November 4: What Meditation Actually Means
Step Eleven says prayer and meditation. Most people know what prayer is. But what does meditation mean for a Christian?
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
The word “meditation” makes some people nervous. It sounds like sitting cross-legged and trying to think about nothing. That’s not what the Bible means by it.
In Scripture, meditating means chewing on something. Turning it over slowly. The Hebrew word has the sense of murmuring or muttering, like someone quietly repeating words to themselves until they sink in. It’s not emptying your mind. It’s filling it, slowly and deeply, with what God has said.
Psalm 1 paints a picture of the person who does this. They delight in God’s law and meditate on it day and night. And they become like a tree planted by streams of water. It bears fruit in season. Its leaves don’t wither. Notice that the tree doesn’t strain or work hard. It’s just planted in the right place, with its roots near the water. The fruit comes naturally.
That’s a helpful picture for recovery. You can’t force yourself into peace or patience. But you can plant yourself near the water. You can put your roots down in God’s Word, a little each day, and let it do its slow work.
Here’s a simple way to start. Pick one short verse. Maybe the one above. Read it slowly, three or four times. Then pick one word or phrase that stands out. Sit with it. Ask what it says about God. Ask what it says about you. Ask what it might mean for today. Then carry that one phrase with you. Say it under your breath while you drive or wait in line.
That’s meditation. It doesn’t need candles or special breathing. It needs a few quiet minutes and a willing heart.
Over time, those phrases add up. You’ll find them coming back to you at just the right moments. During a craving. In an argument. Lying awake at night. That’s the stream feeding the roots.
One thing today
Choose one phrase from today’s verse. Write it on a card or in your phone. Read it at least five times today, slowly, and ask God what He’s saying through it.
A prayer
Lord, plant me by Your streams. Teach me to slow down with Your Word and let it sink in. Grow something good in me that I couldn’t grow on my own. Amen.
Meditation is the second half of Step Eleven.
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