wantto understandof somethingyouread,heardorlearned.The subjectof a person'smeditation,and
the purpose of the meditation,iswhat differentiateone kindof meditationfromanother. We can learn
whenthe Psalmistsays: “…butwhosedelightisin the law ofthe LORD,and who meditateson his law
day andnight”(Psalm1:2).
One importantthingthe Bible tellsustodois to thinkaboutGod's Word.Our thoughtsdetermine our
behaviorandsowhat we thinkaboutis veryimportant.Thatiswhy God wantsus tothinkabout His
Word, or meditate onit.JimDowningin Meditation (NavPress) saysGodconsidersmeditationa"vital
exercise of the mindsof Hischildren."There are three timesduringthe daywe can activelyturnour
mindsoverto God's Word inChristianMeditation.Justbefore we fall asleep,we canhave God'sWord
be the lastthingthat occupiesourmind.Uponawaking,we can have God's Word be the firstthingto fill
our mindstostart the day.Finally,we needaspecifictime eachdayto be inGod's Word so it can speak
to us throughoutourday.
One may wantto knowwhat we should focusoninChristian meditation. Boththe Oldandthe New
Testamentavailsusa multitude of teachingsthatwe can use to meditate on.Asanexample we can
choose to meditate onthe followingwordswrittenbythe apostle Paul aswe readfrom Philippians4:8,
"Finally,brothersandsisters,whatever istrue, whatever is noble,whatever is right,whatever ispure,
whatever is lovely,whatever is admirable—ifanythingisexcellentor praiseworthy—thinkaboutsuch
things”.Whatwe choose to meditate onthe above passage,itwill helpusto dwell onandfocusour
thoughtsonthiswonderful teachingandthatinturn makes a profounddifference inouroutlookonlife.
By meditatingonaparticulate subject, we getadeeperunderstandingon manyaspectsthatwe may not
clearlyunderstand in“one go”.Withbetterunderstanding we canshare God’s word and broadbase it
withmany othersas well.