The kind of meditation encouraged in the Bible differs from other kinds of meditation in several ways. While some advocate a kind of meditation in which you do your best to empty your mind, Christian meditation involves filling your mind with God and truth. For some, meditation is an attempt to achieve complete mental passivity, but biblical meditation requires constructive mental activity. Worldly meditation employs visualization techniques intended to “create your own reality.” And while Christian history has always had a place for the sanctified use of our God-given imagination in meditation, imagination is our servant to help us meditate on things that are true (Philippians 4:8). Furthermore, instead of “creating our own reality” through visualization, we link meditation with prayer to God and responsible, Spirit-filled human action to effect changes.
— Donald Whitney (b. 1954), Theologe, Pastor und Autor
Related Bible passage: PHP.4.8
Topics: Prayer & Silence, The Bible & the Word of God, Wisdom & Understanding
Occasions: For Reflection
Donald Whitney
Donald Whitney (* 1954) ist ein US-amerikanischer reformiert-baptistischer Theologe, Pastor und Hochschullehrer, der über viele Jahre am Southern und Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary lehrte. Er steht für eine biblisch begründete Frömmigkeitspraxis und wurde vor allem durch seine Schriften über geistliche Disziplinen wie Schriftbetrachtung, Gebet und Fasten bekannt. Bibellesern vermittelt er praktische Anleitungen, wie biblische Texte – insbesondere die Psalmen – als direkte Struktur und Orientierung für das persönliche Gebet dienen können.
All quotes by Donald Whitney (93)
When we pray, the circumstances often remain the same, but we become different.
Oswald Chambers
Prayer does not change God, but the one who prays.
Søren Kierkegaard
Courage is fear that has said its prayers.
Corrie ten Boom
To pray is to draw breath from God.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Prayer does not equip us for greater works – prayer is the greater work.
Oswald Chambers
God has his ear at your heart.
Augustine of Hippo
Prayers are tools not for doing or getting, but for being and becoming.
Eugene Peterson