What DOES Meditate mean?

What does meditate really mean?

God has been showing me several verses about meditating lately, people have brought it up to me and I have heard a few sermons on in in the last week.  Today I decided to look up meditating and the significance of it.

When I hear the word meditate I always picture a monk, sitting indian style on the grass, deep in thought, thumbs and pointer fingers touching, each hand resting on his knees, eyes closed all while humming "Ummmmmmmmmm".  Or a woman standing in a really strange pose, with peaceful music playing, eyes closed (of course the eyes must be closed to meditate) and letting her mind clear.  This might be the worlds' (and my previous) idea of meditating, but this is not what God intended when He told us to meditate on His word.

Typically when I think of meditating, I believe it to mean to ponder or think upon a truth.  Do you know in God's word, when meditate is mentioned in the old testament, it is the greek word: "hagah".  Strongs Concordance defines hagah: to moan, growl, utter, speak, muse  Meditating isn't thinking the verse, it is saying the truth out loud.  


“Do not let this Book of the Law (book of teachings/instructions, the word of God) depart from your mouth; 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   Did you notice where God says the word is not supposed to depart?  Your thoughts?  Your writing? No!  It actually says your mouth.  I think we are on to something here.......

Something happens when a verse transfers from your mind to your mouth, I have witnessed first hand.  Last week I was having a few "off days", and I just felt drained of energy.  I was just starting to hear from God about meditating, to find a verse that applies to the situation I want to see a difference in and to say it over and over. God showed me a verse that I should study and repeat. “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.”  Romans 8:11  Every time I said the word of God something stirred in me, and guess what happened by the end of the day?  I was FULL of life and energy!  That was the turning point in my week, and it convinced me of the power of the spoken word.  It kind of makes sense though, God didn't think the world into existence, He spoke it!

So, I want to encourage you, whatever you are facing find a verse that combats it.  If you are feeling low on energy, find a verse on life, defeated.....victory,depressed... being lifted up, sick..healing, worry/anxiety....peace, guilt.....grace of God.  Now, once you have your verse, memorize it and repeat it continuously though out your day.  We can't read the bible all day, but we can surely mutter a verse every chance we get.  Let's see God change our circumstances and lives by not focusing on the negatives, but fixing our eyes, hearts and mouths on His truth!  “Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.”  Psalm 119:37  God's word is so life changing and I am excited to hear your stories of situations changing by simply speaking/meditating on His word all day long.

"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 (utters, speaks, muse)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