Meditation is not new, and it is not new age. God, not the gurus, devised it, and it’s based on the Bible, not on Buddha.
Biblical meditation is an antidote to the unprecedented stress of our age. In a world where everyone is overwhelmed and undervalued, our survival, sanity, and saintliness depend on reclaiming the lost art of biblical meditation. This habit can dramatically lessen your anxiety in life, reduce your stress, bring new success to your days, and leave you with ocean depths of inner peace.
Is Meditation Really Biblical?
There are many references to meditation, pondering, and thinking in the Bible, encouraging us to engage our thoughts with His Word.
If you’re hesitant about meditation because these days it’s more commonly practiced in Eastern religions, it’s high time for Christians to reclaim the practice. Bible lovers needn’t apologize for advocating meditation, for some of the greatest heroes of the faith modeled it for us:
- In the age of the patriarchs, Isaac went out at dusk to meditate in the fields (Genesis 24:63).
- The Lord told Joshua about the Law of God: “Meditate on it day and night. … Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8 NIV).
- The Psalmist pictured those who meditate day and night as fruitful trees by rivers of water (Psalm 1:2–3).
- Jeremiah said, “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight” (Jeremiah 15:16 NIV).
- The Virgin Mary treasured God’s words and pondered them in her heart (Luke 2:19).
- Jesus advised His followers to “hear the word, accept it, meditate on it, act on it, and bear fruit” (Mark 4:20 The Voice).
- The apostle Paul told us to think about things that are true, noble, and gracious, and to meditate on those things (Philippians 4:8, see The Message).
- The writer of Hebrews told us to “fix [our] thoughts on Jesus” (Hebrews 3:1 NIV).
What Is Biblical Meditation?
Biblical meditation is the habit that allows us to pause long enough to be still and to know that God is God (Psalm 46:10). It leads us to spiritual growth, emotional strength, deepening intimacy with the Lord, and soul-steadying peace.
There is healing and holy power in pondering, personalizing, and practicing passages of Scripture from God’s Word. And that’s my simple definition for true meditation:
Biblical meditation is the powerful practice of pondering, personalizing, and practicing Scripture.
It really is as simple as that. While there’s value in breathing exercises and relaxation techniques, biblical meditation is more than contemplating the sensation of air passing through our noses and into our lungs. It doesn’t involve draining our heads of content, but rather filling them with the specific Bible verses and passages God brings to our minds at certain times. That’s part of the ministry of the Holy Spirit, whose job it is to remind us of everything Jesus has said to us (John 14:26).
Biblical meditation is not just reading Scripture or studying Scripture or even thinking about Scripture; instead, it is thinking Scripture — contemplating, visualizing, and personifying the precious truths God has given us. Like water flowing through a fountain or oil through a machine, Scripture should be constantly circulating through our minds so that we become God-conditioned. In the process, we start to look at things as He does, which is the essence of wisdom — seeing life from His point of view. Our attitudes become healthier, and our emotions fall into line.1
We Are Transformed Daily as God Renews Our Minds
Do you want to have greater strength and resilience, more wisdom in decision making, and increased influence among your friends? Each of these skills is rooted in your mental patterns and in meditation.
We must remember that rewiring our minds is an ongoing spiritual operation. Though we are redeemed at Calvary, the process of repairing the mind isn’t a onetime event. It’s a process, which is explained in Romans 12:
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice. … Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1–2 NIV, emphasis mine)
To fulfill God’s good plan and accomplish His will, we must stop thinking the way the world thinks and start thinking the way He does.
How? With biblical meditation. It’s our greatest tool and most effective technique.
As we ponder, personalize, and practice God’s Word, we begin looking at life through His lens, viewing the world from His perspective. Our thoughts become happier and holier and brighter — and so do we.
We practice biblical meditation by noting, quoting, and devoting ourselves to whatever passage of Scripture we’re reading or studying, based on the premise that God’s Word is flawless, faultless, and unfailing. Meditation helps and heals the mind while shoring up the soul. It lessens anxiety, reduces stress, and generates peace.
Practice Biblical Meditation in 3 Simple Steps
Each day, find a quiet place without interruption and work through a passage, using a plan based on our definition of biblical meditation: pondering, personalizing, and practicing God’s Word.
- Ponder: Read the passage attentively, perhaps aloud. If you have time, read the passage in the fuller context. Imagine the Lord speaking these words to you in a personal way. Take time to focus your attention on each word and seek to understand what the passage means.
- Personalize: Now consider what this passage means to you. Don’t think of this as an academic exercise but as personal reflection. Let God speak to your heart as you mull over the verses He’s given you in Scripture. If the Lord were sitting down beside you and speaking these words audibly to you, what verse, phrase, word, truth, command, or promise would affect you most deeply?
- Practice: At the end of your time, jot down that verse or phrase to take with you into the day. You might write it on a note card, a page in your calendar, or an easily retrievable place on your phone. Review it all day, as you shower, drive, walk, work, or rest. Think about it as you fall asleep tonight. Try sharing it with someone. Put into practice and do whatever it says.
The secret is letting Bible verses circulate through your mind like water through a fountain. As you listen to the voice of Jesus through meditation on His Word, you’ll find true peace in Him.
Meditating God’s Way: A Christian Path to Strength and Resilience is a roadmap for people who are searching for tools that build strength and resilience.
Originally adapted from Reclaiming the Art of Biblical Meditation and The Strength You Need Morgan identifies key passages from Scripture to help believer’s face life’s challenges and practical instruction on how to get the most out of biblical meditation. Morgan’s approach connects each of these passages to real-life scenarios, offering practical and spiritual encouragement for Christians seeking to rely on God’s strength in every aspect of their lives. Each strength addresses pressing issues that many people face today, making them deeply relevant and impactful.
Footnote
- Some of these general insights came from attending an Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts in 1973, and I’m indebted for the concept of “memorizing, visualizing, and personalizing” verses of Scripture and the concept of wisdom as “seeing life from God’s point of view.” ↩︎
Robert J. Morgan is a Bible teacher and podcaster who serves as associate pastor of World Outreach Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He is the author of The 50 Final Events in World History, 100 Bible Verses That Made America, The Strength You Need, The Red Sea Rules, Then Sings My Soul, Whatever Happens, and many other titles, with more than five million copies of books in circulation. He speaks at churches, conferences, and conventions all across America as well as overseas. Rob was also a homemaker and a caregiver for his late wife of forty-three years, Katrina, who battled multiple sclerosis and passed away in November of 2019. He and Katrina have three daughters and sixteen grandchildren.
