Your Meditation
Joshua was told that it is the key to success (Joshua 1:8) “this book of the law
shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate therein day and night
that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein, for then you
shall make your way prosperous and then you shall have good success”.
Meditation is obedient reflection on God’s word. Many people think that
prosperity and success come from having power, influential personal contacts,
and a relentless desire to get ahead. But the strategy for gaining prosperity that
God taught Joshua goes against such criteria. He said that to succeed, Joshua
must (1) not let the word of God stop coming out of his mouth. (2) meditate in the
word of God day and night. Meditate – the practice of reflection or
contemplation. Joshua was instructed to meditate on the book of the law for the
purpose of (3) obeying all that was written in it. Meditation is to be done day and
night, not just when you go to church. God told him to be strong and courageous
because the task ahead would not be easy; and to obey God’s law, and
constantly keep the word of God coming out of his mouth.
Psalms 1:1-3 tells us the benefits that comes from making God’s word the final
authority in your life “blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the
ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But
his delight is in the law of the Lord Yahweh, and in His law does he meditate day
and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings
forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he does
shall prosper”. As you meditate on the word of God, you absorb it in your heart,
and Jesus said “for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good
man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things; and an evil
man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things” (Matthew 12:34-35).
Meditation is not just an Old Testament practice, we see how the woman with the
issue of blood (Mark 5), meditated on Malachi 4:2 “but to you that fear
(reverence) My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His
wings, and you shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall”. The wings
referred to the “hem of His garment”; the tassels on His pray shawl. Mark 5:27-28
says “when she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched His
garment. For she said, if I may touch: but His clothes, I shall be whole”. Verse 29
goes on to say “and immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she
felt in her body that she was healed of that plague”. She was meditating on her
covenant rights, well, the Bible tells us we have a new and better covenant
(Hebrews 8:6). Our covenant is through the shed blood of Jesus, Galatians 3:29
says “and if you be Christ’s, then are you Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to
the promise”. Hebrews 4:1 says “let us therefore fear (be careful) less a promise
being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of
it”. All of God’s promises are yes and amen in Christ. Colossians 3:1-2 says “if
you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ
sits on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things
on the earth”.
Like the woman with the issue of blood, as we read the Bible, and find out what
the word of God says concerning the situation of our life and meditate on it,
visualize what will solve your problem and speak words of life, (the word of God)
and see your deliverance. Visualize – see yourself delivered. The world says “I
will believe it when I see it”, but with God, you have to believe it in order to see it.
Don’t think on or about the problem, but as Philippians 4:6-8 says “be careful for
nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all
understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally,
brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever
things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any
praise, think on these things”. All these things describes the word of God.
Many things clamor for our attention, and we often run ourselves ragged
attending to them, but like Jesus, we should take time to withdraw to a quiet and
deserted place to pray. Strength comes from God, and we can be strengthened
only by spending time with Him. You can learn how to follow God by meditating
on His word. Meditating means spending time reading and thinking about what
you have read. II Timothy 2:15 tells us “study to show yourself approved to God,
a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”.
Knowing and meditating on God’s word are the first steps toward applying it to
your everyday life. If you want to follow God more closely, you must know what
He says. Paul told Timothy to reflect on his words, and God would give him
insight (II Timothy 2:7). Paul tells Timothy in I Timothy 4:14-16 “neglect not the
gift that is in you, which was given you by prophecy, with the laying on of the
hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things, give yourself wholly to
them, that your profiting may appear to all. Take heed to yourself, and to the
doctrine; continue in them; for in doing this you shall both save yourself, and
them that hear you”.
God speaks through the Bible, His word, but we need to be open and receptive to
Him. As you read the Bible, ask God to show you His timeless truths and the
application to your life. Then consider what you have read by thinking it through
and meditating on it. God will give you understanding.
The psalmist prayed that the meditation of his heart would be acceptable in God’s
sight (Psalms 19:14), so let us pray this prayer. Ephesians 3:20 says “now to Him
that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according
to the power that works in us”. So let us began to give God something to work
with. Start thinking about what God has told you, and visualize the manifestation
of it. Remember you have to see it with the eyes of your heart before you will see
it with your natural eyes.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: April 15, 2008
Joshua was told that it is the key to success (Joshua 1:8) “this book of the law
shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate therein day and night
that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein, for then you
shall make your way prosperous and then you shall have good success”.
Meditation is obedient reflection on God’s word. Many people think that
prosperity and success come from having power, influential personal contacts,
and a relentless desire to get ahead. But the strategy for gaining prosperity that
God taught Joshua goes against such criteria. He said that to succeed, Joshua
must (1) not let the word of God stop coming out of his mouth. (2) meditate in the
word of God day and night. Meditate – the practice of reflection or
contemplation. Joshua was instructed to meditate on the book of the law for the
purpose of (3) obeying all that was written in it. Meditation is to be done day and
night, not just when you go to church. God told him to be strong and courageous
because the task ahead would not be easy; and to obey God’s law, and
constantly keep the word of God coming out of his mouth.
Psalms 1:1-3 tells us the benefits that comes from making God’s word the final
authority in your life “blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the
ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. But
his delight is in the law of the Lord Yahweh, and in His law does he meditate day
and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings
forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he does
shall prosper”. As you meditate on the word of God, you absorb it in your heart,
and Jesus said “for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good
man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things; and an evil
man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things” (Matthew 12:34-35).
Meditation is not just an Old Testament practice, we see how the woman with the
issue of blood (Mark 5), meditated on Malachi 4:2 “but to you that fear
(reverence) My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His
wings, and you shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall”. The wings
referred to the “hem of His garment”; the tassels on His pray shawl. Mark 5:27-28
says “when she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched His
garment. For she said, if I may touch: but His clothes, I shall be whole”. Verse 29
goes on to say “and immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she
felt in her body that she was healed of that plague”. She was meditating on her
covenant rights, well, the Bible tells us we have a new and better covenant
(Hebrews 8:6). Our covenant is through the shed blood of Jesus, Galatians 3:29
says “and if you be Christ’s, then are you Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to
the promise”. Hebrews 4:1 says “let us therefore fear (be careful) less a promise
being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of
it”. All of God’s promises are yes and amen in Christ. Colossians 3:1-2 says “if
you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ
sits on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things
on the earth”.
Like the woman with the issue of blood, as we read the Bible, and find out what
the word of God says concerning the situation of our life and meditate on it,
visualize what will solve your problem and speak words of life, (the word of God)
and see your deliverance. Visualize – see yourself delivered. The world says “I
will believe it when I see it”, but with God, you have to believe it in order to see it.
Don’t think on or about the problem, but as Philippians 4:6-8 says “be careful for
nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all
understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally,
brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever
things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any
praise, think on these things”. All these things describes the word of God.
Many things clamor for our attention, and we often run ourselves ragged
attending to them, but like Jesus, we should take time to withdraw to a quiet and
deserted place to pray. Strength comes from God, and we can be strengthened
only by spending time with Him. You can learn how to follow God by meditating
on His word. Meditating means spending time reading and thinking about what
you have read. II Timothy 2:15 tells us “study to show yourself approved to God,
a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”.
Knowing and meditating on God’s word are the first steps toward applying it to
your everyday life. If you want to follow God more closely, you must know what
He says. Paul told Timothy to reflect on his words, and God would give him
insight (II Timothy 2:7). Paul tells Timothy in I Timothy 4:14-16 “neglect not the
gift that is in you, which was given you by prophecy, with the laying on of the
hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things, give yourself wholly to
them, that your profiting may appear to all. Take heed to yourself, and to the
doctrine; continue in them; for in doing this you shall both save yourself, and
them that hear you”.
God speaks through the Bible, His word, but we need to be open and receptive to
Him. As you read the Bible, ask God to show you His timeless truths and the
application to your life. Then consider what you have read by thinking it through
and meditating on it. God will give you understanding.
The psalmist prayed that the meditation of his heart would be acceptable in God’s
sight (Psalms 19:14), so let us pray this prayer. Ephesians 3:20 says “now to Him
that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according
to the power that works in us”. So let us began to give God something to work
with. Start thinking about what God has told you, and visualize the manifestation
of it. Remember you have to see it with the eyes of your heart before you will see
it with your natural eyes.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: April 15, 2008
