“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psa 19:14
Christian meditation is holistic, engaging the intellect, creativity, and emotions simultaneously. It combines reason, imagination, and feeling as we stay present with God. It is a continuous refocusing of the mind on God. This could mean reflecting on a specific Scripture (Jos 1:8), a divine attribute (Psa 19:14), or an aspect of God’s work (Psa 63:6). It involves deliberate and focused thought on God’s nature, His works, and His words. By doing so, our thoughts are consistently directed towards God, creating a habit of divine contemplation.
A good image of meditation is a cow chewing its cud. A cow bites off some grass, chews it, and swallows it. Then, it brings the food back up to chew again, repeating this process until all the nutrients are absorbed.
When we meditate, we do something similar. We take a piece of Scripture or a thought about God, think deeply about it, and let it sink into our hearts. We’re nourished even more when we bring these thoughts back to our minds repeatedly, allowing their truths to penetrate our being. This repeated focus helps internalise godly thoughts, making them a part of one’s inner being.
Reason provides a solid foundation for meditation, grounding it in truth and understanding. By picturing biblical scenes or envisioning God’s actions, one can create a more tangible and relatable experience. For example, imagining the parting of the Red Sea can make the historical event feel immediate and impactful. As one reflects on God’s goodness, mercy, and power, feelings of awe, gratitude, and love naturally arise.
In Psalm 77:12, the psalmist, feeling afraid and sad, declares, “I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.” He decides to reflect on God’s mighty deeds to remind himself of who God is (Psa 119:15). He recalls God’s landmark work in the history of Israel, such as the parting of the Red Sea:
“When the waters saw you, O God, they were afraid; the very deep trembled. The clouds poured out water; the skies thundered; your arrows flashed on every side. The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook. Your way was through the sea, your path through the mighty waters; yet your footprints were unseen. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.” (Psa 77:16-20)
Phil 4:8 says, that – whatever is true, whatever is honourable, 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.
Author
kay.alli@legalview.co.uk