Meditate Upon the Lord

Meditation for Christians

The term meditation has been hi-jacked by pagan religions and New Age practices, designed to drag us away from God. Yet, the Bible is full of verses dealing with meditation. God calls upon us to meditate on Him, on His word, on His promises, and on His glory. Meditation is part of the Christian arsenal for growing in our relationship with our Heavenly Father, and thus growing in strength and effectiveness for Christ. It is God’s will that we meditate upon Him.

Scripture clearly teaches that meditation is an important part of a Christian’s walk with Christ. Both old and new testament scripture discusses meditation. Consider this:

• There are 20 scriptures that use the words meditate or meditation in the Bible.
• There are 11 different words used in the Bible for meditation.
• There are 9 different Hebrew words for meditation in the old testament.
• The new testament Greek uses 2 different words for meditation.

The richness of the Hebrew language, especially, for meditation clearly displays the importance of meditating upon God, His scripture, and His blessings.

Old Testament Meditation Scriptures- Hebrew

Follow these scriptures on meditation, broken out by their more specific meanings and enter into God ordained meditation:

Meditation: contemplation, reflection, devotion, prayer, communication and talk.

• Psalm 119: 97 O how I love thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
• Psalm 119: 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
• Psalm 104: 33-34 I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.

Meditation: musing, ponder, murmur in pleasure, study, talk

• Psalm 49:3 My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

Meditation: a murmuring sound or musical notation.

• Psalm 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.

Meditation: murmuring complaint, musing

• Psalm 5:1-2 Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.

Meditate: murmur in pleasure, ponder, imagine, mourn, mutter, roar, speak, study, talk, utter

• Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success
• Psalm 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
• Psalm 63:6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches
• Psalm 77:11-12 I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
• Psalm 143:5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

Meditate: converse with oneself aloud – utter, commune, declare, muse, pray, speak, talk

• Psalm 119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
• Psalm 119:23 Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
• Psalm 119:48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.
• Psalm 119:78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.
• Psalm 119:148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.

This verse speaks of meditation, but from a non-Christian perspective of the lost and unsaved.

• Isaiah 33:18 Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers?

New testament Meditation Scriptures – Greek

Meditate: premeditate, meditate before

Not always is meditation within God’s will. Consider this verse. How can it apply to your life?

• Luke 21:13-15

And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

Meditate: to take care, revolve in mind, imagine

• 1 Timothy 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

God expects us to properly meditate upon Him and all that He is. We are to meditate upon His scriptures, His blessings, His promises, His glory, His love, and upon all that is our Heavenly Father. There is nothing about our God that we should not be meditating upon. Listen to the Holy Spirit and meditate upon those things that the Holy Spirit places within your heart for this day… and every day that follows.

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Author: Jeff Harris
Copyright © 2010