Many 'techniques' have risen to help people along the path of daily sanctification by learning how to pray and worship, which has resulted in something called contemplative spirituality, also known as meditation, centering, or listening prayer, using imagination and visualization.
Since the first century, every Born-Again Christian has a desire to draw closer to God through prayer and worship because the Holy Spirit occupies their spirit, mind, and body. Prayer is part of the daily sanctification process by the Holy Spirit to prepare us to meet Jesus face-to-face when we leave this world and enter eternity (John 16:13-15; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:16-21).
DICTIONARY DEFINITION
The English word 'meditate' is used as both a transitive and intransitive verb. The transitive verb means to focus one's mind and reflect on or ponder over something, to plan or project in the mind: intend, purpose. The intransitive verb means to engage in contemplation, reflection, or mental exercise (such as concentration on one's breathing or repetition of a mantra) to reach a heightened level of spiritual awareness (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/meditate).
BIBLICAL DEFINITION
"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who MEDITATES on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers." (Psalm 1:1-3 NIV – emphasis mine)
"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." (Joshua 1:8 NIV – emphasis mine)
The Hebrew word 'hagah' is translated as "meditate[s]" in the verses cited and is used 25 times in the Old Testament. It means to moan, growl, utter, speak. It is an onomatopoetic term that reflects the moaning, sighing, and low sounds a person may make while observing, studying, or thinking/contemplating deeply about something. The word is also used for expressing the "growl" of lions and the "mourning" of doves (Isaiah 31:4;38:14). When the word is used in the sense of "to mourn," it emphasizes the sorrowful sounds of mourning.
"Command and teach these things. Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and teaching. Please do not neglect your gift, which was given to you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be DILIGENT in these matters; give yourself wholly to them so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." (1 Timothy 4:11-16 NIV – emphasis mine)
The Greek word translated as "diligent/meditation" is 'meletao' and is found only twice in the New Testament. It means to care for, attend to study, plan, practice, and be diligent (1 Timothy 4:15; Acts 4:25). We are to fix our eyes and thoughts on everything that pertains to the truth about the things of the Spirit. It does not mean to mystically introspect and contemplate your navel or go on prayer walks around a labyrinth, etc. It is the polar opposite of the word 'imagining.'
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, THINK about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me - practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:8-9 ESV – emphasis mine)
The word "think" (Gk: 'logízomai') is where we get the word 'logic' from and means to take into account by reason and come to a logical conclusion. It has nothing to do with the imagination, which can lead to greed, lust, covetousness, jealousy, etc., and result in physical or spiritual harm (Ecclesiastes 12:14).
"But make up your mind not to worry BEFOREHAND how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict." (Luke 21:14-25 NIV – emphasis mine)
Jesus instructed the disciples not to "worry beforehand" or premeditate (Gk: 'promeletaóin') but to prepare a defense like in a courtroom to answer their adversaries when the end of the age comes.
Some have taken the word 'meditate' to mean it is the repetitious act of calling to mind life experiences, pondering upon them, and then applying Scripture verses so that they can produce confidence in God by contemplating His works in their life and His great spiritual truths as an act of worship in the hope they please Him (Psalm 19:14;63:6; 77:12;104:34; 119:15,23,27,48,78,97,148;143:5).
TYPES OF MEDITATION
Since the beginning of time, meditation has evolved into many modern approaches. It is recognized as a tool for relieving stress, anxiety, and chronic pain, as well as reducing blood pressure. It has also been shown to enhance immune function, ease depression, and alleviate sleep problems in people of varying ages. There are many different meditation techniques in the world. There are a few that remain popular today.
Compassion: This involves silently repeating specific phrases that express the intention to move from judgment to caring and understanding, from personal isolation to a greater connection with others. It involves learning to look at things in another way with the goal of generating feelings of kindness and compassion toward all beings.
Mindfulness: This involves developing mental quietness, conscious awareness, and non-judgmental acceptance of living in the present moment — often by focusing on breathing while letting one's mind run free.
Moving: This involves different forms of movement, such as breathing, visualization, or other ways of focusing the mind through physical exertion. It often combines elements of meditation, relaxation, breathing exercises, and physical movement found in Tai Chi, Yoga, Qigong (a Chinese practice of aligning breath, awareness, and posture), and even walking.
Transcendental: This is also known as "mantra meditation." It involves repeating a 'spiritual' word or phrase to focus your mind and achieve a deep state of relaxation. The goal is to achieve a state of internal stillness and higher consciousness.
Visualization: This a practice rooted in Buddhism, which involves focusing on an image that makes you feel relaxed and requires a great deal of concentration.
Zen: This is a sitting meditation that involves cultivating the art of mental quietness by focusing all of one's attention on a single object so that a person can clear their mind and think about nothing so that they can get in touch with their true nature and understand their true purpose.
These certainly sound harmless and somewhat innocuous. Sadly, these practices have permeated the church under the guise of growing in intimacy with Jesus. It has been said that the mind is the devil's playground because the "mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:6 NIV). The Bible implores us not to:
"conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. are It has been said that the mind is the devils playground" (Romans 12:2 NIV).
PRACTICING CHRISTIAN MEDITATION
Since becoming a Born-Again Christian many moons ago, I have continued to yearn for deeper intimacy with God every day. Twenty-four years ago, I had a profound supernatural experience with Jesus that changed everything. I started reading the writings of multiple Christians who were known as 'mystics' to see if they had similar experiences as well as to understand how and why they became one. It was an eye and heart-opening experience (NOTE: I do not recommend that someone young in the Lord and or those who do not have a solid biblical foundation read them).
The practice of Christian meditation expanded dramatically within the Roman Catholic Church through the 11th to 18th century, morphing into an intense heterodox mystical movement. The church fought back with legislation that restricted the communities of those who practiced contemplative/mystical prayer because it tended to promote a type of perfectionism that focused on mental and physical self-annihilation so that the soul could be absorbed into the Divine Essence during one's life on Earth. The Roman Catholic church ultimately condemned the teachings because there were many differences in essential and fundamental beliefs, style, and emphasis among the various mystics, and they even put some to death for heresy.
One of the systems of mystical contemplation that was practiced in the past and has continued into the present is known as Quietism, which has roots in the eastern religions of Hinduism and Buddhism. The focus of Quietism is to 'quiet' the soul so that it can become one with God through silent contemplation, stillness, and passiveness over positive action, singing, and praying out loud so that a person can ultimately achieve a sinless state of spiritual peace and perfection by subduing the will and becoming spiritually passive. Quietism is currently seen in the practice of soaking, centering, and listening prayer for a 'Rhema' word of God.
There is a teaching in the church today that the Greek word ‘rhema’ is exclusively the 'right now' spoken Word 'from' God (Holy Spirit) to people today to personally lead them, and the Greek word ‘logos’ is exclusively God's general written Word as we have in the Bible for direction. This belief is being used to validate and justify teaching that is contrary to traditional orthodox Christianity. A simple word study of the original Greek language used in the New Testament quickly reveals that there is no major difference between the words ‘rhema’ and ‘logos.’ The words are used interchangeably in the Bible because they irrefutably mean the same thing and are not subtle differences from each other.
LECTIO DIVINA
Another form of mystical contemplation that is regaining interest in the Church is known as Lectio Divina, which is Latin for divine/spiritual/holy reading that is intended to promote communion with God and to provide 'special' spiritual insights. The adherents to Lectio Divina recommend that a person or entire congregation read an individual or several different Bible verse(s) slowly, either out loud in individual prayer time or in unison in the Church. At first thought, that seems ok. However, Lectio Divina teaches that the verse(s) themselves are not as important as contemplating each verse of the reading while listening for the 'still, small voice' of a word or phrase that somehow speaks to the person.
Lectio Divina is a pursuit of mystical experience with God. It is another variant of the ancient heresy of Gnosticism, which attacks the sufficiency of the Bible, which implores us to read and study it to pursue knowledge of God, wisdom, and holiness through the objective meaning of the text to transform the mind according to truth (2 Timothy 3:16).
The Bible says to desire peace and quietness as we wait upon the Lord because they are signs and the fruit of a healthy spiritual life (Galatians 5:21; see also Psalm 31:24; 33:20; 37:7; 131:2). What must be remembered is that the Bible never promotes the idea of the human soul being absorbed INTO God but rather to communicate WITH Him. There is nothing we can do to irradicate the sin nature within us. Jesus paid for the forgiveness of our sins positionally so that we can spend eternity with Him, starting right now! We still retain our sinful nature, and it is the Holy Spirit that deals with our daily sin condition. In this life, we are saved sinners but sinners nonetheless. The Bible tells us that a sinless state of perfection is not attainable in this world (1 John 1:8). We are justified by faith in Jesus alone and are positionally sanctified by His Word (John 17:17; Romans 5:1; Hebrews 10:10,14).
The Bible implores us to deliberately, intensely, diligently, earnestly, and perpetually study it and seriously think about and contemplate what it says and how it applies to the worship of God and living our lives as a reflection of Him (Psalm 1:2; 119:97). When we do this our affections for God increase exponentially and we enjoy His peace and presence and experience the taste of Heaven, which results in living a life of holiness before Him and we thereby experience a foretaste of eternal glory (Psalm 73:25,26;119:59-60; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Philippians 4:6-7). In addition, it has positive effects on our mental and physical health.
JESUS IS THE SOURCE OF ALL SPIRITUAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL HEALING
In addition to the spiritual benefits of meditative worship and prayer, as discussed, there are also physiological benefits. It can lead to structural changes in the parts of the brain that are involved in learning and memory, regulating emotions and stress response, resulting in improved brain health and positive changes in both neuroendocrine functioning and the autonomic nervous system that is associated with body functions such as the heartbeat and digestion. There is also research that shows that the rate of cellular aging can be slowed down by preserving the length of telomeres (protective "caps" at the ends of chromosomes), which are markers of aging.
When Jesus healed people, He did so by the touch of His hand. He did not ask them to meditate, visualize, or imagine themselves whole. In fact, when the devil tempted Him during His 40 days in the desert, He took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him (i.e., had Him visualize) what could be His if He would only bow down and worship him. Jesus responded: "Be gone, satan! For it is written, " 'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'"
When meditating on the Word of God, a person cannot imagine what a word or verse in the Bible means. The only way to study the Scriptures is to understand the grammatical and historical context. There is a difference between interpretation and definition. The words in a verse can only mean what the original author intended them to mean. The Holy Spirit will illuminate the Word so that it may seem fresh, but there is no new or 'fresh revelation.' A text out of context is a pretext for a proof text to twist God's Word.
The Bible implores us to take no thought about tomorrow and to cast ALL our "cares" upon Jesus and then walk away rather than trying to use the imagination to 'visualize' things under His power and control (See Matthew 6:34; 1 Peter 5:7). God does not give His power through the imagination or positive 'visualization.'
Non-biblical meditation, imaging, and visualization techniques have been regularly used for thousands of years in the Occult and Eastern metaphysical religions that predate Judaism. The Bible speaks out powerfully against all practices of the Occult. These techniques were not stolen from the church by the devil. Quite to the contrary, they have invaded the church and, sadly, have been received with open arms. God warns us about following after mediums, wizards, enchanters, charmers, and those who have a familiar spirit (See Deuteronomy 18:9-14, Leviticus 19:26),
Using worldly techniques to try and connect with God is a lack of trust. When people think they can shape a future reality through their imagination, they use a demonic practice, not faith. Worry, concern, and continually thinking about, or dwelling on, the past and the future is practical atheism. God gives every Christian exactly 86,400 opportunities a day to learn to trust Him because that is how many seconds there are in 24 hours!
HOW TO BEGIN
There are some straightforward steps to grow in intimate communion with Jesus through prayer and worship. Self-examination should always precede prayer, yet Jesus desires to replace you as the examiner of your heart. The "sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings" and focus like a laser beam on those areas that need to be dealt with (Malachi 4:2 NIV). His love will hold you and give you the strength to endure the pain of spiritual surgery as He cuts out the cancerous tumors of self. Then, when you "take refuge in the shelter" of His wings, He will make you "dwell in safety" (Psalm 4:8; 61:4 NIV).
1. Have a Humble and Teachable Heart
"God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." (James 4:6 NIV)
You must have an open, humble attitude before God, allowing Him to shed greater light on your thoughts and ways and enable Him to alter them as He sees fit (2 Peter 1:19).
2. Have a Repentant Heart
"Produce fruit in keeping with repentance." (Matthew 3:8 NIV)
"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Corinthians 5:18 NIV)
Repentance is more about turning to God and less about turning from sin. If there is active sin or unreconciled relationships in your life, you must repent and be reconciled.
Since receiving divine revelation is at the heart of biblical meditation, you must prepare yourself to receive from THE Holy Spirit by repenting and being cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. You must be obedient to previous disclosures from God and confess any sin in your life so you are not cut off from ongoing revelation (Isaiah 59:1-2; Matthew 7:6; 1 John 1:9).
3. Present Your Spirit, Mind, and Body to Jesus
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." (Romans 12:1 NIV)
4. Allow the Holy Spirit to Transform You
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2 NIV)
Transformation is done primarily through the power of God's Word in your heart by the Holy Spirit.
5. Pray that Your Heart be Enlightened as You Read God's Word
"I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people and his incomparably great power for us who believe. (Ephesians 1:16-19a NIV)
Read the Bible as if it were a love letter from the one who loves you – because it is! Slow down as you read, reflecting on the words in context over and over in your heart and mind, praying constantly for God to give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (Ephesians 1:17).
6. Pray Continually
"…pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV).
There is no greater place to be than in the presence of the Lord. His love is "better than life." The glory and majesty of God will fill the heart with thanksgiving and the lips with praise (Psalm 63:3-4). The aroma of His love will cause a yearning for deep, intimate time with Him.
7. Give Thanks to God and Rejoice Always
"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:17 NIV)
"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16 NIV)
Thankfulness is the vehicle that moves a person into His presence as they enter His "gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise" (Psalm 100:4 NIV).
CONCLUSION
A person who desires to know the one true God must come to Him by faith through Jesus Christ and not by trusting in their inner vision or by an alleged mystical union with some abstract impersonal concept of the divine (John 17:2-3; Colossians 1:15-20; 2:9; Hebrews 11:6; 1 Peter 2:24).
There is no verse in the Bible where God speaks to people through imagination or illusions. He speaks to them through the conscious, rational mind. Most experts in the field of Hypnosis agree that directing a person to become introspectively deep in thought is the ideal way to casually place hypnotic suggestions into their mind and easily carry them into a trance without them knowing it is happening.
"What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'" (Mark 7:20-23 KJV)
The Bible does not tell us anywhere that we need the imagination to live in the world or mediate on God's Word, which is not here to rekindle our imagination so that we can worship God in spirit and truth. The Bible does not tell us to use our imagination to worship God or read His written Word, nor does it tell us to go to a place where the world is in pain, imagine the love of God there, and then express our imagination in art, music, silence, poetry, literature, etc.
Nowhere in the Bible did Jesus, the Disciples, or any person practice meditation, imagination, visualization, or spiritual contemplation techniques. Meditative and contemplative spirituality is deceptive and dangerous because it comprises fallen humans conjuring up techniques to draw closer to God. True prayer is a conversation with God and is not silent beyond words or thoughts. It does not need meditative visualization to do away with the 'false self' or trigger a transformation of consciousness or an awakening. It is the fundamental element of our relationship with Him.
The ultimate goal of prayer is to have intimate union and dialogue with the Triune God. Prayer is the application of the heart to Him and the eternal exercise of love. It is a dialogue with Him and an act of worship, the communion of the soul with God – spirit with Spirit - the saved with the Savior. It is both wrestling with Him and resting peacefully in His arms.
The Bible teaches us that meditating and reflecting on God's Word as you think over what you have read and letting it wash through you are the correct ways of learning and understanding. Using your mind is not a barrier to understanding God or His Word.
The Bible does not teach that prayer is a technique or a way to go beyond thinking. It provides everything needed to know about God, understand His ways, and how we live. It does not teach us to use imagination to worship Him or visualize the healing of memories, the body, and mind, or for spiritual growth. Instead, we are called to be renewed daily by the Holy Spirit through prayer and reading/studying God's Word, the Bible. When a person practices 'techniques' to seek after a special revelation from God, they bypass what He has already revealed in the Bible.
"The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." (Psalm 19:7-14 ESV)
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15 ESV)
