Prayer vs Meditation

Prayer vs Meditation: What Prayer is and What Meditation Is

What Is Prayer?

Prayer is . . . the way we are able to make a connection with God. Prayer is pouring out our soul, dropping down on our knees, calling out to heaven, pursuing The Lord’s favor, & drawing closer to Him.

It’s setting aside time to talk to our Heavenly Father and delight in our close relationship with Him. We humbly come to Him and express worship and thanksgiving, confess, and make our requests known.

To learn more about prayer, click here: List of Essential Things to Learn about Prayer

Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. Jeremiah 29:12

What Is Meditation?

Different things may come to mind when you hear the word meditation. You may think of it as:

A way to get rid of all negative thoughts or emotions.
A spiritual discipline of focusing on an image or specific word for an interval of time.
Being seated in a specific position and clearing your mind for calmness.

The Hebrew word for “meditate” means to be intense in the mind. To meditate is to think deeply or carefully, to focus your mind for a period of time.

Christian meditation has to do with focusing on God and considering His Word (The Bible) and taking the time to really think about what it says.

Focusing inward on ourselves or outward on material things has no eternal reward.

When we take time to eliminate distractions and quiet our minds and hearts to have fellowship with God, He will frequently bring one or more Bible verses to mind.

In the calmness, we are more likely to have an “aha” moment when we realize that God is showing us what He wants us to hear and/or learn.

According to Hebrews 4:12, the Word of God is alive and powerful and sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword… It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

And Psalm 1:2 says we will be blessed and fruitful if we delight in the Word of the Lord and meditate on His law day and night.

Christian meditation (reading the Bible in an unhurried way and thinking about the importance of what we’re reading) seeks to apply the Word of God to our lives. And, when we continually ponder what scripture says, our lives will naturally be transformed because of the absolute power of God’s Word.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

Practical Tips for Meditating on Scripture

Set side a fixed place and time when you are least likely to have distractions or interruptions. You need to be alone in order to best meditate on scripture.
Begin with praying and ask God to help in the meditation on His Word. You may want to ask that He bring you nearer to Him, transform you, reveal His truth, and help you apply that truth to your life.
Select a small portion of scripture. Take time to think about what the words really mean. Study it deeply – look at the block of scripture before and after the portion you chose in order to better understand the context.

Often a different Bible version will deliver the meaning of the text in a way that enables you to have a “lightbulb” moment of seeing what the biblical author meant in a completely new way.

Using an Interlinear Bible to look at the meanings of the original Hebrew or Greek words will also give a fuller understanding (you can find an online version by searching for “online interlinear Bible”).

Write down notes and questions that come to mind. Memorize the words. Ask God what He wants you to hear and/or learn.
Contemplate how you can apply that section of scripture to your life in practical ways, then ask God to help you be obedient in what He reveals to you.

In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable. Put into practice what you learned and received from me, both from my words and from my actions. And the God who gives us peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9

Written by Paul The Apostle

Quotes about Meditation

The more you read the Bible; and the more you meditate on it, the more you will be astonished with it.
Charles Spurgeon

As you read, pause frequently to meditate on the meaning of what you are reading. Absorb the Word into your system by dwelling on it, pondering it, going over it again and again in your mind, considering it from many different angles, until it becomes part of you.
Nancy Leigh DeMoss

In place of our exhaustion and spiritual fatigue, God will give us rest. All He asks is that we come to Him…that we spend a while thinking about Him, meditating on Him, talking to Him, listening in silence, occupying ourselves with Him – totally and thoroughly lost in the hiding place of His presence.
Chuck Swindoll

I’d love for you to leave a comment! You can do so at the bottom of the page.

Thank you, and it is my prayer that you have a very blessed day! ❤

Prayer vs Meditation