25 Bible Verses about Meditation to Help You Connect with God

Christian meditation is the means by which we increase our awareness of God’s presence in and around us. It differs from other forms of meditation in that it does not focus on the emptying of one’s mind or becoming detached, but rather on filling our minds with God and becoming more attached to him. The Bible verses about meditation below will help you focus on the love of God and God’s faithfulness.

Why Is It Important for Us to Meditate?

Many believe that meditation is the work of monastics or spiritual gurus and that we should leave this deeper activity of the soul to those who know what they are doing and who have dedicated their lives to this purpose.

But that’s not what the Bible tells us. Numerous Bible verses confirm that this gift of entering into the presence of God, meditating on his word, his nature, his love, is a gift that is available to all who will receive it, beginners and seasoned practitioners alike. 

There have been times in my life when I considered meditation a luxury, something that I could take up when my children are older or when I don’t have so much to do or when things are more peaceful. With the noise of life pressing in from all sides from morning to night, slowing down to just be with God did not seem like a possibility. 

But Jesus set an example for us in this challenge. Our Lord was not unfamiliar with the distractions and demands on his time that we face today. Every time he turned around, people flocked to Him, seeking his teaching and his healing. And he didn’t mind. This is what he’d come for (Mark 1:38). 

Yet, knowing what his days held, he still awoke well before dawn to go to a quiet, solitary place to commune with his father (Luke 5:16, Mark 1:35). He prayed, he listened, he obeyed, and in doing so, he had everything he needed to carry out his ministry and purpose here on earth. 

The same is true for us. In Luke 6, Jesus tells us that if we come to Him, hear his words, and obey them, we will be like the wise builder who dug down deep to build a solid foundation for his home. Floods and winds may strike the house, but it will not collapse because of its firm foundation. 

We must build our lives on the word of God and one way to do this is by meditating on it. Scripture is full of verses indicating that each of us will find life (and joy, prosperity, and success) when we meditate on God’s word. 

Bible Verses about Meditation

Here are 25 Bible verses about meditation to help guide your journey.

Old Testament

1. It (God’s law) is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees. (Deuteronomy 17:19, NIV).
2. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; 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, NIV).
3. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3, ESV).
4. Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. (Psalm 4:4, ESV).
5. I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you (Psalm 9:1-2a, ESV).
6. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14, ESV).
7. We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. (Psalm 48:9, ESV).
8. My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding. (Psalm 49:3, NIV).
9. Then I said, “I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.” I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. (Psalm 77:10-12, NIV).
10. How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:9-11, ESV).
11. Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works. (Psalm 119:27, ESV).
12. My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may meditate on Your word. (Psalm 119:148, NKJV).
13. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. (Psalm 143:5, ESV).
14. On the glorious splendor of your majesty and on your wonderful works, I will meditate. (Psalm 145:5, ESV).
15. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. (Proverbs 3:3-4, ESV).
16. You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. (Isaiah 26:3, ESV).

New Testament

1. Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” (Matthew 4:4, NIV).
2. And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. (John 17:3, NLT).
3. But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life! (Jude 1:20-21, MSG).
4. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8, NLT).
5. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. (1 Timothy 4:15, NKJV).
6. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV).
7. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16, ESV).
8. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5, ESV).
9. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV).

Use These Verses as a Foundation for Your Meditation

Meditation is an essential spiritual discipline, one that is all too easy for us to ignore. Yet God makes it clear that it should be part of our daily life. Hopefully, these Bible verses about meditation have given you a better idea of what godly meditation looks like in the Bible and a good starting point for your own meditation practice.