One of the less commonly practiced disciplined of the Christian life is meditating on gospel truth. For many, the mere mention of the word “meditation” is off-putting. A lot of evangelicals think of meditation as an Eastern practice, a kind of Trojan horse sneaking new age religion into the lives of Christians. While not ever form of meditation is the same, believers need to be aware that there is a distinctive form of Christian meditation, which is not just a discipline for spiritual growth, but one of the most potent exercises that can be performed. Thomas Brooks, one of Spurgeon’s favourite spiritual writers, says, “It is not he who reads most – but he who meditates most, who will prove the choicest, sweetest, wisest and strongest Christian.” A thousand similar quotes could be offered from wonderful Christians ranging from earth church fathers, to medieval saints, to the Reformers, all the way to more recent faith heroes like Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Dawson Trotman. All such voices unite in saying the same thing: meditating on truth is vital for spiritual growth. To fail to meditate on truth is as detrimental to the soul as failing to eat or sleep is to the body.
But, why exactly should we meditate? Here are my top 10 reasons to set time aside to meditate on gospel truth.
1 – It’s Possible to Day-Dream about Jesus
What a wonderful thought – that instead of having to strive to turn your mind to Jesus, he could pop into your thinking unintentionally. This can actually happen. The things we purposefully store into our hearts have a way of revisiting the mind unexpectantly. The more often and deeply we meditate on the beauty of Christ the more likely such beauty will steal into our thoughts – even while day-dreaming.
2 – Life and Peace Grow with Meditation
In Romans 8:6 Paul says, “To set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” Do you want more spiritual vitality? Do you want more psychological peace? If so, act on Paul’s teaching.
3 – Meditation Deepens Certainty of Faith
Doubts are the scourge of faith in the modern world. Is there something we can do to reduce or even eliminate the number of doubts that cloud faith?
According to the great Puritan theologian, John Owen, the answer is “yes”. Owen is careful to distinguish between the imagination and faith. The imagination produces non-existing things. Faith interacts with things that are true, though unseen. Owen says, “Where things are real and substantial, the more they are inquired into, the more they evidence their being and substance.” His point is that the unseen objects of faith reveal themselves as true the more diligent we are to understand and contemplate them. Do you want a more certain faith? Spend more time meditating on spiritual truths.
4 – Meditation Prunes and Orders the Heart
Proverbs 26 says, “I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.” This is a pretty accurate picture of the typical mind of a person in the modern world – untidy and overgrown. How do we cut back on distraction and weed unwanted passions? Meditation is a critical means of soul-gardening.
5 – Meditation Stabilizes the Heart to Endure Affliction
Psalm 1 tells us there are two types of people: leaves and trees. How do you become a tree? The answer is simple: meditate on the Word of God.
6 – Meditation Is the Bellows of Affections
Books on wealth creation advise entrepreneurs to meditate on money. Books on sports psychology tell athletes to meditate on success in competitions. Why is such advice so common? One of the basic principles of human psychology is that vision equals passion. The more we meditate on an object of love, the more love we will have for an object of meditation.
To meditate on anything is like rubbing cold hands on a frosty morning. Do you want to love Jesus more passionately? Meditate on him more frequently.
7 – Meditation Is Oil for the Lamp of Prayer
Elijah and Elisha both performed miracles involving flasks of oil. Through both of their ministries, bottles that should have run dry instead kept flowing from hidden fullness.
Does your heart feel dry and empty when you try to pray? Do you quickly run out of things to say? Intersperse meditation and prayer. When we meditate, we refill the vessel of the heart so that, turning back to prayer, our heart is filled – not just with words – but affection.
8 – Meditation Is the Cure of Sinful Passions
Sin is attractive because it has a superficial beauty and counterfeit goodness. How do you take the shine off of sin? The answer is by meditating on what is truly beautiful and authentically good. Jesus says, “If the eye is good, the whole body will be full of light.” Meditation is how we purify the eye of the heart.
9 – Meditation Fastens Truth to the Mind
Thomas Watson, another great Puritan, says, “Without meditation, the truths of God will not stay with us. The heart is hard, and the memory slippery—and without meditation all is lost! Meditation imprints and fastens a truth in the mind. Serious meditation is like the engraving of letters in gold or marble which endures.”
10 – Sometimes Meditation Results in Special Communion with Jesus
Bernard of Clairvaux, in his great commentary on Song of Songs, says, “O saint, know you not that your husband Christ is bashful, and will not be affectionate in company, retire yourself by meditation into the closet, or the field, and there you shall have Christ’s embraces.” What further incentive do we need to take time for meditation? Do you love Christ? Meditate on him and you just might find yourself caught up in his arms.
By Joe Barnard
