Meditation

Psalm 1, John 5:19, John 16:7-15

Meditation can be one of the most misinterpreted spiritual disciplines because of our society’s perspective around this word. Meditation is a practice that has happened for centuries, but not always in a Christian context. People of other religions and even as a worldly notion of self love or mindfulness. The kind of meditation thought of by the world is an act to clear the mind and forget all thoughts, responsibilities, and purely focus on breathing to achieve an emotionally stable state. Meditation with the Lord is quite the opposite. Richard J. Foster states in his book Celebration of Discipline that, “It is the continual focus upon obedience and faithfulness that most clearly distinguishes Christian meditation from the Eastern and secular counterparts.” So rather than clearing our minds as the world says to meditate, when we meditate on the Lord, we focus our minds on Him and His goodness. It is the act of listening to the Lord.

I know for me, when I pray, I often talk and talk and talk and when I feel like I have nothing left to say I say amen. But meditation on the Lord requires us to be still and listen. “Christian meditation, very simply, is the ability to hear God’s voice and obey His word” (Richard J. Foster). Psalm 1:2 says, “but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” Listening to God speak to us through prayer or reading His word is an act of meditation. When we are actively listening and focusing on God’s voice, we are meditating. When we listen to pop culture, politics, and peers we must be careful to not pull our meditation away from the Lord. 

In the Bible we see that Jesus mediates on the Father’s voice. He is obedient to what the Father asks of Him and does not do anything apart from Him. John 14:10 says, “The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does His work.” What a beautiful example of how Jesus meditates on the Father and how we are to do the same. God does not ask us to do this on our own, but He gives us His Spirit to dwell in us and guide us to hearing His voice. “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come” (John 16:13). We are given the gift of the Holy Spirit to convict us, comfort us, and guide us to truth daily. 

Lean into the Spirit and ask Him to teach you to listen. Ask to hear the Father’s voice. 

Take some time this week to meditate on the scripture and what God is saying to you.

When you pray this week, imagine you are standing before the throne of God, speaking to Him face to face. Take a moment to pause and ask the Spirit to lead you on what to pray for or ask for.