Does God allow us Christians to practice meditation?
Listen: 118.6
The Word of God most definitely instructs us to meditate. However, what is known as Transcendental Meditation should not be practiced by any believer on the Lord Jesus. Transcendental Meditation, or TM, is a practice that was developed by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and is based on Hinduism. The practice grew in popularity when people like the Beatles and the Beach Boys visited India to learn about TM. The main concept of TM is to sit calmly, with your eyes closed, and empty your mind of any thoughts. This is considered effective in relieving stress and giving a heightened state of calm. One word of caution I would give is this: if you purposefully empty your mind, Satan will be sure to fill your mind.
Let’s look at how the Word of God would have us meditate. Psalms 1:1-2 says, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” The definition of meditation is to ponder or study. It is not to empty the mind, but rather, to fill the mind with thoughts of the Lord and His Word, as we find David doing here. King David mentions his meditations several times in the book of Psalms. He said in Psalms 77:12, “I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.”
The Apostle Paul encouraged young Timothy to meditate in 1 Timothy 4:12-16, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” The Greek word for meditate here is ‘meletao’ which means to revolve in the mind. It gives the thought of someone considering a truth found in the Word of God, and thinking about it over and over, gaining understanding and appreciation of the truth. From that, one would give himself to obey the truth. In doing that, there would be profit in that person’s life that is evident to others.
Meditation is an important tool in the believer’s life. We should all read God’s Word and then spend time revolving its truths around in our minds so that we might come to a greater understanding and appreciation of God’s Word. May our desire be the same as David’s when he wrote in Psalms 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Paul teaches us in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (118.6)