Meditation Mythbuster

What comes to mind when you think of "meditation?" Is the image you see of a Buddhist monk, sitting quietly in a temple? Or, maybe it's a group of people doing yoga and breathing exercises, or a devout Muslim facedown toward Mecca? Weirdly enough, this seems to be the case for many Christians today. Meditation is for anyone and everyone but Christians, because meditation is wrong. Today I ask the question though:  is this true? Join me, as we explore a bit about mediation, and decide whether it's appropriate for followers of Christ during the Lenten season (or ever really).

To test if something is right or wrong, the place Christians should turn first is the very Word of God. Seems obvious right? Yet, often times we find ourselves unknowingly perpetuating and following tradition and religiosity over the Word itself. Growing up, I heard mediation was wrong, because other religions meditated; we pray. Yet, if we seek the Scriptures of the Living God, we see meditation is not just suggested:  it's commanded.

In the book of Joshua, the Lord declares, "This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do (1:8)."

In the book of Psalms, the Lord declares through David, "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 (1:1-3)."

Though not explicitly stated as such, we can safely conclude, too, that Jesus practiced mediation. As we see in the New Testament, Jesus often was found taking time to be in remote places, and to spend the whole evening in prayer (Luke 6:12 and Mark 1:34).

So, what does it mean to meditate, though? How is prayer different or the same? Let's dive a little deeper, shall we?

As found in Psalm 1, the word we translate as meditate is the Hebrew word, "hagah" (הָגָה). This word can mean a couple of different things, but in the context of its application to humanity, it means "quietly reciting the words of Scripture aloud or in your mind, as a way to focus your attention so that these words become a part of you." Prayer, on the other hand, is often defined by the Hebrew term "tefillah" (תפילה) or the Greek word "proseuche" (προσουχή), which mean "petiion" or "supplication."

Notice the difference? Prayer is an action of asking something of God, while meditation is the way of knowing Him and His word. If we as Christians only ever find ourselves asking of God, how are we ever to hear an answer when we have never taken the time to know His voice? Thus, I would say it's not just a recommendation, but rather, an essential part of our faith to be a people marked by both prayer and mediation.

So, should you mediate this Lenten season? 100%, yes! Take note, though, we do not mediate to find our "inner selves." We mediate on the Word of God, as it becomes a transformative instrument to our minds, hearts, and souls. Take time this season, and every day after, to be like that tree planted by streams of water, who never withers and prospers (Psalm 1:4), and finds their delight in the law of the Living God. Practice getting to know the Good Shepherd's voice this season, and take time to simply be with God, instead of wanting of Him.