How to Meditate as a Christian (with Scriptures on Wisdom & Guidance)

Do you want to experience inner peace through a deep connection with God?  You can achieve this through Christian meditation.  This article will show you how to meditate so you can grow closer to God, gain wisdom and direction for your life, and receive help in following the Lord wholeheartedly.  

Read on for a list of powerful Bible passages that can fill your heart and transform your mind.

Colossians 3:2 says, "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."  God tells us throughout the Bible that the way to go about this is to read, meditate on, pray through, and live out the law of the Lord.  I love how Psalm 1 beautifully describes the way meditating day and night causes believers to thrive:

"He is like a tree
    planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
    and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers."

Psalm 1:3

Through meditation, God's Word will have greater impact in your life.  You will be able to hear the voice of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, so you can receive the abundant life He has for you (Jn. 10:1-18).  You will connect deeply with God's love, experience the joy of the Lord, know how to pray according to His best for you (Jn. 15:7-11), and see the fruits of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23) - in your life.

Are you interested in trying Christian meditation but unsure how to go about it? 

It is important to differentiate between Christian versus non-Christian meditation.  Godly meditation is about filling your mind with the Word of God, while the pagan form is about emptying your mind.  There is a clear warning in Scripture (Lk. 11:24:26) that those who rid themselves of harmful spirits but do not replace them with the Holy Spirit and God's Word leave themselves vulnerable to having their swept-clean minds filled with a greater number of wicked spirits.

Now what?  To get started, here are a few tips:

• Take your Bible and go to a place where you can be free from distractions.
• Bring pen and paper to make a note of anything important impressed upon you by the Holy Spirit, journal, or write out a prayer to the Lord.
• Keep supplies in a particular area of your home that works well for quiet time with God - then, as you go about the day, you will be reminded to spend time with the Lord each time you see it.
• Try beginning with the Bible passages below which will be especially powerful if you are looking for direction in your life. 
• For each reading, I've included the reference where you can read them in context.  By doing so, you will gain more insight and encouragement.
• Meditate on the entire passage (links provided) rather than just the short excerpts included in this article.     
• As you read a passage, pause and spend focused time on anything that stands out to you.
•  Consider personal application of the Scripture.
• Pray - asking the Holy Spirit to reveal what He wants to show you, and help you incorporate it into your life.
• Use a handheld Bible.  Research indicates that reading physical books increases comprehension by six to eight times¹. 
• Highlight or underline portions and make notes next to the verses so you can refer back to them for years to come.
• Memorize Scripture so you can meditate throughout the day. 
• Don't get bogged down by expecting yourself to memorize passages word-for-word.  I'm terrible at this kind of Scripture memory!  Take it from me: reflecting on the main point or principle is effective too!

Meditations for Wisdom & Guidance

1. Psalm 1

Life is full of decisions, both big and small.  We have all exprienced the reality that our choices can have positive or negative outcomes.  Sometimes people get so caught up in evaluating their options that they get stuck and find it difficult to move forward (this is commonly called analysis paralysis).

If you've ever wanted help making healthy decisions, I have good news for you!  The Bible is overflowing with wisdom that is intended to direct your life.  Psalm 119:105 (ESV) says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

Psalm 1 shows the value of both meditation and wisdom.  Read the whole Psalm and you will see a stark contrast between those who seek to follow the law of the Lord and those who reject it.

This excerpt teaches that those who meditate on God's Word will be blessed:

"Blessed is the man
    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and on his law he meditates day and night." - Ps. 1:1-2

2.  Psalm 32

Psalm 32 begins with stressing the importance of confessing our sins.  If you have received Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord through His death on the cross to atone for your sins, then you have been forgiven and reconciled to God.  Yet, every day, as imperfect people, we sin.  Regular confession brings peace and increasing intimacy with God, empowering you to hear and follow God's guidance.

[If you are unsure if you have received Christ as your forgiver, Savior, and Lord, read this article:  How to Become a Christian in 2 Life-Saving Steps.]

Let David, the author of this Psalm, help you understand that there is no sin that cannot be forgiven.  In his poem, David reflected on God's restoration after he committed adultery and then killed the woman's husband in an effort to avoid the consequences of his sin.

Begin your meditation by asking God to show you anything you need to confess and ask for His forgiveness (Ps. 139:23-24).  Then you will be able to receive the wisdom He wants to impart. 

Here is a piece of Psalm 32:

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my eye upon you." - Ps. 32:8

3.  Proverbs 3

It is hard to follow God.  His ways go against our fleshly desires.  That is why it is so easy to decide on our own what is best and then justify our wrong decisions.  Along with showing how wise living brings deep inner peace and happiness, Proverbs 3 points out specific sins that bring destruction to healthy relationships. 

In today's culture, we are told to follow your heart.  While this may sound good on the surface, it overlooks the truth that the heart is deceitful (Jer. 17:9-10); therefore, it will lead us astray.  The comparison depicted in this Scripture between following God's direction and following our impulses makes it even more obvious that wisdom is priceless.

 Here is a snippet:

"Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
    and the one who gets understanding,
for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
    and her profit better than gold." - Pr. 3:13-14

4.  Proverbs 16

Proverbs 16 takes a deeper look at the principles explained in Proverbs 3.  Through an extensive list, it shows a massive disparity between godly and ungodly living.  Heeding the wisdom of God will produce righteousness. 

As you meditate on this Scripture, ask God to help you trust Him and commit your ways to Him.   

Here is a peak at the reading:

"The heart of man plans his way,
    but the Lord establishes his steps." - Pr. 16:9

5.  Matthew 7:15-29

Jesus warned of false prophets - those who appear to be teaching God's ways but , in actuality, are leading people astray.  His warning highlights the importance of reading the Bible.  Far too often, Christians listen to preachers and do not look into the Scriptures themselves to verify the truthfulness of what they are hearing.  A life built upon the teachings of man, rather than on God's Word, will fall apart. 

The Apostle Paul instructed, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Rom. 12:2).  

If you have found it daunting to read the Bible because of difficulty understanding or relating to it, uncertainty on what to read, or lack of time, energy, or interest, let me encourage you to take a step that will transform your life.  In this article:  5 Ways to Build a Relationship with God, you will find a table listing several Books of the Bible along with their general theme which can help you choose a personally meaning place to start.  Also, check out our 1-year reading plan on several apects of healthy living.

Here is a brief excerpt of Matthew 7:

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock."  - Mt. 7:24

6.  Luke 1

The beginning of Luke's gospel tells of three different people and how they responded to God's direction.  In reading the accounts of Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Mary, put yourself in their shoes and consider how you might have regarded God's message to you. 

Sometimes, life circumstance arise that are particularly difficult to put in God's hands.  Ask the Lord to reveal any areas in your life you are having a hard time entrusting to Him.  As you read the miraculous events in Luke 1, attune your heart and mind to the Holy Spirit so He can guide and encourage you to follow His direction even when it doesn't make human sense.

Here is a small portion:

"Because of the tender mercy of our God,
    whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
    to guide our feet into the way of peace.”  - Lk. 1:78-79

7.  John 14:15-31

After working alongside Jesus every day for three years, the disciples were struggling to accept that He would be leaving them soon.  They had to have experienced fear, sadness, confusion, and a myriad of other emotions.  They wondered about the future - how to continue following Jesus and spread His message without Him there to help.  Jesus told the disciples, "in the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33). 

As Christians, we too have been instructed to follow God through obedience to His law; and commissioned to share the gospel with unbelievers despite persecution.  The reading in John 14 will encourage you that the Holy Spirit will help you hear and follow God; and that nothing can outdo His power.  

Here is part of the passage:

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."  - Jn. 14:26

8.  John 16:1-15

Here again we see the disciples' sorrow as Jesus' last days are upon them.  He knew that they would be confronted with many difficulties (some would even be killed) as they lived out their faith; and He openly revealed this sad reality to them.  Knowing that they were overwhelmed and also ignorant of what their future held, Jesus told them that He was holding off on saying more because they were unable to hear it at the moment.  

There are times we are more ready to hear from the Lord.  As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us as we walk through times of uncertainty, loss, and persecution.  Let Jesus' words assure you that when you seek to hear the Spirit's leading, you will.

Here is a portion of the Scripture:

"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come."  - Jn. 16:13

9.  Ephesians 5:1-20

Paul's letter to the Ephesians makes it clear that faith in Jesus is the essential foundation upon which strong relationships are built.  This Scripture is a powerful reminder that if we are not careful, we can be deceived and follow paths of darkness that will be a barrier keeping us from an intimate connection with God, and will bring destruction to our inner-being, unity with believers, and effectiveness in being witnesses of Christ.   

Let this reading inspire you to align your life with God's law.

Here is a short verse:

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise"  - Eph. 5:15

10.  James 1

Living devotedly to God in an ungodly society is difficult.  Requirements at work and school to conform to popular beliefs, expectations from unbelieving family members to remain loyal to traditions, and accusations of being hateful from an increasingly perverse society are all examples of ways Christians can be urged to compromise their obedience to the Lord.

James, Jesus' brother, wrote to first-century Christians that were giving in to these pressures.  They were trading their genuine faith for assimilation to the culture around them.  James challenged them to take an honest look at their lives to see if their beliefs were resulting in works and righteous living.

James 1 will help you navigate temptations, determine the path of faith, and strengthen you to follow it.

Here is a passage from the chapter:

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."  - Jm. 1:5

11.  James 3:13-4:15

As his letter progressed, James became even more direct.  He urged Christians to evaluate the attitudes of their hearts to see if they are God-focused or self-focused.  He expounded by giving tangible examples of behavior that reveal intent.  Then, he admonised them to trust God with their everyday decisions and plans for the future.

This Scripture highlights the tendency of people to live pridefully rather than humbling themselves before God by listening to His direction and following it.  With strong language, it provides a clear picture of the differences between the lives of genuine Christ-followers and those who are playing a part.

Here is a preview:

"But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere."  - Jm. 3:17

12.  1 John 4

Sadly, churches sometimes teach unbiblical principles.  John made it clear that the litmus test to determine if someone is a true or false teacher is whether they acknowledge that Jesus Christ is God and is the only way to be saved from sin and reconciled to the Lord.

Without reading the Bible and listening to the Holy Spirit, it is impossible to test the spirits and determine truth.  Because the words of false spirits can be mistaken as a message from the Holy Spirit, it is essential to compare what you heard with what the Bible says.  God will never contradict His Word.  If you ever come across messages that don't agree, always hold to what Scripture says.  Sometimes people say they are confused when discrepancies arise because the feelings or impressions in their heart are so strong.  It is essential to remember that the heart is deceptive (Jer. 17:9), that Satan tries to confuse people (2 Cor. 11:3), and that God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor. 14:33).  

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world."  - 1 Jn. 4:1

Takeaway

There is an important reason God instructs Christians to meditate on His Word day and night.  He knows that if you are not connecting with Him daily you will stray and make destructive choices, leading to broken relationships and many other hardships.  Jesus "came that [you] may have life and have it abundantly."  By being in the Word you will learn to hear and follow Jesus.  Christian meditation will help you feel closer to God, thrive, personalize the Lord's messages to you, and empower you to live wisely.

More about meditation, reading the Bible, and prayer:

1. Christian Meditations to Gain Inner Strength (with Scriptures)
2. How to Read the Bible Using the S.O.A.P. Method
3. How to Connect Deeply with God: 7 Poignant Biblical Prayers
4. Learning How to Pray Using the Lord's Prayer (& an Easy Prayer Model)
5. Does Prayer Really Work? (10 Secrets to Effective Prayer)

Are you looking for a church? 

Check out these articles:

1. 3 Essential Beliefs All Christian Churches Share
2. 6 Tips for Choosing the Right Church for You
3. Which Christian Denomination is Right for Me? An Easy Comparison Guide

Are you looking for a church in the Concord, NH area?  We invite you to join us in-person or online.

 Grace Capital Church is located at 542 Pembroke Street in Pembroke, NH. 

Works Cited

1. Artushin, H.R. (2024, February 2). The Case for Paper: Books vs. E-Readers. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/well-read/202402/the-case-for-paper-books-vs-e-readers#:~:text=vocabulary%20and%20concepts.-,Research%20suggests%20that%20comprehension%20is%20six%20to%20eight%20times%20better,%2C%20L.%2C%202023). Accessed 9 Oct. 2024.