When Worry Becomes Meditation

In my last blog, I mentioned something I’ve been working on — Paul’s encouragement in Philippians 4:8 to fix our eyes, to gaze, to meditate on things worth meditating on. Last time, I wove in his first suggestion: what is true.

One of those truths I touched on was biblical contentment — what that looks like and how it shapes our hearts. I plan to continue exploring each of these in future reflections, but for now, I want to linger on the idea of meditation itself. Paul exhorts us in Philippians 4:8 to meditate on the things he lists (and to be clear, it’s not exhaustive, but a powerful starting place flowing from the peace God promises in Christ, vv. 6–7).

Yet it’s that word “meditate” — this gazing — that I’d like to talk about for a moment. I struggle off and on with anxiety, worry, and even depression. And here’s something I hadn’t thought much about until recently: these are, in themselves, forms of meditation.

When reading Consider the Lilies by Jonny Ardavanis (highly recommend), I came across something simple yet profound:

“Worry is meditation.” (p.46)
“If you want a realignment of your treasure, you must realign your vision, you must redirect your gaze. JESUS asks you, Where are you looking? Why? Because the worries of our minds are often the fruits of where we set our gaze.” (p.53)

That thought stuck with me. My worries, anxieties, and even obsessive thoughts are misplaced meditations — gazes fixed on the wrong things, when Christ Himself is our peace.

• It may be the silent wandering of the mind when I’m alone.

• It may be the thoughts that take me captive even when, outwardly, I seem attentive to others.

• It may be the rehearsed conversations in the shower, or the audible thoughts while I drive.

These moments — and our thoughts — are precious. And oh, how often I waste them, not meditating on what is true, honorable, and all the other things that glorify the LORD (and bring me peace), but on what only glorifies my fears and steals peace. But the peace of God is not abstract. It’s rooted in the presence of Christ and made possible because He bore our sorrows and sin on the cross (Isaiah 53:4–5).

I find neural pathways fascinating — the way GOD created our minds to be so efficient, responding faster the more they are trained to a certain thought pattern. Sadly, I’ve built incredible “shortcuts” over the years that jump from thought to worry in record speed!

But here’s the hope: by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT, those pathways can be retrained. It takes time — weeks to months — but it’s possible. And it’s possible because JESUS rose from the dead and now reigns - and with the HOLY SPIRIT in us is renewing our minds (Romans 12:2).

It won’t be easy, and it won’t feel natural at first. I’ve tried before and given up too quickly. But imagine if we truly lived Philippians 4:8. Here’s the full list Paul gives us in the ESV:

• Whatever is true

• Whatever is honorable

• Whatever is just

• Whatever is pure

• Whatever is lovely

• Whatever is commendable

• If there is any excellence

• If there is anything worthy of praise

These are not just vague virtues. They are ultimately reflections of the character of Jesus Christ. He is the One who is true (John 14:6), just (Romans 3:26), pure (1 John 3:3), and lovely (Psalm 27:4). To meditate on these things is to meditate on HIM.

I am far too weak in my own strength to do this. But through the power of the Holy Spirit, HE can reshape our thinking and take every thought captive to obey CHRIST:

“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)

When those thoughts stop racing down the path toward fear, they can instead joyfully run toward praise and worship.

Life’s circumstances don’t have to change for our thinking to change. Oh, may we find blessed peace in the way GOD designed our minds — and may we pray for one another as we journey with CHRIST, allowing HIM to blaze new trails in our thinking so that we glorify HIM and rest in the peace purchased by His blood.

What misplaced meditations has the LORD been calling you to redirect toward HIM?

His,
Matt

Scriptures Referenced:

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Philippians 4:6–7 (referenced as “vv. 6–7”)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to GOD. And the peace of GOD, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in CHRIST JESUS.

Isaiah 53:4–5
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by GOD, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of GOD, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

John 14:6
JESUS said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the FATHER except through me.”

Romans 3:26
It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in JESUS.

1 John 3:3
And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

Psalm 27:4
One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.

2 Corinthians 10:5
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of GOD, and take every thought captive to obey CHRIST.