Is Meditation Biblical?

What comes to mind when you think about meditation? Is it positive or negative? Most people know that meditation involves slowing down. There is an intentional focus – usually on something specific, or sometimes, specifically on nothing. What’s interesting is that we find practices of meditation, contemplation, and prayer in almost all religions. For some, this shows that this is a universal need, and we are hard-wired for meditation. But for others, this raises some red flags. If you only think of non-Christian examples of meditation, then you may be wondering if meditation is actually biblical and helpful for Christians. Don’t worry, we actually learn a lot about meditation in the Bible. Scripture commends the practice of meditating, especially meditating on the commands of God. 

For Joshua, meditation was a foundational source of godly living. We see similar themes throughout the Psalter – the Prayer Book of God’s People. Psalm 1:1-2 says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners; nor seats in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 19:14 speaks of our internal disposition before the Lord – “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Throughout the Psalms, there is a focus on meditating on the Scriptures, on the Lord, on the ways of the Lord, and the works of God. Psalm 104:34 is even a prayer for our meditation! “May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.” 

While the word meditation appears less frequently in the New Testament, we see similar ideas. One passage that stands out is when the shepherds visit the newborn Jesus. Amidst the famous Nativity scene, we read in Luke 2 that the shepherds visit proclaiming the message of the angels and “Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” What a beautiful example of meditation! Another is Philippians 4:8, which encourages the regular habit of meditating on all that is good, beautiful, and true. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Meditation is at the heart of Scripture, both Old and New. In fact, to be human is to meditate! Allow Scripture to challenge you and invite deeper reflection on what you meditate upon, not whether you meditate. Are the thoughts of your mind and the longings of your heart shaped and informed by the ways of God, or by the countless distractions and temptations that swirl about?