Question 1

On what should my meditation be focused?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 63:6I lie awake thinking of you [God], meditating on you through the night.An important aspect of meditation involves focusing on God and his character.

Question 2

How can meditating help me in my spiritual walk?

Accepted Answer

Deuteronomy 6:5-9“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”Moses reminded the people to remember God’s Word every day and tell family and friends of God’s past help and blessings. Each day would then strengthen, not dim, their love and commitment to God, encouraging them to be even more faithful to obey him. When we meditate on God’s Word, we remember who he is and what he has done. We remember him as the one who helps us fight and win our life battles. We should remember God first thing in the morning and fall asleep with him on our minds. We should meditate on God as the source of the hope we think we have lost. We should think about him with a thankful heart when we have plenty, for we will need him when we have little. We should meditate on him and his great love for us. We should weave him into the fabric of our lives, so we, our children, and our grandchildren will be trained to love God with grateful hearts from their earliest days. Then our spiritual walk will be strong and focused.

Question 3

How do I meditate? What is involved?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 62:1, 5I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. . . . Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.Meditation involves thinking about God quietly and intently, spending time in conversation with him, confident that God will hear us and that we will hear him.Psalm 1:2They [Godly people] delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.Meditation involves taking the time to read God’s Word and to consider it. He often speaks to our hearts as we read the words he has written for us.Psalm 16:7I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me.Meditation involves setting aside time to seek God’s guidance and instruction.Matthew 6:6-8“But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!”Romans 8:26The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.We can speak with God as we meditate on him, but we don’t need to worry about how well we speak. Prayer is not for show—it is a time of vulnerable trust. God knows our needs; and when we don’t have the words to express what we are trying to say, his Holy Spirit will express them for us.Psalm 143:5I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done.Meditation involves reflecting on God’s past blessings and thanking him. Expressing gratitude shows our appreciation for what God has done for us.

Question 4

What should I think about when I meditate?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 48:9O God, we meditate on your unfailing love as we worship in your Temple.When meditating, we can think about God’s unfailing love.Psalm 77:11-12Then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.When meditating, we can think about all God has done for us.Psalm 145:5I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles.When meditating, we can think about God’s majestic, glorious splendor and praise him for it.Romans 8:5Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.When meditating, we can think about the Holy Spirit, what pleases him, and how we can allow ourselves to be used by him.Philippians 4:8Now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.When meditating, we can think about good things that reflect God’s character.Psalm 119:97-100Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide. Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your laws. I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments.When meditating, we can think about God’s Word and all the wisdom it holds for our lives.