This year at our Wednesday evening services our pastor has been preaching through different spiritual disciplines like prayer, Bible reading, soul winning, praying in tongues, etc. This week we started talking about meditation – not the Eastern meditation of lotus position and a lot of humming, but spiritually “chewing” on the Word of God.
A cow has four stomachs. Each has a different role in the digestive process and in between stomachs the food – or “cud” – is pulled back up into the mouth to be chewed more – hence, the saying “chewing her cud.” No one can argue that the cow doesn’t spend enough time in digestion. But do we as believers spend enough time “digesting” God’s word? Do we nod and smile at the truth in a sermon, but never think about it again after we leave church? Do we write down a verse we like, but never commit it to memory? Do we always read the Bible quickly and never take time to ask God what the deeper truths in that passage might be? What spiritual nourishment might we be missing out on?
When God passed the leadership role from Moses to Joshua, he gave him some very exact directions:
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8 NKJV)
Who doesn’t want to be spiritually, emotionally, relationally, and even financially prosperous and successful?!?
But what does it mean to meditate on God’s word? “MEDITATE” has lots of different facets: churn, stew, brood, consider, ponder, think deeply and carefully or focus one’s mind for a period of time, contemplate. In our busy, instantaneous world, sitting quietly and focusing on God or his Word may seem counter-cultural or even impossible. It is counter-cultural, but it is not impossible. Have you ever struggled with worry? Maybe you’ve lain awake at night trying to anticipate all the horrible things that could happen and what you’d do about them? Maybe you’ve obsessed about what someone said and how to respond to them. Worry is a type of meditation. Instead of meditating on the good, live-giving Word of God, though, we are focused on things that are not life-giving. But, hear the good news: if you can worry, you can meditate.
Word of God,
Today help our minds to be focused on your Word, your Calling, your Grace, your Love, and your Peace. Help us to not be caught in worry or other negative thought processes, but to use that energy to focus on you and your Hope for us. Help us to meditate on your Word so that we will have the prosperity and success you want in our lives, in our relationships, in our finances, and especially in our relationships with you. Help us to seek first your Kingdom and to take every thought captive to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, Amen.
“Moses my servant is dead. Get going. Cross this Jordan River, you and all the people. Cross to the country I’m giving to the People of Israel. I’m giving you every square inch of the land you set your foot on—just as I promised Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon east to the Great River, the Euphrates River—all the Hittite country—and then west to the Great Sea. It’s all yours. All your life, no one will be able to hold out against you. In the same way I was with Moses, I’ll be with you. I won’t give up on you; I won’t leave you. Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don’t get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you’re going. And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed. Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.” (Joshua 1:1-9 MSG)
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33 NKJV)
“We are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5 AMP)