Silent mindful meditation versus meditating on the bible/with God.

Biblical meditation is not about emptying your mind. It is about filling your mind with the Word of God.

When you hear biblical meditation, do not create in your mind an image of sitting with your legs crossed humming aloud to send vibrations to your mind that will empty all thoughts. Incorrect.

Meditation : A practice where an individual uses a technique — such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity — to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state. Meditation is to calm your brain, calm your body and your nerves. To connect you back to reality peacefully.

What does the bible say about meditating on the Word?

First you are to imagine. Imagine the word as you read. Visualize and ponder on it.

Second you are to mutter Gods word. Speak it to yourself. Read aloud. Hear yourself.

When you meditate on the Word it becomes YOUR Word. It becomes personal. It becomes revelation to you.

Speak it! Pray it. Write it. Live it!

Psalm 1:1-2
“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.”

Joshua 1:8
“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.”

Psalm 119:15
“I will meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.”

Psalm 119:97
“Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.”

Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Psalm 143:5
“I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.”

Biblical Meditation (Christian meditation) is a form of prayer in which a structured attempt is made to become aware of and reflect upon the revelations of God. This is the process of deliberately focusing on specific thoughts (such as a Bible passage) and reflecting on their meaning in the context of the love of God. To get closer to God and know their creator.

In the Old Testament, one of the key words translated as “meditate” is the Hebrew word hâgâh. It is used in Joshua 1:8, where God told Joshua to “meditate” on his law day and night. The word is also used in Psalm 1:2, — “delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.” The Hebrew word translated ‘meditates’ (hâgâh) as something more than silent reflection. It means ‘to whisper or murmur’ — a use that may point to the fact that reading was usually done aloud in biblical times.” Another Hebrew word for meditation in the Old Testament is siyach. It is the word used in Psalm 119:97: “Oh how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.” Siyach means to rehearse or go over in one’s mind; but in contrast to hâgâh, siyach, it can be either spoken out loud or said silently in one’s heart.

The word “meditate” is found less frequently in the New Testament. Modern day language uses the terms ‘think’ or ‘consider’ to refer to reflecting upon something. For example, in Philippians 4:8, the apostle Paul lists things upon which believers are to “think.” He uses a form of the word “logizomai,” a Greek word that means think about, consider, let one’s mind dwell on.

Biblical meditation is more than reading the Word and spending time in a small prayer. It is truly getting to break down scripture in its context, learning about the author of the book that you are reading, how to apply it to your life and so on and so fourth. It involves our minds by focused thought upon God’s truth, we reflect upon the meaning of words or phrases.

Biblical meditation is distinct from other forms of meditation because the focus of our “thoughts” is Scripture. Our goal is not to empty our minds, but to renew them by focusing on God’s words and filling our minds with pure and Godly foundations.

With all of that being said, I encourage you to take the time, even if you do not believe in the Lord, open up your bible and just read 1 passage. Ill even go further and say start in Romans 1 for those who are not sure where to start. Look up words your not sure about, get context on what the passage means and what it could mean for your life or even others lives. It doesn’t hurt so give it a try! You have to start somewhere. End it in a prayer that talks to God about what you just read; even if you don’t understand what you just read ask him to give you the understanding. Just talk to him and find him in your heart!