Before we can discuss the purpose of meditation, a clear distinction between TYPES of meditation must be made.
Two Types of Mediation
- Eastern Meditation
- Biblical Mediation
The purpose of Eastern Meditation is to BLANK the mind. The purpose of Biblical meditation is to FILL the mind.
Let’s discuss these one at a time.
Eastern Meditation
In order to draw proponents, Eastern meditation claims that its function is to calm the mind. But calming the mind is actually a function of the body through breath control (a technique also used in Biblical Meditation). If the body can relax, the mind can too.
In reality, OPEN COMMUNICATION with the Spirit world is the actual goal of Eastern Meditation. It achieves this by blanking the mind through hypnosis, chanting a mantra or by staring at a flickering candle.
Why Blanking the Mind is Dangerous
Blanking the mind allows unfiltered access to the subconscious mind. A blank mind doesn’t allow the conscious mind to defend against unwanted thoughts placed there by other people (as in hypnosis).
Blanking the mind also opens the door to demonic power.
A blank mind allows a demon to forge a LINK between a man’s soul and spirit so that he can SEE into the spirit world through the eyes of his spirit.
This is the way man USED to see into the spirit world before the fall of Adam.
Just as man uses his physical eyes to see into the physical world, man also used his spiritual eyes (his spirit) to see into the spiritual world. That is how man walked and talked with God in the Garden of Eden.
But sin changed all that. Now God doesn’t want man to access the spirit world except under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Unless of course man disobeys God and subjects himself to a demon by blanking his mind. Then a demon can control his soul and spirit and lead him into all sorts of falsehoods. That is why Eastern meditation is so dangerous. It opens you up to demonic control.
The Bible tells us to meditate on the law of the Lord. God doesn’t want us to blank our minds.
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he MEDITATES day and night.
Psalm 1:1-2
How Biblical Meditation Works
God knows that man is the PRODUCT of his subconscious thoughts. The Bible puts it this way:
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
Luke 6:45
Understanding the subconscious mind is KEY to understanding the POWER of Biblical Meditation.
The Subconscious Mind
The subconscious mind is like a blank tape at birth. It is soon filled with positive and negative experiences. These experiences form the basis of a person’s value system. This tape is constantly on, playing back subconscious thoughts to the conscious mind, which, in turn, DRIVES a person’s behavior.
The subconscious mind isn’t very smart. It doesn’t know right from wrong. It can’t reason. It simply relays to the conscious mind what has been programmed into it. The conscious mind responds.
People begin acquiring values at birth. By the time they’re ten, they’ve acquired the values they’ll carry for the rest of their lives.
But Biblical meditation changes that. It REPROGRAMS the sub-conscious mind. It does so through REPETITION, one of three components that “script” the subconscious mind (the others are trauma and emotion).
The point is, Biblical meditation allows you to ACT the way that your conscious mind knows is right. Biblical meditation overcomes the negative programming you received as a child.
Biblical meditation lets you TRUST God because your conscious mind soon believes what the reprogrammed subconscious mind is telling it through the repetition of scripture.
But how can you know that scripture is true? You can know by the FRUIT it produces.
Continuing with words of the Psalmist in Psalm 1 we read:
(He who meditates) is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields FRUIT in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Psalm 1:3
How To Meditate Biblically
Meditating is ruminating scripture. It’s like a cow chewing its cud. It’s rolling scripture over and over again in your mind. Notice what the scripture is actually saying, let it sink in deep.
When you can remember the essence of what is being said, you are well on your way to programming it into your subconscious mind. Often scripture will deprogram old scripts in your subconscious because they help you to unlearn negative programing.
Scripture memorization is often the end result of meditation, because you’ve thought about the scripture long enough to remember it.
However, memorizing scripture without ruminating it is not meditation. Scripture can be memorized without ruminating its content. Ruminating is the KEY.
What scripture should you “program” into your subconscious?
One of the major benefits of meditation is in it’s ability to let you REST in God.
Rest means that we give our fears and worries to God. We trust Him to do what needs to be done in order to “fix” it. Sometimes that fixing is in US, sometimes it’s in the CIRCUMSTANCES that surround us. Either way God says, “Trust me. Let me do the work!” This concept is reflected in the following scripture:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you REST. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Did you see the promise? Jesus (Christ) said that He will “give you rest”. The only way anyone can give you rest is if they are willing to do the work FOR you. And that’s what Jesus is saying. He’s saying, “Just give it to me (your worries and fears) and I will take care of it.” He’s saying TRUST me.
These thoughts help us begin the reprogramming process. We realize we don’t have to WORRY any more. God’s got everything under control.
Other powerful REST scriptures can be found in the Psalms. Among my favorites are: Psalm 1, 15, 23, 27, 51, 55, 91, 119, 121 and 131.
When you are fearful meditate on Psalm 27.
When you have sinned meditate on Psalm 51.
When you feel betrayed meditate on Psalm 55.
When you need confidence meditate Psalm 91.
Perhaps you have a specific problem that you can’t get victory over. What do you do?
Do a word search at Biblegateway.
For example, if you are feeling “anxious” about something and you can’t get over it, do a word search on the word “anxious”. One of the scriptures that will pop up is Philippians 4:6-7. It says:
Do not be ANXIOUS about anything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Now begin meditating and reprogramming your subconscious mind that keeps you anxious even when you don’t want to be.
Use Controlled Breathing
Sometimes we are so anxious in our circumstances that we can’t concentrate. When this happens, begin your meditation process with CONTROLLED BREATHING. Controlled breathing allows your body to relax so your mind can too.
Here is what you do. Lay flat on your back on a comfortable surface (floor, couch, bed). Inhale slowly for a count of 8. Exhale a little more quickly with a count of 5. Repeat this process until your mind and body are relaxed. Begin ruminating on scripture.
Get started on a scripture reading program.
While you can pick and choose scriptures to meditate on, the best way is to “stock the wood pile” so to speak in order to have a storehouse of information from which to choose. When we read scripture on a regular basis, the Holy Spirit will bring to mind other scriptures that correspond to our concerns at the appropriate time. If we haven’t been reading scripture, the Holy Spirit can’t bring to mind what isn’t there.
Conclusion
Biblical meditation will change your life. It will help you reprogram your subconscious mind so that you can actually DO what you know is right. It will help you to trust God.
So get started today reprogramming your subconscious mind through meditation. You will lead a happier life and God will get the glory.
The next category in the Mental Health section is SIN. How God Views Sin, is the first article in this category.
