Grow In Faith

More Than Empty: The Difference Between Christian Meditation and the World's


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In a world that is overstimulated and undernourished, everyone is talking about meditation. But not all meditation is the same.

Welcome back to our "Holy Habits" devotional series! Today, we're tackling a practice that has often made evangelical Protestants uncomfortable: Meditation. Because of its association with Eastern religion and the New Age movement, many Christians have simply avoided it altogether. But the Bible has a lot to say about it—and it's time to reclaim it.

In this devotion, we explore:

  • The Hebrew word for meditate: haga—which means to mutter, chew, or rumble. The ancient Israelites would murmur Scripture under their breath as a way to memorize and internalize it.
  • The crucial difference between secular meditation (like Transcendental Meditation) and Christian meditation:
    • TM seeks a blank slate to find the self.
    • Christian meditation seeks a full heart to find the Savior.
  • Why Scripture engagement is not primarily for information transfer, but for life transformation.
  • Richard Foster's definition: "Christian meditation is simply the ability to hear God's voice and obey His word."
  • A practical exercise: We close by reading Psalm 1 slowly. Pick one word—maybe "delight" or "planted"—and after the video ends, sit with it for 60 seconds. Let it settle. Let it chew on you.

This is Christian meditation: clearing the decks, letting the clutter settle, and opening ourselves to what God has for us through His Word.

Take a moment today to pause, breathe deeply, and let the Word shape your soul.

Don't forget to like and subscribe as we continue our Holy Habits series!

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Grow In FaithBy Christ Church IL