CHRISTIAN THOUGHT & LIFE: MEDITATION

Key Scripture Verses: Romans 12:1-2; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Psalm 1; John 16:13-15

Romans 12:1-2 (The Message)

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-
to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is
the best thing you can do for Him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even
thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He
wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level
of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Introduction:

The bottom line is that the mind renewed with God’s Word expects - and therefore believes and receives -
everything God promises.

Victorious Christian living yields to the Holy Spirit’s work in us - and yields to the truth revealed in the Word. It’s
a one-two combination that squeezes the devil out of our mindsets, bit by bit, until our minds are renewed. It’s
an exchange that continues as Jesus continues to complete the good work He began in us (Philippians 1:6).

The Word needs to get rooted in our hearts before it can bear fruit, and that requires studying and meditating
on Scripture every day. If we do our part, the Word will do its part. The Word of God never fails, and meditating
on the Word is one of the best time investments you can make. You can fill your heart full of faith by meditating
on the Word.

I. What is Christian meditation?

A. It is the deliberate practice of turning our hearts and our minds to the full-time task of bringing the word of
God to life in the daily activities of our lives.

B. Webster’s Dictionary defines meditation and several related words:

1. Meditate: to engage in contemplation or reflection, to focus one's thoughts on, to reflect or
ponder over, to plan or project in the mind
2. Think: to form or have in the mind, to have as an opinion, to regard as or consider
3. Reflect: to think quietly and calmly
4. Ponder: to weigh in the mind, to think about, reflect on, to think about - especially quietly,
soberly and deeply

C. The words ponder, meditate, muse, and ruminate are synonyms and mean to consider or examine attentively
or deliberately.
1. Ponder implies a careful weighing of a problem or, often, prolonged inconclusive thinking about a
matter.
2. Meditate implies a definite focusing of one's thoughts on something as to understand it deeply.
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3. Muse suggests a more or less focused daydreaming as in remembrance.

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 CHRISTIAN THOUGHT & LIFE: MEDITATION

4. Ruminate implies going over the same matter in one's thoughts again and again but suggests little of
either purposive thinking or rapt absorption.

D. Meditation is a function of the mind and the heart. It is what we think about in our hearts and it is something
we each do every day.

E. Meditation in the Word is the primary tool God uses to renew our minds.

F. To know more of Christ requires revelation and revelation usually requires meditation.
1. As we meditate and feed on the Word of God, we are like trees that produce fruit because we have
nutrients flowing into us. (Read: Psalm 1)
2. As you take time to soak in His word, not only is your meditation sweet, but you’ll find yourself
spontaneously expressing your heart back to God in response to the text.
3. As we meditate on the Word, thinking about it, speaking it, and being doers of it, we gain spiritual
understanding.

II. Why is meditation so important?

A. Whether your realize it or not, your character is being formed and solidified with each passing day. This is true
whether you plan what you want to be or if you just let life happen.

B. Some of the most powerful influences on the development of your character come from the following
sources:

1. What you read

2. What you look at
3. What you listen to
4. The people you associate with
5. What you think about

C. All these things feed your brain and together are a significant influence in the way your mind is programmed.

1. Piece by piece, like bricks in a wall, this programming trains you how to respond, how to think, what to
think, what to value and pursue, how to treat others and what you should or should not do.
2. Do not be deceived; even small amounts of negative input have a noticeable effect over the long run.
3. You may have heard the expression that applies to computers - "garbage in, garbage out". This applies
to your mind as well.

D. Become consciously aware of what you spend your time meditating on now.

1. We must take a detailed account of what we think about and based on biblical principles decide
whether it is good or bad.
2. When you become aware that you are meditating on something undesirable, renounce it. We are
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instructed to literally cast these things down and away from us.
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 CHRISTIAN THOUGHT & LIFE: MEDITATION

3. Immediately choose to replace the thought with a good one, such as a prayer, a memorized scripture or
song.
4. Do not be discouraged if you find yourself thinking about that same thing only a minute or two later.
Simply recognize it, renounce it again, and choose to replace the thought with something worthwhile.
5. You will find that many of your personal idols are firmly attached to your heart. It can take time to break
their hold on you.

E. Your mind and heart are both like clay - being shaped and formed with each passing day. There are questions
you might want to consider:

1. Whose hands are forming my heart and mind?

2. What are they being formed into?
3. What is my responsibility in the process?

III. Rewards of meditation

A. We will learn to develop a quiet spirit, no matter how stormy our surroundings are. Inner calm is one
character trait of Jesus Christ that we can appropriate as we become more like Him.

B. God will deepen our hunger for Him. God will do an amazing work - He will so satisfy the desires of your heart
with Himself that you will want more time with Him.

C. Through meditation, our view of the Lord enlarges because we learn to see Him as He really is.

D. The greatest reward of meditation is an increased sensitivity to God, His will, and His work in our life.

IV. Get the Word inside of you.

A. The words of Scripture are living words. (Hebrews 4:12). The Holy Spirit wants to reveal to us the rich wealth
of personal application and understanding that they hold.

B. Meditation on Scripture will cause Scripture to “dwell in you” and become a source of wisdom in your mind,
will, and emotions (Colossians 3:16).

C. The Word itself tells us to mediate. (2 Timothy 2:7; Psalm 19:14; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 48:9; Psalm 77:12; Psalm
119:15, 27, 97, 148; Psalm 143:5; Psalm 145:5; Psalm 104:34).

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever
is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things
(Philippians 4:8).

D. There are many powerful benefits to hiding God’s Word in your heart.

1. The Psalmist declared that God’s Word brings revival, wisdom, joy, understanding, warning, reward,
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cleansing, purity, and guidance (Psalm 19; Psalm 119:9-11,105).

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 CHRISTIAN THOUGHT & LIFE: MEDITATION

2. Jeremiah claimed that God’s Word brings joy and assurance (Jeremiah 15:16) along with brokenness and
humility (Jeremiah 23:29).
3. Jesus explained to the disciples on the road to Emmaus that God’s Word points to Him, and their hearts
burned as he taught them (Luke 24:27).
4. Jesus prayed that his followers would be sanctified by God’s Word, which is truth (John 17:17).
5. Paul affirmed that faith comes by hearing God’s Word (Romans 10:17).
6. Paul told Timothy that the Scriptures were sufficient enough to produce wisdom for salvation, content
for instruction and reproof, and the necessary equipment for ministry (2 Timothy 3:14-17).
7. The author of Hebrews stated the Scripture searches the soul and examines the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
8. The Apostles declare that the Word creates spiritual life (James 1:21; 1 Peter 1:22-25).
9. Peter added that Scripture produces spiritual maturity (1 Peter 2:1-2).

V. When to meditate

A. We are told to meditate on God’s Word morning, noon, and night.

B. One of the most critical times to meditate on God’s Word is as you go to sleep each night (Joshua 1:8; Psalm
1:2; Psalm 63:6; Psalm 119:48). The thoughts that are on your mind as you go to sleep will be in your
subconscious mind all through the night. They will strongly influence your attitudes the next day, consciously or
subconsciously.

VI. How to meditate

A. Select a passage of Scripture to engraft into your life.

B. Memorize the passage.

1. Focusing on one verse at a time, quote it to the Lord, pondering each word.
2. With each recitation of a verse, emphasize a different word.
3. For example, if you are meditating on John 3:16, you would emphasize a different word each time you
repeated the passage:

 “For God so loved the world … .”

 “For God so loved the world … .”
 “For God so loved the world … .”
 “For God so loved the world … .”
 “For God so loved the world … .”
 “For God so loved the world … .”

4. Be attentive.

You should meditate not only in your heart, but also externally, by actually repeating and comparing oral
speech and literal words of the book, reading and rereading them with diligent attention and reflection,
so you may see what the Holy Spirit means by them. (Martin Luther, an influential leader in church
history)
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 CHRISTIAN THOUGHT & LIFE: MEDITATION

C. Consider the context

1. As part of a thorough, accurate application of Scripture, it is wise to ask questions such as these:
 Who is the writer, and to whom is he speaking?
 What were the circumstances?
 What are the precise meanings of the words in the original language?
 What related Scriptures might provide additional insights?
2. Write out as many questions as you can think of for your passage. As your study progresses, write
additional questions that arise.
 What does the verse say, and why? What does it mean?
 Why did the Holy Spirit ordain that it be worded this way?
 Why were certain phrases used rather than other possible words?
 Does the verse contain a spiritual principle?
 How does this truth apply to my life?
3. A phrase or verse is almost always understood better by looking carefully at the verses that precede and
follow it.
 How do the previous verses set a backdrop for this verse?
 How do the verses following bring clarity and fuller understanding?

D. Write out the definitions from your word studies.

1. Some of the words in the original Bible languages of Hebrew and Greek carry more than one possible
meaning.
 What various shades of meaning do the significant words in this verse contain?
 Will other Bible translations provide alternate meanings?
 Will Bible reference materials such as a Bible Dictionary or Lexicon give further insight?
 Where else does this word occur in the Bible, and how does that other verse bring illumination
to our text?

E. Look up your passage in a Bible that has cross-references in the margin (or use an online resource), and read
each of the references listed. Write out any verse that adds new meaning or insights.

F. Meditate on the passage, emphasizing each word of each verse, one word at a time. Only as you meditate on
Scripture - a verse, several verses, or a passage - will you begin to see underlying principles that can be applied
in your life.

1. Notice whether repetition is used.

 What words deserve extra contemplation because of their recurrence?
 Can I discover truths the Scriptures may be highlighting by looking for repeated words or concepts?
2. There is only one interpretation of Scripture, but there are unlimited applications of Scripture. The Holy
Spirit will guide you into all truth and show you how to apply God’s Word in your life (John 16:13–15).
 Write down insights that the Holy Spirit gives you.
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 Prayerfully quote the verses back to the Lord.

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 Then write out a paraphrase of the passage, in the first person.

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 CHRISTIAN THOUGHT & LIFE: MEDITATION

3. A powerful way to apply Scripture is by first studying Christ’s words, including the commands He gave to
us, and then finding their foundation in the Old Testament and application in the New Testament
Epistles. Discovering this threefold witness will increase your understanding of the Bible. (2 Corinthians
13:1; 1 Timothy 6:3)

G. Symbolism
1. What word pictures are being used?
2. What do the word pictures represent?
3. Are any of the symbols present in the text representative of deeper spiritual realities?

H. Illustrate the main concepts found within the passage

1. As you memorize and meditate on a passage, look for Biblical concepts and patterns.
2. Sometimes drawing simple illustrations with stick figures and symbols can help you remember the main
ideas of the passage.

I. Personalize the passage

1. Turn the Scripture into a first-person prayer back to God.
 Personalize it by putting it in the first person, using I, me, and my.
 For example, Colossians 3:16 could be personalized by saying “Let the word of Christ dwell in me
richly in all wisdom.”
 When you put Scripture in the first person, it becomes a living expression within your heart, which is
one aspect of meditation.
2. Don’t be discouraged if you have to go over the passage several times before insights begin to come to
mind.
 As God reveals an insight to you, pray it back to Him and ask Him for the grace to apply that truth in
your life.
 If the Holy Spirit convicts you of sin in your life, confess it to the Lord and be forgiven.
3. Write out application ideas based on what you have learned from your study of and meditation on the
passage. Identify one application idea that you plan to implement in your life immediately.

J. When the Holy Spirit custom-fits the word to your life circumstances, the sustaining power of His personalized
word has the ability to carry you through great tribulation. This is the true fountain of life!

VI. Make meditation a lifestyle. There are many things to meditate upon; i.e. the holiness and perfection of God;
all Jesus did for you on the cross of Calvary; the special relationships you have with the Father, the Christ, and
the Holy Spirit; anything that the Holy Spirit has just taught you or made you aware of, etc.

HOMEWORK

Select a passage; memorize it; and complete the meditation worksheet.

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