Meditating on scripture is one of the most important spiritual disciplines for the Christian life. Read on to find out more about the benefits of meditating on God's word

You attend church services regularly; you are part of a small fellowship group that meets once a week, you thrive on hearing the Word of God and make every attempt to take in as much information as possible. You know that you are on the right track; but still have a feeling that there’s something missing?

Indeed, you are learning about the Bible and trying to apply it to your life although as the weeks pass by, you find that you can’t remember exactly what the important points of last Sunday’s sermon were. In fact, you hardly remember what the sermon was about at all! What to do?

Have you ever tried meditating on scripture?

Defining Meditation

Meditation is prevalent in many non-Christian belief systems and invites the individual to empty their mind. On the contrary, meditating on God’s word involves spiritual discipline that nourishes your mind with the truth of the Word of God (Whitney D.S, 1991). Therefore your mind is mentally active and focused on God’s Word and truth.

So how do you Meditate?

Step 1. Make sure you are in a relaxed position, either sitting on a chair or on the bed. It’s not a good idea to lie down - nine times out of ten you will fall asleep!

Step 2. Concentrate on your breathing. Take a deep breath in and slowly breathe out until your lungs are completely empty. (Practice this breathing technique until you feel comfortable enough to control your exhalation for 10 seconds)

Step 3. Make sure your shoulders are not tensed up and relax the rest of your body.

Step 4. Meditate on ONE thing that stood out for you when you were reading a particular verse or passage from the bible in your quiet time.

Step 5. Ask God to reveal meaning and interpretation of the passage.

You will find that there will be a process and link between meditation, prayer, praise and worship.

Benefits of Meditation

1. Meditating on one particular aspect leads to a progression of other acts of worship. Once the truth is touched upon, there is a sense of overwhelming desire to praise God for his goodness, wisdom and authority. It also allows you to think about how this aspect applies to your life.

2. Meditation thus provides a meaningful link between scripture reading and prayer.

3. Practicing meditation can provide healing and change in us (Whitney D.S, 1991).

4. It allows for ‘spiritual fruitfulness and prosperity in our day’ (Whitney D.S, 1991).

5. Benefits and promotes health

6. Disciplined meditation will enable you to understand God’s word and know how to respond accordingly.

Suggestions

For a start, try meditating on scripture before you go to church on Sunday and see how your heart is prepared for the message!

Resources

Whitney D.S. (1991). Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Bringing truth to life.