Topic 16: Christian Meditation
Philippians 4:8
INTRODUCTION
1. Our text for this lesson enjoins upon Christians that they engage in a form of “meditation”:
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are
just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report,
if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things.” (Ph
4:8)
2. The practice of “meditation” by Christians is not something you might hear frequently discussed...
a. It may be that some Christians are simply not aware that they are commanded to “meditate”
b. It may be that some believe meditation belongs solely to the Eastern religions like Hinduism or
Buddhism
3. Yet Paul clearly teaches us to “meditate on these things”, and “meditation” is certainly a Biblical
subject...
a. Isaac meditated in the field at evening – Gen 24:63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field
in the evening; and he lifted his eyes and looked, and there, the camels were coming.
b. Joshua was charged by God to meditate “day and night” – Josh 1:8 This Book of the Law
shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may
observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way
prosperous, and then you will have good success.
c. The “blessed man” in Psalms 1 is one who meditates – Psa 1:1-2 Blessed is the man Who
walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the
seat of the scornful; [2] But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he
meditates day and night.
d. David became wiser than his teachers through meditation – Psa 119:99 I have more
understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation.
e. Paul commanded Timothy to “meditate on these things” – 1 Ti 4:12-16 Let no one despise
your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith,
in purity. [13] Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. [14] Do not
neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the
hands of the eldership. [15] Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that
your progress may be evident to all. [16] Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine.
Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
(The key is “meditation.” The key is meditation – the right kind of prayer is the antidote for
anxiety while meditation is the preventive measure.)
f. 2 Cor 10:4-6 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down
strongholds, [5] casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the
knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, [6] and being
ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
4. But some questions may come to mind...
a. What does meditation mean for the Christian?
b. Why should we be concerned about making time to meditate?
c. How should we meditate?
[This lesson will attempt to provide answers to these questions...]
I. WHAT MEDITATION IS IN THE BIBLE
A. WHAT MEDITATION IN THE BIBLE IS NOT...
1. The kind practiced by many Eastern religions
a. Like Hinduism, Buddhism, or Transcendental Meditation
b. Where the object is to experience truth, peace, or being, that is “inexpressible”
2. The kind practiced by “Christian mystics”
a. Such as Quakers, and others often found among Catholics and Protestants
b. These meditate in order to “experience” God, or to receive some revelation from God
3. Both Eastern and “Christian mystical” meditation usually attempts to empty the mind so as to
find or receive truth within (i.e., a “subjective” form of meditation)
B. WHAT MEDITATION IN THE BIBLE IS...
1. To dwell or contemplate on some truth or reality already revealed (i.e., an “objective” form
of meditation)
2. Specifically, the man “after God’s own heart” is one who meditates on such things as:
a. The Lord Himself – Psa 63:6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You
in the night watches.
b. His wonderful Works – Psa 77:12 I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of
Your deeds.
c. His revealed Word –
Psalm 119:15,23,48 NKJV
I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. [23] Princes also sit and
speak against me, But Your servant meditates on Your statutes. [48] My hands also I
will lift up to Your commandments, Which I love, And I will meditate on Your statutes.
Psalm 119:97-99 NKJV
Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. [98] You, through Your
commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. [99] I
have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation.
Psalm 119:148 NKJV
My eyes are awake through the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word.
3. To put it in the words of the apostle Paul, we are to meditate on “things”...
a. Things that are “true, noble, just pure, lovely, of good report”
b. Things that are of any “virtue”, and are “praiseworthy”
4. The purpose of such meditation is...
a. To nourish man with his understanding of God and His Revealed Will (not to seek for
some previously unrevealed truth)
b. To give man spiritual joy and strength through such nourishment – cf. Ps 1:1-3; Isa
40:28-31
Psalm 1:1-3 NKJV
Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path
of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; [2] But his delight is in the law of the
LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. [3] He shall be like a tree Planted by
the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not
wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
Isaiah 40:28-31 NKJV
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The
Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is
unsearchable. [29] He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He
increases strength. [30] Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men
shall utterly fall, [31] But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They
shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk
and not faint.
[So there is a very real difference between “Biblical meditation” and that commonly practiced by many
religions!
Christian meditation dwells on that already revealed in creation or inspired revelation
Whereas other forms of meditation are seeking some new truth to be revealed
Understanding the difference, why is Biblical meditation so important?]
II. WHY WE SHOULD MEDITATE
A. IT IS A SOURCE OF JOY AND STRENGTH...
1. This we have already seen from such passages like Psa 1:1-2; Isa 40:28-31
Psalm 1:3 NKJV
He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
Isaiah 40:31 NKJV
But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings
like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
2. This alone should motivate us to meditate more often
B. IT IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR “TRANSFORMATION”...
1. The goal of the Christian is to become more like Christ – cf. Ro 8:29 For whom He
foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might
be the firstborn among many brethren.
2. This requires a “transformation” – Ro 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the
mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God,
which is your reasonable service. [2] And do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and
acceptable and perfect will of God.
3. But notice that this is possible only by “renewing the mind” – Ro 12:2 And do not be
conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you
may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
4. This “renewing” is possible only when we “set our minds” on proper things
a. On things above
b. Not on things on the earth – Co 3:1-2 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those
things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. [2] Set
your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
5. Only then, when our minds are “set on things above”, will we be successful in completing
the “transformation” which includes “putting off the old man” and “putting on the new
man” – cf. Co 3:1-2 with Co 3:5-14
Colossians 3:1-2 NKJV
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is,
sitting at the right hand of God. [2] Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
Colossians 3:5-14 NKJV
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness,
passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. [6] Because of these things the
wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, [7] in which you yourselves once
walked when you lived in them. [8] But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger,
wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. [9] Do not lie to one another,
since you have put off the old man with his deeds, [10] and have put on the new man who is
renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, [11] where there is
neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free,
but Christ is all and in all. [12] Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender
mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; [13] bearing with one another, and
forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you,
so you also must do. [14] But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of
perfection.
C. MANY FALL BECAUSE THEY MEDITATE ON THE WRONG THINGS...!
1. They “mind the things of the flesh”, which leads to “death” and “enmity with God” – cf.
Ro 8:5-8 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the
flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. [6] For to be
carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. [7] Because the
carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed
can be. [8] So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
2. Yet even those in the world understand that you cannot be a spiritual person if you “dwell” on
carnal things
a. “Recent studies conducted by a Stanford University research team have revealed that
‘what we watch’ does have an effect on our imaginations, our learning patterns, and our
behaviors. First, we are exposed to new behaviors and characters. Next, we learn or
acquire these new behaviors. The last and most crucial step is that we adopt these
behaviors as our own. One of the most critical aspects of human development that we
need to understand is the influence of ‘repeated viewing’ and ‘repeated verbalizing’ in
shaping our future. The information goes in, ‘harmlessly, almost unnoticed,’ on a daily
basis, but we don’t react to it until later, when we aren’t able to realize the basis for our
reactions. In other words, our value system is being formed without any conscious
awareness on our part of what is happening!” - Denis Waitley, Seeds Of Greatness, p.
47-48)
b. “You are what you watch and think.” (ibid., p. 45)
c. “If a sixty second commercial, by repeated viewing, can sell us a product, then isn’t it
possible for a sixty-minute soap opera or ‘smut-com’, by repeated viewing, to sell us a
lifestyle?” (ibid., p. 47)
[If Christians are going to succeed, they must set their minds (or meditate) on “the things of the Spirit”, or
on “things above, where Christ is”! Only then can they with God’s help “put off the old man” and “put on
the new man”. Finally, a few thoughts on...]
III. HOW TO MEDITATE
A. REMEMBER, YOUR MIND IS AFFECTED BY EVEN CASUAL CONTEMPLATION...!
1. Cf. the Stanford studies
2. The first step to proper meditation is to be selective in what you watch and read
3. Fill your mind with positive and spiritual thoughts if you really want to:
a. “renew the mind”
b. “be transformed”
4. It doesn’t have to be restricted to the Bible, as Paul said: “Whatever things...”
a. There are novels, movies, television shows, etc., that fall into the category of possessing
“virtue” and being “praiseworthy”
b. Seek the advice and counsel of other Christians as to what is “of good report”
5. So first let your “casual” contemplation be discriminatory!
2 Corinthians 10:5 NKJV ...casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts
itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the
obedience of Christ,
B. TO REACH THE HEIGHTS OF SPIRITUAL MEDITATION, HEED THE COUNSEL OF
THE PSALMS...
1. Make the Bible your primary focus for meditation – Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law
of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.
2. Read it contemplatively every day – Psa 1:2; 119:15 - But his delight is in the law of the
LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night; I will meditate on Your precepts,
And contemplate Your ways.
3. Read it with a prayer in your heart – cf. Psa 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may see
Wondrous things from Your law.
4. As you read, occasionally read it aloud to yourself
a. The Hebrew word in Psa 1:2 means “to mutter”
b. Reading slowly and audibly helps to focus one’s mind on the words
5. As you read, you might ask yourself the following questions:
a. Is there some truth I should know from this verse?
b. How does this passage affect a previously held conviction?
c. Is there something I should stop doing in light of this verse?
d. Is there a practice I should change?
e. Is there a habit I ought to begin?
6. To put it another way: “Hold the Word of God in your heart until it has affected every
phase of your life... that’s meditation.”
CONCLUSION
1. In Psa 19:14, we find David praying:
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
“O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.”
2. While God guards our hearts (Philippians 4:7), we are also commanded to focus our lives on things
that please God. Paul urges his readers to let God be involved in every aspect of the life of the
believer. At the same time, believers are commanded to live according to God's ways. God does the
work, yet gives us also a part to do. We are called to trust in Him, yet also to serve Him. Paul set an
example for how to do both. He was faithful in prayer, yet gave every bit of his life to serve the Lord.
3. If you are not a Christian, or an erring one, then there are some things in particular upon which you
ought to meditate:
a. What is your standing in God’s sight?
b. What would happen if you were to die today?
c. What do you need to do to be found in the grace of God?
d. Why delay any longer?
