How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of
the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and
night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields
its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does,
he prospers. Psalms 1:1-3
Sometimes as Christians we can be very good at 'playing Church' but God
is not impressed with what we appear to be. No, God is most interested in what we are like
on the inside. He wishes to change us –
transform us - from the inside out. His
goal is to make us clean on the inside so that we would naturally be clean on
the outside. If you are clean in your
heart, then you will automatically be clean on the outside. The application of God’s principles is not in
surface obedience but in understanding of His ways. One way He assures us we can be transformed
is through meditation on His word.
Perhaps meditation is one of the most neglected disciplines in the
Christian life these days. Very few Christians have been taught how important
it is to pay close attention to what they think about. Some people are hung up on the middle-eastern
aspect of meditation and only see it as wrong.
But the term meditate simply
means to spend in quiet thought for
religious purposes or relaxation, to
engage in contemplation or reflection, to focus one’s thoughts on: reflect on
or ponder over. That translates to think about it, dwell on it, be mindful of
it always.
Our God is a jealous God. He
wants our full devotion – Body, Soul, and Spirit. Knowing the Word of God is Knowing God and
Christ as the Word. Meditation is relationship building with God.
What
is Christian meditation?
Meditation is the deliberate practice of turning our hearts and our
minds to the full time task of bringing the word of God to life in the daily
activities of our lives. As I said
earlier, God wants to change us from the inside out. He wants to renew our minds and hearts so they
will become more like his own. However,
it is *only* by God's grace and power that this could ever happen. We *cannot* change ourselves. God uses a number of things to accomplish this
but the primary tool He uses is His own word recorded in the Bible. If we ignore it, He cannot work in us. If we use it and put it to use, He will be
able to enter into our lives and form us into what He wants us to be.
Meditation on the Word of God allows its transforming power to renew our minds
and change our hearts. Only meditation
can alter the core and fill that part of us that can change us because it goes
to the heart.
Meditation
is food for the soul/spirit
Christian Meditation is not the emptying of the mind but the filling of
the mind with God’s Word. We need to learn to apply the practice of meditation
in order to “digest” the Word of God into our lives. Meditation breaks down general truth to
specific truths – it digests it. Meditation
is a way God gives strength and power, sustenance, just like food for our
bodies. Meditation is “getting it.” Then it begins to guide us.
Sometimes because of our busy schedules we don’t give God the time and
attention He deserves. It hurts Him, but
it hurts us worse. We need to take time
to meditate, be still and know He is God, and listen for His voice. Make it a priority today to find time to
meditate on God’s word and allow your life to be transformed.
Scripture
to Claim:
Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders. Psalm 119:27
Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders. Psalm 119:27
