Build Up Your Mind with Biblical Meditation
Like the body, and other areas of life, the mind needs to be build up intentionally
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This week we’re going back to the incredibly important topic of biblical meditation. Last week we looked at how us “letting go” of God’s job increases our faith and life. This week is about grabbing hold of things in a crucial and transformative way—the development of our minds (and faith). I’ve written about meditation before, but this presents things from another angle, and with an improved structure.
And, I often link a Plesson to some current events, but meditation applies to everything you might be dealing with. On the flip side, it’s about putting peripheral events to the side, and building up our life.
(Finally, the new website development continues. More on that later.)
As usual, see the Bible References & Commentary at the bottom.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates (hagah: to mutter, speak, study, talk) day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:2-3 (NKJV) (my added Hebrew notes)
It’s like free “mind surgery,” with God, and with time and effort being the main costs. What if we thought of transforming our minds like we think of transforming our bodies or our finances, with planned goals, routines, and tracking? We prioritize many parts of our life, but how do we manage our minds?
(1) Overview
(1-A) The mind can be worked out also
Do you read the Bible, listen to teachings, and read books, but still have substantial negative thoughts and feelings? People are very familiar with the principle of working out our bodies, but how often do you think of this practice as it pertains to your mind and spirit? And isn’t the mind even more important than the body, because it drives everything? Here, take a step towards a mind transformation that can positively impact everything in your life.
The practice of meditation could be given much more emphasis in teachings, and in the church in general. We know about it, and many people refer to it as foundational part of the faith walk as something important we do while reading and studying the Bible. But there could be more detailed and even quantified instruction about meditation, and about the importance of speaking the Word more broadly.
(1-B) The non-invasive “surgery” of hagah
Meditation is a central biblical practice that enables people to think and live according to the Word, and stay close to God. Hagah is a well-known word and teaching in the Old Testament, and it means to get God’s Word in you by speaking it on repeat, like in a mutter, as you declare it and believe it. In Psalm 1, we see how meditating (hagah) “day and night,” on God’s law, leads to good success in everything. The “day and night” is a poetic way to say continually or constantly, and law, for us, can be thought of as instruction or ways. In the New Testament, hagah has been supplanted by other Greek words for mind renewal, and the New Covenant emphasizes renewal through relationship. But we are meant to be constantly renewing and guarding our minds, with the help of the Holy Spirit. (See the Bible commentary at the bottom for more on the New Testament meditation words.)
Let me suggest that if the church was more aware and intentional about practicing hagah meditation, we would see a widespread transformation and a substantial decrease in all sorts of negative psychological issues. I speak from the experience of having overcome almost half a lifetime of deep anxiety, with the Word of God, revelation from God, and a speaking routine. It’s like free “mind surgery,” with God, and with time and effort being the main costs. What if we thought of transforming our minds like we think of transforming our bodies or our finances, with planned goals, routines, and tracking? We prioritize many parts of our life, but how do we manage our minds?
(1-C) Taking the next step intentionally
You might read all this and think, “Ok, but where do I start?”. Psalm 1 speaks in generalities, and the Bible doesn’t speak directly into my situation and my specific negative thoughts? You might have many of issues to deal with, like many people do, and not know how to apply Scripture to precisely what you need. For example, you might need to fully let go of something in the past that keeps pulling on you, or believe for a certain business success, or help your child tackle this crazy world with wisdom. How can we align the many complex modern needs to a regular constant meditation practice?
Well, there is a lot to getting biblical meditation right, but my goal here is to help you take a step towards being more intentional about it. Success with biblical meditation depends on knowing what you need in the Word, having an understanding and even revelation about it, spending enough time with it, making the choice to truly believe it, following the Holy Spirit, and then walking out what you’re speaking. But here, in this Plesson, try taking a step with the following:
Identify the key mind transformation you would like. Pray and try to get guidance or confirmation from God, as necessary.
Research which Scripture applies to it, and learn about those Scriptures. Pray and get revelation. This is a crucial part that comes from God and our relationship with Him.
Set aside ample time each day to speak those Scriptures, and do it for at least a week. Ten to fifteen minutes a day is the bare minimum.
As you speak, listen to the Holy Spirit, see what resonates, and focus on that.
Remember the meditation throughout the day, and speak or “whisper it” whenever you can, especially during situations that need it.
(2) Experience
(2-A) Imagine the possibilities
Let me again suggest that if more people understood how biblical meditation could transform their mind, and did it well, they could take a great deal more territory in life. It is emphasized by teachers, ministers, and prophets to some degree, but it’s often a simple, “meditate on the Word” instruction, with little else about the how. I’ve heard about a number of high-profile and amazing people of God who, for example, still struggle with depression. But I’m here to tell you that this depression and much more can be removed by effectively “rewiring” the mind with biblical meditation.
Meditating on the Word transforms life, because the Word transforms life. It changes our mind “back” to what God says about us, and about what is true, period. And it changes us so that we can interact with God more, receive more from Him, and do more for Him. Psychology has shown how effective Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is, and modern studies in neuroplasticity are amazing. But the Bible has taught this for millennia. And biblical meditation doesn’t just marginally improve life, like CBT, but heals thoroughly, and connects us to God.
(2-B) Considering what we consume
Maybe you’re a person who reads the Bible regularly, listens to it in an app, watches teaching videos, or reads Christian books. You care deeply about God, the Kingdom of God, and your life success. But within all that, how much do you devote to speaking the Scriptures you need on repeat, with the help of the Holy Spirit, for an extended period of time, daily? Have you considered the results of shifting some of the time spent learning knowledge, to speaking the knowledge so that it gets deep into your soul and spirit?
Think about the basic experience of listening to a teaching video, reading a book, or even simply reading the Bible, versus the practice of actually getting a cruicial piece of truth deep into yourself. We are constantly consuming knowledge, whether it be for work, on social media, or in conversations. But how often do we direct the best knowledge to actually get into us for the long term. And how often do we seek out and prioritize that knowledge intentionally?
(2-C) Choosing the right knowledge
We still obviously need a lot of knowledge from all these sources. Professional and personal success depends on it. And “underneath” that is the biblical knowledge, understanding and wisdom that determines how we select and process the secular. All that feeds into the many Scriptures we’re living by and meditating on. So knowledge, understanding, and wisdom are very important, with wisdom at the top.
But, that being said, let’s be judicious with our time, and with what enters and becomes a part of us. How much of our daily diet is composed of knowledge and chatter that doesn’t have much benefit, or even harms us? Conversely, what content is actually benefiting us, and are we activelly getting it into our minds, so that it stays there long-term? We are what we eat. That applies to the mind and spirit, as well as the body.
(3) Application
Work out your mind with the these questions and connect all this to your life. And I invite you to email your answers to plaitra@substack.com for a review and discussion (that’s part of Section 4, 5, and 6).
(3-A) What’s your desire?
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