Prayerfulness

Meditation means different things to different people, making it a confusing term. A health club offers a meditation class focused on relaxation techniques. A clinic teaches meditation to help patients manage pain after an injury. A Buddhist friend shares his lifelong meditation practice. Your pastor preaches about biblical meditation, calling it an essential part of the Christian life. With so many perspectives, taking time to understand what the Bible means by meditation is essential.

The Bible mentions meditation about two dozen times, mainly in the Psalms—a book rich in imagery and devoted to praising God. This suggests that biblical meditation isn’t primarily about gaining information but enjoying God. Meditation stirs our hearts, shaping us as we delight in God’s Word and grow in love and obedience. Rather than a technique to master, biblical meditation flows from our desire to know and follow Him. Scripture doesn’t focus on specific techniques for meditation but instead emphasizes its purpose—dwelling on God’s Word in his presence. Rather than searching for the “right way” to meditate, focus on engaging with Scripture while staying close to God.

When people tell me they don't know how to meditate, I reassure them by asking, “Can you worry?” If they know how to worry, they know how to meditate.

Jan Johnson