Benefits of Meditation

“Meditation is the principal means by which the Holy Spirit quickens the affections for the zealous performance of the other spiritual duties.” - Stephen Yuille

Psalm 1:1–3 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”

Meditation Deepens Repentance

Haggai 1:5 “Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways.”

This phrase is repeated in Haggai to encourage Israel to see the shape that they are in and the actions they have taken that led them to this place.

You can’t repent if you don’t take the Word that you hear into your life and apply it to see where you do or don’t measure up to God’s standard.

“Meditation practically changes and fashions a person so that God’s will in his word and your will become one, choosing and delighting in the same things.” Henry Scudder

Meditation Increases Resolve to Fight Sin

2 Corinthians 7:10–11 “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.”

Meditation leads to a repentance that turns from sin to godliness.

Meditation on the true wicked nature of sin and what it does to us and others will increase our resolve to fight it.

Meditation Inflames Heart Affection for the Lord

It doesn’t take long for us to neglect our time with the Lord and find ourselves growing apathetic in our walk with Him.

Psalm 39:3 “My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:”

“Holy thoughts excite heavenly affections.” - Oliver Heywood

Our affections — our passion — follows what the mind considers.

You consider anxious thoughts, your heart will become anxious. You consider the glory of God, your heart will be lifted up.

Meditation Increases Growth in Grace

2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

Growing in grace is just another way to refer to us growing in our walk with Christ. We’re taking the grace we have received through faith and we are growing in that grace. We’re becoming more like Christ.

Meditation Provides Comfort and Assurance to the Soul

Psalm 119:50–52 “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law. When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O Lord.”

“Meditation is an ointment to soften our hard hearts, and to sweeten the bitterness of our lives in all inward and outward troubles.” — John Ball

Scripture gives us the promises of God’s presence, His provision, His salvation.

When we are doubting or discouraged, meditation on Scriptures that tell us Who God is, what He has done, and what He has promised to do encourage us to look up to God and realize that we have all that we need in Him.

Meditation Creates a Life of Joy, Thankfulness, and Contentment

Psalm 104:33–34 “I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.”

Psalm 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Meditation on all of God’s promises makes the things of this world dull in comparison.

This teaches us to be content with whatever we have because ultimately, we don’t need anything in this world, but God.

Meditation Deepens and Matures a Christians Experience

Today’s Church is filled with very shallow people. Christians are living satisfied with others reading God’s Word to them rather than reading it for themselves. They’re satisfied with one verse a day that shows up on their phone. They’re satisfied with a trip to church to be all the spiritual nourishment they need for the week. They’re satisfied with only praying over their meals daily but never really taking the time to speak and listen to God.

Romans 12:1–2 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

The more often and more focussed we present ourselves to God, the more our minds will be renewed. This renewal is not just knowing more about God—it’s about beginning to more closely recognize His heartbeat.

I get more out of my time with God when I am consistent in my time with Him. When I get busy and it’s hit or miss and sporadic, my relationship with Him is going to feel hit and miss.

New Christians are often discouraged because they’re reading the Bible for the first time and it doesn’t feel as good as some people describe it. It’s not a one off thing. Also you don’t easily know all that you’re reading. God doesn’t download all the doctrine that you’re supposed to know into you at the moment of salvation. But the Holy Spirit will help as you read God’s Word to understand what you need to in that time of reading and fellowship.

Meditation Improves the Knowledge and Retention of God’s Word

Psalm 119:15–16 “I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.”

Meditation helps us to better understand the Bible and what it teaches because it “gives us a clearer and more distinct sight of Bible doctrines…it helps us retain Scripture better…and it makes us always ready with Scripture present with us in our minds.” — Thomas Manton

Psalm 119:99 “I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.”