Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. Psalm 1:1-2
I often wondered what meditating on the word actually meant. And how did you do it? Was it just something they did in old times? Today, meditation is often defined as something from eastern religions.
In Webster’s 1828 dictionary, which is a dictionary that uses the word of God regularly in definitions, meditate is defined as “To dwell on anything in thought; to contemplate; to study; to turn or revolve any subject in the mind; appropriately but not exclusively used of pious contemplation, or a consideration of the great truths of religion.”
So, in layman’s terms, meditate is actually to think about.
How many times do we find ourselves dwelling on a problem, thinking about something we cannot change, working ourselves up and worrying, bringing fear onto the scene instead of trusting in the Lord? I know I have done it a lot. Too much.
And when I have worried, I have pictured things in my mind, imagined what I would say to people, or thought about what I could have said.
This is a meditation upon our problems.
But I have learned, that instead of dwelling upon the problem, we can instead dwell upon the word of God. I am definitely not perfect, and I still slip into worry and fear sometimes. But I am learning to be quick to replace the fear and worry with the truth of God’s word.
What I have learned about meditating on Scripture:
Be Quiet. Look upon the scripture that you are meditating on, and then close your eyes. Ask the Lord to make it real to you. Let Him speak to your heart about this scripture.
How does it apply to you? What does it mean for your life, and how can you put it into practice? It is good to know the word, it is even better to live the word, walking out what you have learned in everyday life.
Keep speaking it. I have a reminder on my phone that goes off several times a day, reminding me to speak scripture aloud. Sometimes when I’m around a lot of people and can’t get away, I’ll speak it under my breath. But I do speak it aloud to myself. There is something powerful about speaking scripture aloud, it gets into your mind, down into your spirit.
Meditating on the word of God on a regular basis can help us to combat the worry and fear that assault us daily. When our minds are fixed on the truth of God’s word, it helps us walk out our day in peace, not giving in to the temptation to let our emotions overtake us and determine how we react to situations around us.
I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. ~Psalm 119:11 NKJV
© Carolyn Rice 2016
Lord I’m Broken: A 90-DAy Devotional, is available on Amazon.
