Biblical Meditation and a Productive Prayer Life

One of the most important aspects in listening to God in prayer is biblical meditation.

Unfortunately, today when we hear the term “meditation,” we associate it with Eastern religion.

The word has been virtually removed from Christian vocabulary, and yet, it is such a vital part of our spiritual life.

Biblical meditation is an expression of rejecting self-sufficiency in favor of the sufficiency of God’s Word and it is superior to cosmic meditation by virtue of the object of meditation.

Cosmic meditation has no object, but seeks to empty the mind, whereas, biblical meditation has an object, the Bible, and seeks to fill the mind.

Biblical meditation involves repetitive, reflective, and reverential reading of the Word of God and making application to one’s own life.

Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary defines the verb meditate: (1) to consider as something to be done or effected; intend, purpose; (2) to engage in thought or contemplation, reflect.

Meditation is defined as, “the act of focusing one’s thoughts, thus, to ponder, think about” and it consists of reflective thinking or contemplation, usually on a specific subject to discern its meaning, significance, or plan of action.

Joshua 1:8 “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” (NASB95)

J.I. Packer gives the following definition of meditation in his book, Knowing God: “Meditation is the activity of calling to mind, and thinking over, and dwelling on, and applying to oneself, the various things that one knows about the works and ways, and purposes and promises of God. It is an activity of holy thought, consciously performed in the presence of God, under the eye of God, by the help of God, as a means of communion with God. Its purpose is to clear one’s mental and spiritual vision of God, and to let His truth make its full and proper impact on one’s mind and heart. It is a matter of talking to oneself about God and oneself; it is, indeed, often a matter of arguing with oneself, reasoning oneself out of moods of doubt and unbelief into a clear apprehension of God’s power and grace. Its effect is to ever humble us as we contemplate God’s greatness and glory, and our own littleness and sinfulness, and to encourage and reassure us—“comfort” us in the old, strong Bible sense of the word—as we contemplate the unsearchable riches of divine mercy displayed in the Lord Jesus Christ.”[1]

Psalm 119:15 I will meditate on Your precepts [piqqudhim, meaning, “commands, ordinances”] and regard Your ways. (NASB95)

“Meditate” is the verb siach, meaning, “to go over in one’s mind whether inaudibly or audible, quiet reflection, ponder, contemplate, consider, meditate.”

This should be our focus when we pray or worship.

Psalm 119:27 Make me understand the way of Your precepts, so I will meditate on Your wonders [verb, pala, meaning, “wonderful extraordinary works upon the earth and in the lives of men and women”]. (NASB95)

Psalm 119:48 And I shall lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love; And I will meditate on Your statutes. (NASB95)

Psalm 119:148 My eyes anticipate the night watches, that I may meditate on Your word [noun, `imrah, meaning, “divine authoritative word”]. (NASB95)

Biblical meditation consists of reflective thinking or contemplation on the Word of God in order to discern its meaning and make personal application.

What, then, should our objectives in Biblical meditation be?

They are as follows:

(1) Fellowship: communicating with God.

1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

(2) Worship: responding to the Word of God.

John 4:24 “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship by means of [filling of] the Spirit and [Biblical] truth.”

(3) Instruction: learning the will of the Father.

Proverbs 23:23 Buy truth, and do not sell it, get wisdom and instruction and understanding.

(4) Motivation: inspiring the believer to courageous service.

Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

(5) Transformation: having divine viewpoint and perspective.

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Biblical meditation should take place day and night.

Note that meditation does not have to be a separate action from prayer, but it should take place in prayer.

While this generation perceives meditation as a solitary—sitting on the floor, cross-legged—action, biblical meditation is to be accomplished in prayer by simply concentrating and contemplating spiritual phenomena for the purpose of making application.

Before you prepare to meditate, take into consideration the hindrances of meditation.

First, be conscious that thinking with cosmic viewpoint and being preoccupied with materialism, secularism, activism, religion, or legalism will hinder meditation.

Second, know that your sin nature will fight against spending quality alone time with God.

Therefore, be on guard against laziness, sensuality, emotionalism, and procrastination.

Third, examine yourself for traces of arrogance.

Do not enter into poor methods of interpretation, emotional responses for application, or unrealistic expectations of instant results.

Finally, realize that your family and occupation are not bad things, but can very well distract you from your responsibility to meditate.

Now that you are conscious of all those things, prepare yourself for meditation by first taking time.

Set aside time to contemplate God and listen to Him in prayer.

Second, be still and concentrate upon the Lord in prayer (Psa 46:10) and third, seclude yourself.

Be alone with God (Mar 1:35).

Fourth, be silent.

Once you’ve said all you need to say to God, don’t rush to end the prayer, but stay silent for some time and listen to God in prayer (Isa 30:15).

Fifth, discipline yourself to stay focused and do not let your mind wander aimlessly but keep it in strict focus upon God (1 Co 9:27).

Finally, submit to God by permitting Him to handle the problems you offered to Him in prayer (Jam 4:10).

Psalm 1:1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. (NASB95)

Scripture upon Scripture teaches the importance of meditation and setting aside time for God.

We should adjust our daily lives to include time to meditate upon the Word of God in prayer, not allowing the ploys of the cosmic system to distract us.

Biblical meditation takes the focus off our problems and ourselves and places it on God’s person, provisions, and protection.

When we do this, our problems are put into perspective.

The pressures of life begin to dissipate when we force ourselves to be secluded, silent, and still before the Lord.

When we meditate upon the Lord, we see things from a different perspective.

Meditation brings us to a position in which we observe ourselves in the light of God’s Word (Psa 36:9; Eph 1:17-18).

Meditating upon the Lord in the morning will relax and prepare us for the day ahead, and meditation at night will help us rest easy in a peaceful sleep in spite of difficult circumstances we may be facing.

So, how do you meditate?

First, review the past by reviewing how God has operated in your life in past instances of prosperity or adversity.

Second, reflect upon the attributes and characteristics of God and third, remember God’s promises of provision and protection.

Fourth, make a prayer request of God and fifth, read your Bible by reading Scripture for content.

Then, sixth, reflect on the Bible by reflecting upon the statements of Scripture.

Finally, respond by responding to the Word by making personal application.

[1] J.I. Packer, 23