Meditation

Most often when people think of “meditation” they think of sitting in the lotus position and chanting “Om-Om” but that’s not the kind of mediation I’m speaking of. That kind of meditation is all about emptying your mind and the kind of meditation I’m speaking of is about filling your thoughts with scripture. Mediation is mentioned in the Bible at least 20 times, the most familiar verses are: Psalms 1:2 (But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.) and Philippians 4:8 (Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.) Practically speaking the best way to mediate is just to think about a Bible verse over and over, ask yourself “what is the author really saying here” and “how does this apply to my life” Remember though that not all scripture applies to our lives in a direct fashion, some of it was written for a specific people in a specific time or simply for narrative purposes, mostly the stuff in the Old Testament. Start reading through a book of the Bible and thinking about what the message in that passage really is saying and how it applies to you. I would suggest taking the Gospel of John and reading through that, but that’s just my opinion. I would also suggest getting a good study Bible that has lots of notes in it. If you don’t have one already may I further suggest getting The MacArthur Study Bible it’s an excellent Study Bible I use it with the youth all the time. Or odd as it may sound, the Lutheran Study Bible (ESV) has lots of good theology in it plus a ton of really good Martin Luther quotes.