Christians often feel uncomfortable with the idea of meditation, perhaps partly due to the mystical association with eastern religions or the New Age movement.
Just like to share my takeaway from a book that I read recently on how to meditate on God’s Word - God Close Up by Dr. Doug McIntosh. The book deals with:

1. What Meditation Is
2. What Meditation Isn’t
3. The Motive for Meditation
4. What Meditation Can Do for You
5. The Substance of Meditation
6. Seeking God’s Truth in the Word
7. Retaining God’s truth
8. Reflecting on God’s truth
9. Responding to God’s truth
10. Rebuking the Soul

In fact reading the Bible only begins the adventure of knowing God; meditation draws us deeper into knowing Him. The Bible contains many remarkable claims of the benefits of meditation, a familiar one is Joshua 1:8

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and you will have good success.”

Dr. Doug McIntosh demystifies the hazy confusing perception of meditation, and showing how meditating on Scripture familiarizes us with God’s ways and precepts so that we can hear the heartbeat of God and be transformed by Him. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the book, including the many anecdotes and quotes of those (such as George Muller) who walked very closely with God and cherished the importance of meditation, but best of all, I am more convinced about the value of meditation and challenged to set aside time to meditate on God’s Word.

May we all be in tune with the heartbeat of God as we meditate on His Word and experience God Up Close!