Meditate on Scripture (without Being Weird)

Many evangelicals shy away from the word “meditation” because of its association with eastern religions, but it should be noted that meditation is taught in several places throughout Scripture (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:2, Psalm 119:148). While it would be strange to unroll a yoga mat and light some incense anytime we decided to open our Bibles, we would do well to redeem the practice of meditation rather than abandoning it. Deuteronomy 6:6-8 gives us some instructions about how meditation ought to work.

These verses impress upon us the depth and richness of Scripture. The point is clear: you can think about (meditate on) Scripture all day and still find new things to learn. It’s important to think about the things of God, because you become what you think about. Someone put it like this:

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

—Author unknown

So what’s the difference between meditation and thinking?

Not much. Thinking carries the implication of a single possible conclusion, that some ultimate answer or idea is being sought after. Meditation has a different endgame. It’s a series of thoughts intended to affect the mind that holds them.

Meditation doesn’t really need any set-aside time or space, though you certainly could set aside time each day if you prefer. Meditation is mobile. It travels with you wherever you go, and slides into the spaces between your day’s major events. Look at all the times and places that God directs us to think about his words in Deuteronomy 6:7.

  • And you shall recite them to your children (with your family)
  • And you shall talk about them at the time of your living in your house (as you relax)
  • And at the time of your going on the road (on your commute)
  • And at the time of your lying down (as you get ready for bed)
  • And at the time of your rising up (as you get ready for work)

Thankfully, as you go about your day, Logos is always with you—ready on your phone or tablet. If you need a verse to meditate on, may we recommend our Verse of the Day? And if you’d like to know more about what the verse means, the Faithlife Study Bible has three layers of study notes for you to go as deep as you’d like.

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Written by
Ray Deck III

Born in WV, Ray escaped to North Carolina at a young age. He came to Logos after an 8 year stint at a faith-based nonprofit in New York. When he is not assembling sequences of words, he’s probably running, surfing or shooting skeet, but you should probably go look for him. He has a terrible sense of direction and is probably lost.

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Written by Ray Deck III
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