Meditation: March 28, 2011

TODAYS WORD FOR MONDAY MARCH 28, 2011

MEDITATION

DEFINITION:

Continued or extended thought; thoughtful and careful contemplation; devout religious or spiritual introspection.

SCRIPTURE:

“Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8.

“But the way of the righteous is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:2

“The book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Joshua 1:8

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

When you are out walking, riding the bus, driving the car or just sitting and relaxing, where does your mind wander to? Are you thinking about all your problems, family issues, all the work stacked up on your desk, someone or something that annoys you, envy, jealousy of someone who has something that you do not have, the frustration of traffic and the aggressive drivers who are always cutting you off or just plain day dreaming? You, no doubt, have a list of your own.

These verses that we have listed above remind us to meditate on God’s Word day and night. This means thinking about what you read in the Bible. Of course, you must first read God’s Word before you can meditate on it. Please do not pass over this statement. Again we say --- as a believer you must read the Bible each morning before you can meditate on it during the day. How else can God speak to you? Each day after you read the Bible take a few minutes to think about what you have read and apply it to your life. As you meditate ask yourself how the life you are living stacks up against God’s principles that you have read about. You cannot miss His principles because they are on every page of the Bible. You need to take a hard look at what changes you need in your life.

After the death of Moses, Joshua became Israel’s leader and had the responsibility to lead two million people to the Promised Land. God spoke to Joshua and reassured him that just as He had been with Moses, He would be with Joshua. In Joshua 1:8 (as written above) God gave a commandment to Joshua to be obedient to God’s law and instructed Joshua to meditate on God’s Word day and night. God expects the same from us today.

Most believers would agree it is important to read God’s Word but many do not really meditate on the Word of God and think about how it applies to their daily life. When you read God’s Word do you take time to really understand what you have read and reflect on what God is saying to you? God speaks to us through His Word.

Our thoughts have a profound influence on the way we live our lives. What we allow to occupy our minds will sooner or later come out in what we say or do. If we dwell on our anger eventually we will erupt with angry words or even worse with angry actions. If our thoughts are evil our deeds will be evil. Our thoughts reflect our character and meditating on God’s Word will make a difference in our thinking, our attitudes and our actions.

Paul, before he found Christ as his Savior, had allowed his hate for those who believed in Jesus to drive him to persecute them and to have them thrown into prison. Paul well understood how thoughts influence what we do and how they determine the kind of person we really are. If you want to change your life, Paul after he found Jesus, offers a solution as to how to change our thinking. In Philippians 4:8 (above) we are given his list of things that will lead us to a God honoring thought pattern which will lead to a positive change in how we live our lives. When we have God in our life and we are meditating on His Word, God changes “things” because He changes us.

Just think how your outlook on life might change if you would spend your time meditating day and night on God’s Word instead of worrying about all the things that are troubling you.

Would your life style change? Would your thinking change? What would happen to all your problems in life? What role would worry play in your life? How would your family treat you and how would you treat your family?

The Apostle Paul tells us that we are to spend our time thinking on things that are pure, noble, just, lovely, praiseworthy and things of good report. Your life will change if you would meditate day and night on these things.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Proverbs 11:2.

When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom.

PRAYER:

Help me today to learn how to meditate on Your Word and make my heart receptive to Your instruction. Thank You for changing my thought patterns so that I can think on those things that honor and glorify Your name.