Meditate
In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; my hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing; my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, and my spirit makes diligent search. – Psalm 77:2-6.
But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High. I will remember the works of the Lord; surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds. – Psalm 77:10-12.
Shaquille O’Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers says that he uses meditation to relax himself and to help think more positively. He says: “Actually, when I’m meditating, I’m not thinking about basketball, I’m thinking about family. I’m not thinking about the game, I’m thinking about my two daughters, my two sons….” Phil Jackson the Lakers’ coach has times set aside for his players to meditate several times a week. However, Jackson is hesitant to share details of the meditation sessions. He says the meditation promotes clearer thinking.
What is meditation? The dictionary defines the word “meditate” in this way: to reflect on or muse over, contemplate; intend, purpose; and to engage in contemplation or reflection. The dictionary says to meditate implies a definite focusing of one’s thoughts on something so as to understand it more deeply. The word “muse” is said to suggest a more or less focused daydreaming as in remembrance. The word “ponder” is the synonym for “meditate” and implies a careful weighing of a problem. It can also mean to think or consider quietly, soberly, and deeply. All of the definitions the dictionary gives, which I have shared above, can be involved in Biblical meditation.
Biblical mediation is different from that of the world. The world may imagine itself in a peaceful setting or contemplate the family as Shaquille does. There is nothing wrong with doing that and it may even provide some health benefits. But Biblical meditation is more than that and provides much greater benefits to every area of your life. As with any type of meditation to meditate Biblically requires planning, purpose, intent of the heart and mind. Meditation involves your thoughts. Philippians 4:8 tells us that we should only think about the good things and Paul provides a list which its context indicates that such thinking will help to provide us with joy and peace.
In Joshua 1:8 we are told that the Book of the Law should not depart from our mouths and that we should meditate in it day and night. The result will be that we will be living according to it and have success in life. Psalm One tells us that blessed will be the person that delights in the law of the Lord, and meditates in it day and night. The result will be that “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”
The Word of God should be constantly in our hearts and minds. We should make a conscious effort to read the Word of God each day. We should have verses of Scripture memorized that we may run through our mind, contemplate, and savor as we live each day. We should consciously remember the great blessings of God in our lives giving thanks for them. Biblical meditation should be a constant ongoing devotion, which we live out before our God. Let us meditate!
(A special thanks to Denise “onedenise36” who wants to grow, be strong in the Lord and wanted to know more about meditation.)
(Biblical mediation is different from that of the world. Biblical meditation provides much greater benefits to every area of your life than the meditation recommended by the world.)