The Benefits of Meditation
Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Joshua 1:8
Biblical meditation is not an empty mind type of meditation but requires thinking deeply, pondering, and contemplating. Meditation on God and scripture involves both mind and heart. Meditation brings us closer to God, puts us in the spirit, and is an escape from the world. Biblical meditation not only helps us grow spiritually but has a positive influence on our mental and physical health.
Meditation brings us closer to the Lord and will give us a better understanding of scripture. It can increase our faith because God reveals his perfect love and his infinite power. God will get bigger in our eyes and we begin to understand we are not God and we cannot create the blessings that He desires to give us.
Meditation helps us to relax and escape our worldly thoughts and move us into the spiritual world with our Lord. When our thoughts and hearts are in the spiritual world we will find divine peace and relaxation. For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. (Proverbs 23:7)
Meditating on God and his Word has a divine effect or our mental and physical health. The following is from the book, “The God Shaped Brain,” by Dr. Timothy Jennings, “Recent brain research by Dr. Newberg at the University of Pennsylvania has documented that all forms of contemplative meditation were associated with positive brain changes – but the greatest improvements occurred when participates meditated specifically on a God of love. Such meditation was associated with growth in the prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain right behind our forehead where we reason, make judgments and experience Godlike love) and subsequent increased capacity for empathy, sympathy, compassion, and altruism. But here’s the astonishing part. Not only does other-centered love increase when we worship a God of love, but sharp thinking and memory improve as well. In other words, worshipping a God of love actually stimulates the brain to heal and grow.” Science has shown that our thoughts have a significant influence on our mental and physical health.
If we are not conscious of our thoughts, our minds may constantly run free. God has given us the power to control our thoughts and emotions, and meditation is a great way in which to learn to achieve this control. The more we meditate the better we become at escaping the world and moving into the spirit, controlling our thoughts as we focus on the Lord and his love.
Learning to meditate with deep focus on God and his Word takes time and effort. However, if we pray for God’s help to move into the Spiritual world and continue to strive for it, the Lord’s divine power will make it happen.
Today schedule a time to meditate on God and His Word. Pray for the Lord’s help to deeply meditate. If you have never meditated, schedule about fifteen minutes to do so. Choose a scripture beforehand and think about the scripture during the day. During the time you have set apart seek to be closer to the Lord.
Let’s Pray: Lord, help me to escape this world and meditate on your love. May I reap peace and relaxation. Give me insight and deep meaning of your Word so I can bring your Word to the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen