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Should Christians Meditate?
Bible study on meditation.

At first thought, meditation is something that we may believe is reserved for strange, far-out cult members. But, Christians are to spend time in meditation. The meditation of Christians is much different than cult meditation which may use a mantra. Webster defines meditate as "1: to focus ones thoughts on: reflection or ponder over 2: to plan or project in the mind ... : to engage in contemplation or reflection." The greek word logizomai is translated various ways, but is translated meditate (NKJ) and think (KJ) in Phil. 4:8. Vines says of logizomai in Phil. 4:8 "it signifies 'make those things the subject of your thoughtful consideration,' or 'carefully reflect on them.'"

Paul exhorts brethren to carefully consider, reflect, ponder, meditate on those things which are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy. He says: "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, what ever things are lovely, what ever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things" (Phil. 4:8). In other words, Christians are to immerse their thoughts in everything that is good and spiritual in the Lord.

Meditation upon spiritual things has become increasing difficult in a society bombarded with radio and television. With the onslaught of multi-media, our minds are being filled with thoughts of worldly pursuits and desires. So, unless we are attentive to our personal spiritual needs, we will be overtaken by worldly thoughts with all absence of spiritual thoughts.

Christians must create opportunities to spend time meditating (thinking) on spiritual things. Frankly, Christians must remove their "mind-set" and desires from earth and place them in heaven. Paul exhorts the Colossian brethren in this way: "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornicating, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry" (Col. 3:1-5).

We are in a society that is increasingly promoting immorality. It is not going to become easier to live a life focused upon heaven. We must wake up every morning and "put to death" our members in preparation to face an immoral, worldly, lustful, and licentious world. Paul tells us how he dealt with the cares of the flesh - even life and death. In I Cor. 15:31 Paul says: "I die daily." Are we, as Christians, dying daily?

One may die daily by spending time in prayer and meditation. In order for us to have peaceable, quite time in our lives wherein we can have time for prayer and meditation, we must schedule our time. There are many things in life fighting for our attention. We must take control of our schedules so that we have time to meet our needs as a Christian. Because, the world will fill our schedules with things of the world unless we make a concentrated effort to fill our minds with heaven.

We must take individual responsibility for what we are doing with our lives. If life's pace is too quick to spend time with God each day, we must make changes in our lives. Furthermore, if we allow the world to control our thoughts and daily physical life, we will see the absence of God in our lives as we seek the world over heaven.

As for those days when nothing seems to go as planned, we can only plan for another day knowing that things usually work themselves out in a fashion to include time with God in prayer and meditation. But, if a lack of time with God is the rule rather than the exception, we need to change the rules.