Let me explain. There is a troubling movement invading the evangelical church that is often labeled "contemplative prayer." Blending eastern religious practices and new age tactics, this movement uses visualization as a central thrust in contemplative prayer. Followers of Christ should be wary of this movement.
However, some overly zealous heresy hunters now view meditation as suspicious. According to them, meditation runs the risk of entering a gray area that is just too close to contemplative prayer. Therefore, since it might be done improperly, it should not be done at all. This is what happens when the focus is so riveted on the error that our eye is taken off of the truth. We need to be just as vocal against those who are holding meditation hostage as we are of those who are promoting a non-biblical contemplative prayer movement.
Meditation is clearly taught, promoted and encouraged in the Bible as an acceptable and a necessary spiritual discipline for the follower of Christ.
In a small volume by Puritan Thomas Watson, Heaven Taken By Storm, there is an excellent chapter on meditation. What follows is distilled from this chapter.
Here is a working definition of meditation: It is a holy exercise of the mind whereby we bring the truths of God to remembrance, and do seriously ponder them and apply them to ourselves.
Three vital considerations must be at the very core of meditation:
- Meditation is God-centered, Christ-centered and Bible-centered.
- Meditation necessitates that we retire alone, locking ourselves off from distractions and interruptions. Meditation is a work and that cannot be done in a crowd.
- Meditation is a serious thinking about God. It is not a few transient thoughts that are quickly gone, but a fixing and staying of the mind upon heavenly objects.
We are the more to provoke ourselves (discipline, strongly commit) to this duty because:
- Meditation is fiercely opposed by the old nature and the fallen nature that still wars against our life in Christ. You will find many excuses and diversions that will make establishing this discipline extremely difficult.
- Satan does what he can to hinder this duty and discipline. The devil cares not how much we hear if he is certain that we meditate little. Hearing begets knowledge, but meditation begets devotion.
You do not need a handbook to meditate...you simply need your Bible
You do not need to attend a seminar/retreat to meditate...you need a quiet, uninterrupted place and time.
You do not need a certain aptitude to meditate...you need a zeal and desire for the Lord and His will for your life.
The following Scriptures are more that sufficient to get you started in this vitally important discipline:
- Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Joshua 1:8a
- Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:1,2
- I will meditate on all Your works and consider all Your mighty deeds. Psalm 77:12
- Let me understand the teaching of Your precepts; then I will meditate on Your wonders. Psalm 119:27
- I lift up my hands to Your commands, which I love, and I meditate on Your decrees. Psalm 119:48
- I remember the days of long ago I meditate on all Your works and consider what Your hands have done. Psalm 143:5
God commands meditation in His Word. That settles it. It is for all followers of Christ in all generations in all situations. And, as with every other discipline, it is for our good and will allow us to even more fully live to the glory of God.
