What is Biblical Mediation?

Biblical meditation is about quieting your heart with scripture and deepening your intimacy with Jesus. It is NOT like Eastern forms of meditation, which are designed to empty the mind and focus on the self. By contrast, Biblical meditation denies self and turns all attention, glory, and honor to the God of creation.

In this exercise, you will read a passage of scripture over and over again.

Slowly.

Intentionally.

Aloud.

Anticipate hearing God’s voice. Remember, He wants to speak to you.

Dallas Willard has called silence and solitude the two most radical disciplines of the Christian life.

  • Solitude is the practice of being absent from people and things to attend to God.
  • Silence is the practice of quieting every inner and outer voice to attend to God.

In other words, learning to stop and be still takes practice.

Step 1 – Pick a Psalm to Meditate on.

Here are some ideas, but feel free to choose any Pslam for this exercise.

Step 2 – Begin with Prayer

Here’s a sample prayer to get you started. But, of course, the words are not as important as the condition of your heart.

Lord Jesus, I worship you and praise your mighty name. Thank you for this time to be silent. Please come and fill me with the power of your Holy Spirit so that I may know you more. Help me to settle into your presence, to be still and know that you are God. I submit to you alone and pray that your kingdom would come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14). I’m ready, Lord, speak to me now; I am your servant and listening. (1 Samuel 3:10)

In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray, amen.

Step 3 – Slowly Read the Passage

Be intentional as you read. Linger in the words and notice what the author is saying. It is entirely normal to get distracted when you read God’s Word. When this happens to you, begin again and ask God to speak.

As you navigate the passage, mark any phrase, sentence, or words that stand out. Then, keep asking the Lord to reveal the truth to you as you read. The Word of God is alive and active (Hebrews 4:12).

Step 4 – Listen and Record

The next step in Biblical Meditation is to be still and listen. I like to have my journal to record the thoughts and images that come to my mind. During your meditation, don’t overthink. Instead, write down what you sense God is saying to you. Notice any thoughts in your heart, and keep inviting God to speak to you. I have found that in the quiet moments of solitude, we can miss out if we get caught up in analyzing everything.

You’re going to read and respond to the passage several times. After each reading, consider some of these questions.

  • What words or phrases stand out to you?
  • While keeping your focus on God and what the Bible says about Him, what thoughts come to mind?
  • Pay attention to what touches you as you read. What emotions do you feel? Ask the Lord to help you know what you’re feeling and why.
  • Be aware of any prayer that arises as you ponder the truth of God’s word.

Step 5 – Check Against the Truth

I have seen some common themes emerge in my years of practicing and teaching Christian meditation. First, when we ask God to speak, He responds faithfully. Typically, God reminds us of His character and our identity as followers of Christ. Anything you hear from God should always be held up to the truth of His Word. Please don’t hesitate to review your mediation with a trusted brother or sister in the Lord.

How Did You Like Biblical Meditation?

Which passage did you meditate on? Can you tell us about your experience? We would love to hear about what you liked and didn’t like in Biblical mediation.

Our goal at Stop and Be Still Ministries is to provide practice tools and easy-to-use exercises to help you embrace silence and solitude as a part of your faith journey. If you’ve enjoyed this exercise, please forward it to a friend. Also, check out this blog post on breath prayers, my personal favorite.