A voice says, ‘Cry out.’ And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’ ‘All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures for ever.’
Isaiah 40:6-8 NIVUK
MEDITATE ON IT
Aha! Now, here is something that is thoroughly controversial in the Reformed traditions. Meditation is misunderstood for two reasons. Firstly, for its strong associations to the unreformed Catholic and Orthodox churches. Secondly, for its strong associations with Eastern mystical religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism and the Sufi branch of Islam.
But there should be absolutely zero controversy here. Meditation is Biblical. Do you want proof?
Now Isaac had come from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev. He went out to the field one evening to meditate, and as he looked up, he saw camels approaching.
Genesis 24:62-63 NIVUK.
First book in the Bible. Second generation patriarch. Isaac is meditating in a field. No issues there whatsoever.
Secondly, to Joshua, who was told by God to do it:
Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Joshua 1:8 NIVUK
Then we can go to the Psalms: a book full of the worship of God, not esoteric Eastern idolatry:
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers.
Psalms 1:1-3 NIVUK
Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.
Psalms 48:9 NIVUK
I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.’
Psalms 77:12 NIVUK
I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.
Psalms 143:5 NIVUK
They speak of the glorious splendour of your majesty – and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
Psalms 145:5 NIVUK
Just in case you still missed it, the word 'meditate' is also mentioned a further eight times in Psalm 119 alone (verses 15, 23, 27, 48, 78, 97, 99 and 148). In almost every occasion, meditation is seen to bring calmness in the face of fear, obedience in the face of threat and joy through the Word of God.
So let's dispense with the idea that meditation is idolatrous and evil. It is not. It is a Biblical practice that we reformed believers have thrown out completely unnecessarily and need to bring back.
But I do believe that certain types of meditation are wrong. Meditation that pulls the focus inwardly is wrong. Meditation that aims to achieve a trance state for the sake of it is wrong. Meditation that aims to achieve nirvana is wrong.
Why?
Self-focused meditation is useful to calm us down, but we will find no solutions to our problems there. Being calm solves only half of our situation. We need solutions for when we return to the 'real world'. And being focused on ourselves will not provide them.
Meditation that seeks to achieve a trance state just for the sake of it is hedonism by another name. It's a little like taking recreational drugs, but without the serious risk of harm. It too is focused in self and not on God.
Meditation that seeks to achieve nirvana must be wrong. Nirvana is a state of 'non-existence' or 'anhilliation'. The Bible does not teach it or agree with its existence.
This rules out transcendental meditation and most types of relaxation techniques on the market today, unless we complete them with the type of meditation I am recommending here...
Biblical meditation.
Yes, it does exist.
But what do we mean by it?
Firstly, we need to understand what meditation is and what it isn't. The Hebrew word translated as 'meditation' means 'to ponder, mull over, think upon'. When it was first translated from Hebrew to Latin, they used a Latin word based on the root word 'to weigh'. A similar Greek word is used in Hebrews 12:3:
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:3 NIVUK
So Christian meditation has nothing at all to do with sitting in the lotus position with orange robes and a shaved head, burning incense while listening to clanging cymbals. Christian meditation is quiet and focused contemplation on the Word of God.
For me, it's best practiced after the more analytical and methodical practice of Bible study. Why? Because then, when you meditate on a Bible verse, you understand it fully in its context and are meditating to apply it to your life situation. However, there are also situations when simply thinking about a single verse can have a tremendously calming effect.
I have found three practices of Christian meditation to be particularly useful.
The first is simply pondering. While on lunch time walks, I have a deliberate policy of shutting my mind off from work. It needs to rest to be effective in the afternoon. Instead, I ponder a Bible verse. I try and dissect in my head and ponder what it could mean for me. I'm not in church. I'm certainly not in a temple. But this is still quiet meditation. And it has a tremendous calming effect for me.
The second is a lot of fun and is very applicable if you are involved in a teaching ministry, either in preaching or as a Bible study group leader or Sunday school teacher. Read the verse several times. Study it. Then close your eyes. Visualise it. Imagine what was happening then. Imagine the sounds, the voices, the smells, the emotions. Imagine yourself as being there. Walk through the verse in three dimensions in your mind. Provided this is guided by an analysis of the verse and proper understanding of it in context, it can be a tremendous way to make the verse come alive for you.
The third sounds a little weird, but stick with me, because it works. Choose a verse that is important to you: something like John 3:16 or Romans 8:28 or Zephaniah 3:17. Break it up into phrases. Now slow your breathing down and take deep breaths, filling your lungs up with air each time and deeply exhaling. Say the first phrase, either out loud or in your mind, while breathing in, the second while breathing out, the third while breathing in, and so on. Keep repeating this over and over, concentrating on the words of the verse as you do so.
This may seem like some strange version of Eastern meditation, but it has been practiced in churches for centuries and is a particularly effective method of calming you down, focusing you on the Word of God and receiving deep peace from it.
If we label meditation as something that belongs to Eastern mysticism and debunk it then we cut ourselves off from a tremendously healthy practice that brings us peace and aids our mental health. It makes no sense at all to do so. It's not at all dangerous. So why don't you try it?
Best way to feed yourself healthily. Feed on the Word. Listen to wholesome teaching. Have praise and worship i the background. Finally keep taking wrong thoughts captive.