MEDITATE ON GOD’S WORD
This post aims to open your eyes to a misunderstood and lost Biblical truth, meditation. Do you meditate on God’s Word? In other words, do you reflect on what you read and study? Or do you close your Bible and lay down your pen, never thinking about what you read or learned?
MEDITATION IS BIBLICAL
Sometimes when Christians hear the word meditation, they run. With many Christians, meditation is a four-letter word.
It can be they are running because of ignorance. I am guilty of running away from things and to things without proper understanding.
What the word of God teaches and instructs, the world often twists and makes its own. So, yes, be knowledgeable and discerning before you run head-on into something.
We do need to run far away from the worldly form of meditation. But we must learn and practice Biblical meditation.
Biblical meditation is different than how the world spins it.
Worldly meditation instructs you to empty your mind in preparation to fill it. However, it never tells you that the mind needs renewing, not emptied, which cannot occur unless God renews it by first changing the heart.
Ezekiel 36:26 “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
Worldly meditation relies on self to change thinking, not understanding it is the heart that first needs to change.
ONLY GOD CAN CHANGE THE HEART
A heart change only comes from God and continues through sanctification by the Holy Spirit through God’s word. Hebrews 4:12.
The Word instructs the believer to fill their mind, Colossians 3:16, and renew the mind, Romans 12:1. For us, this means filling and minds with the word of God and relying on Him for the heart change we need.
Psalm 1:1-2 teaches that we are blessed if we do not walk in the counsel of the wicked nor sit in the seat of scoffers, but instead delight in the Law of the Lord and in His law meditate day and night.
UNBIBLICAL MEDITATION
I googled meditation and found this description on a non-christian website. Link here, if you dare: “meditation can help us to understand our own mind.
“We can learn how to transform our mind from negative to positive, from disturbed to peaceful, from unhappy to happy. Overcoming negative minds and cultivating constructive thoughts is the purpose of the transforming meditations found in the Buddhist tradition. This is a profound spiritual practice you can enjoy throughout the day, not just while seated in meditation.”
The only thing I understand about my mind is that it needs transforming. The world knows this too, but how it goes about it is wrong. The above quote sounds good, even almost right? But what is wrong with it? Here is a quote from Charles Spurgeon that helps us see what discernment is:
Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right. — Charles Spurgeon.
We cannot just dump our minds, understand our minds, or transform our minds. It must be renewed and conformed to the word of God. God has to show us, and the Holy Spirit must do the work of change. The Bible calls this sanctification. God’s will is our sanctification. 1 Thessalonians 4:3
MEDITATION DEFINED
The Biblical definition for meditate is sîḥâ (Hebrew: שיחה), which means to muse or rehearse in one’s mind. The word meditation from Merriam Webster is: to focus one’s thoughts on: reflect on or ponder over. The key is, on what are you meditating? What is the desired outcome? Who brings about the change?
A SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE
The world’s definition of meditation is called a spiritual practice. But what spirit is involved? It is not the Holy Spirit of God for we know the Spirit of God speaks what He hears from God. John 16:13.
The outcome and desired goal of Biblical meditation is conformity to the word of God.
Worldly meditation focuses on change, but it is self-centered. It Looks to self and relies on self for change.
BIBLE VERSES ON MEDITATION
Scripture speaks frequently about meditation. Here are a few verses to help you understand what God’s word teaches on the subject.
Joshua 1:8-This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success.
Psalm 119:97- How I love Your Law! It is my meditation all the day.
Psalm 19:7-14-The Law of the Lord is [d]perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much pure gold; Sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, Your servant is warned by them; In keeping them there is great reward. Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults. Also keep Your servant back from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I will be innocent, And I will be blameless of great wrongdoing. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.
BE WOMEN WHO MEDITATE ON GOD’S WORD DAILY
This article on “ACBC, Association of Certified Biblical Counselors” prompted me to write this one. It is titled “The Lost Art of Bible Meditation.” I highly recommend you head over and read the article for yourself.
I will close my thoughts with a few quotes from Stephen Yuille, the author of this piece. May you be blessed, encouraged to make the meditation of God’s word a spiritual discipline in your walk with Christ.
“Our hearts are naturally cold, but biblical meditation makes them hot, causing them to boil with love for God. Again, this isn’t a mere reading or studying of Scripture, but a purposeful reading and studying of Scripture. When we meditate upon God’s Word, we digest it; that is, we bring its truths to remembrance and consider them until they’re impressed upon our heart.”
“Biblical meditation isn’t merely reading or studying God’s Word but musing and mulling over God’s Word whereby it grips our heart. In other words, its goal isn’t to fill the head but improve the heart.”
“As a result, we take God as our happiness, His Word as our rule, His holiness as our desire, and His promises as our hope.”
Until the Lord returns or calls us home may we be women who meditate on the word of God!
