Truth on Fire: How Meditation Ignites the Heart for God
In a culture addicted to speed, noise, and distraction, the spiritual discipline of meditation has become a forgotten grace. But for the saints of old, particularly the Puritans, meditation was not optional. It was the very soil in which communion with God took root and blossomed. “A good Christian,” said Thomas Watson, “is a meditating Christian.”
Thomas Watson (c. 1620–1686)
was a beloved English Puritan pastor known for his rich theological insight, warm pastoral tone, and vivid illustrations. Educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, he served for many years at St. Stephen’s, Walbrook in London. Though ejected from his pulpit in 1662 for nonconformity, he continued to preach and write faithfully. His works, such as A Body of Divinity and The Beatitudes, remain treasures of devotional and doctrinal wisdom, blending deep truth with practical application.
Christian meditation is not emptying the mind in the Eastern sense, but filling it with the truth of the Word of God, the glories of Christ, and the promises of the gospel. “Meditation,” Watson wrote, “is the soul’s retiring of itself, that by a serious and solemn thinking upon God the heart is raised up to heavenly affections.” With the heart of a shepherd and the depth of a theologian, Watson teaches us not only the “why” but the “how” of meditation.
Below is a practical guide for rediscovering this lost spiritual art, anchored in Watson’s writings and wisdom.
1. Retreat from the World
Begin by withdrawing from worldly distractions. Meditation requires stillness. Watson urges, “A Christian, when he goes to meditate, must lock up himself from the world. The world spoils meditation.”
Find a quiet place.
Turn off your phone.
Bring only your Bible, a notebook, and your heart.
Like Isaac, who went out “to meditate in the field toward evening” (Gen. 24:63), seclude yourself to meet with God.
2. Choose a Biblical Subject
Don’t meditate on your feelings or try to conjure vague spiritual impressions. Instead, “fix your meditations,” Watson counsels, “on the excellencies of God, the sweetness of Christ, the bitterness of sin, the vanity of the world, and the glory of heaven.”
Here are a few rich subjects Watson recommends:
The attributes of God (His holiness, omniscience, mercy, …)
The love of Christ: “Love was the wing on which he flew into the virgin’s womb.”
The curse and filth of sin: “Sin is not only a spot in the face, but a stab at the heart.”
The promises of God: “Meditation, like the bee, sucks out the sweetness of the promises.”
The state of your own soul: “See how the case stands between God and you.”
3. Think Deeply and Slowly
Watson likens meditation to chewing the cud: it is not a quick glance but a lingering gaze. “Meditation is the chewing upon the truths we have heard … it is like the watering of the seed, it makes the fruits of grace to flourish.”
Take one truth and:
Turn it over in your mind.
Ask questions: What does this teach me about God? How should I respond?
Apply it to your own life, struggles, and heart.
Do not move on too quickly. Let it soak into your heart and mind.
4. Engage the Heart
Christian meditation is not a cold, intellectual exercise. It must move the affections. “Meditation,” Watson writes, “fetches life in a truth … it operates upon the affections, it warms the heart and makes it more holy.”
Allow yourself to feel conviction, comfort, delight, and sorrow.
Let the truth melt your pride, awaken your love, and stir up your joy.
Worship God in the moment. Sing, pray, or write down a thanksgiving.
5. Be Consistent and Frequent
The Psalmist meditated “day and night” (Ps. 1:2). Watson clarifies: not without intermission, but with frequency and habit. “The godly man is no stranger to meditation.”
Aim for daily meditation, even if only for 15–30 minutes.
Choose morning or evening—whichever time you are most alert.
Keep a journal to track your meditations and spiritual growth.
6. Guard Against Distractions and Resistance
You will be tempted to skip the vital work of meditation. Watson writes, “We are swift to hear, but slow to meditate. To think of the world is delightful. But holy meditation—how does the heart wrangle and quarrel with this duty!”
When you meditate, prepare for opposition from the flesh, the devil, and the world. But remember, “There is no disputing our duty.”
7. Meditate unto Transformation
The aim is not information but transformation. Watson warns, “A sermon remembered, but not ruminated, will only serve to increase our condemnation.” Conversely, he encourages, “Meditation leaves one in a holy frame. It melts the heart when it is frozen.”
Expect to be changed.
Expect sin to lose its appeal.
Expect Christ to become sweeter.
Expect prayer to flow more easily.
Expect holiness to grow.
8. Let Christ Be the Center
Above all, meditate on Christ—His person, His love, His cross, His intercession, His return. “Who can tread by meditation upon these hot coals of Christ’s love,” Watson asks, “and his heart not burn in love to him?”
The Puritans did not meditate to know themselves better, but to know Christ better. So should we.
Final Encouragement
Christian, do not neglect this vital means of grace. You may know your Bible, serve in ministry, and defend doctrine. But without meditation, your soul will remain shallow. Watson speaks with urgency and tenderness:
“What you are about to embark on will change your Christian life, the trajectory of your mind, and the affections of your heart.”
Let us retire from the noise. Let us muse on the glory of God. Let us become, again, meditating Christians.
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Quotations from:
Watson, Thomas. The Saint’s Spiritual Delight, and A Christian on the Mount. London: The Religious Tract Society, 1830.
Watson, Thomas. Discourses on Important and Interesting Subjects, Vol. 1. Glasgow: Blackie, Fullarton, & Co., 1829.
Watson, Thomas. Meditation: A Christian on the Mount. Edited by Dustin Benge. Peterborough, Ontario: H&E Publishing, 2021.
