I have been asked, “How do I meditate on God’s word? How does Biblical meditation work?” So I thought it would be valuable to take some time to reflect on the subject.
Before we begin, it’s important to recognize that Biblical meditation is different from the meditation practiced in yoga and other disciplines, in which you seek to empty your mind. The basic tenant of Biblical meditation is to fill your mind with the word of God.
The Greek word for meditate means to reason or think on. We see that word used in Philippians where Paul tells us to “meditate” on certain things.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things. (Philippians 4:8 (NKJV))
Instead of using the English word meditate in that verse, the New Living Translation tells us to “[f]ix your thoughts on.” The idea is to ruminate on or contemplate what the Bible is telling you. It’s an intentional act of purposefully thinking about God’s word. Following five basic steps will help you to do so.
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Choose a Bible verse
Decide which Bible verse you want to think about. Is there a situation that’s been troubling you? Do you need direction for something in your life? Are you curious about what the Bible says on a particular subject? Or do you have a favorite verse that you want to reflect on?
Some Bibles have a concordance at the back that can help you find a verse. If you don’t have a concordance, many Bible apps have a search feature. Or you can ask a pastor or leader at your church for Bible verses on the topic you want to meditate on.
Don’t get overwhelmed by choosing a verse. If you have a list of verses that someone has suggested, start with just one. After you have spent time meditating on that verse, you can move on to another one.
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Memorize or write out the Bible verse
After you decide which verse you want to meditate on, memorize the verse or write it down on a 3×5 index card. Memorizing the verse or writing it down makes it convenient to think about or look at. Otherwise, you will need to have your Bible open to the verse. Making the verse more accessible will help you to meditate on it more frequently.
I have found it easiest to meditate on verses when I have memorized them. By committing the verse to memory, you can literally think about it any time of the day or night, regardless of where you are or what you are doing. For example, if you are driving your car, you can go over the verse in your mind. Or if you wake up in the middle of the night, you can direct your mind to the verse and go over it word by word.
If you’re not good at memorization, use a 3×5 index card. The card is a good size to slip into your pocket, your purse, or to put by your bedside so it’s convenient to read. And, the act of writing the verse and looking at it often will help you to memorize it.
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Pray
Before you being meditating on the verse, pray and ask God to help you understand it. Ask God what He wants to reveal to you. The Holy Spirit teaches us all things (John 14:26). He is the One who helps us to understand and internalize God’s word. Without the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we are not able to learn what God wants to show us.
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Meditate
Recall the verse in your mind or read the verse slowly. Think about each word. Ask yourself the basic who, what, where, why, and how questions. What is the verse’s context – where is it in the Bible and what are the verses around it? Who is talking in the verse? Who was it written to? What does it say? What does it mean? Think about what the verse tells you about God. Ask yourself how the verse applies to your life.
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Apply the verse
While you are meditating on the verse, God will show you what it means and how it applies to you. When He does, the final step is to apply it to your life. The Bible instructs us to “be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22 (NKJV)).
Live out what God has revealed to you. If you have learned that God doesn’t want you to do something that you’ve been doing, stop doing it. Conversely, if you realize that God wants you to do something that you haven’t been doing, start doing it. Once we discover God’s will, we should align ourselves with what He wants us to do.
Choosing to meditate on God’s word will bless your life. As the psalmist taught us, the blessed man is the one whose “delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2). Let’s be like the blessed man and take time to meditate on the Bible each day as we walk by faith with God.
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