Biblical Meditation

Don’t clear your mind; focus it.

Does your mind feel too busy? Do you find your thoughts racing, with little room to breathe and just be?

Meditation is a beautiful way to clean mental house. I like to start with what John Eldredge calls “benevolent detachment,” the idea of giving all of the things we’re thinking about to God. Sometimes that can be a broad statement, and sometimes each thing needs to be named aloud.

Next, I ask God what I need to know. He might bring a name to mind (if he does, pray for that person). Or he might remind you of a verse you’ve memorized. Go there. Read the verse and ask God to tell you what you need to know about it. This is where the meditation comes in: we take a verse or a passage and let it roll through our minds and hearts, transforming us as we treasure it.

Lastly, I like to ask God what he wants me to do. Is there an assignment he has for me today? Is there a shift he’s asking me to make?

If you make space in your day to listen and focus on God and his Word, he will meet you there. It takes practice and lots of patience, but I’d encourage you to make it a habit. The more you listen for him, the easier it is to recognize his voice.

I love Eldredge’s Pause app. If you haven’t tried it out yet, it’s well worth the time, and really guides the listener through meditating on Scripture and prayer. I highly recommend it if you’re new to biblical meditation or if you want to try a new way.