Biblical Meditation

The following post on Biblical meditation is adapted from Donald Whitney, author of Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, and who is a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Why don’t people meditate on Scripture? Some reasons: they are not a follower of Jesus Christ; or, the pressures of a busy lifestyle take precedence; or, some believe the benefit is not worth the time involved. Some of us have trouble remembering what was read. The conclusion is either bad memory or God’s distant and not speaking. This person doesn’t think it is worth the time involved, hits and misses Bible reading, feels frustrated and somewhat guilty. The real problem according to Whitney is lack of biblical meditation. Learning how to meditate may be the key that will unlock the joys of Scripture and the life-changing power it contains.

Begin meditating. This is not an exercise of daydreaming or Eastern meditation but a focused, intentional desire to consider Bible truth. Reading, rewriting the verses in your own words, or a host of other techniques. Such meditation is never an end in iteself. Deep thinking on spiritual truth is th key to obeying God, and to putting Scripture into shoeleather.

While meditating on Scripture, ask your self questions like;
Does this text reveal something I should …
Believe about God?
Praise or thank God for?
Pray about for myself or others?
Change my attitude about?
Make a decision on?
Do for the sake of Christ, others or myself?

When you have concluded your time of Bible mediatation, you should be able to name at least one definite response you have made or will make. Rather than reading and forgetting the truth, or worse, reading and ignoring it, you are prepared to be a doer of the Word.

And the result is success according to Psalm 1. Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither,and they prosper in all they do.

Joshua 1:8 emphasizes the same success truth: Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.