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

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!