Meditation?

Meditation.  The word sends anxiety and trepidation into my heart.   Generally, I think fear of meditation falls into two categories.  The first is it's association with eastern religions, idol worship, and ideologies that don't line up with Biblical truth.  These practices are not of God and therefore something we need to run from.  The second fear involving meditation is where I fall.  It's two-fold.  Firstly, it's keeping my mind focused and in tune with what passage I'm supposed to be meditating on and secondly, it's the fact that I might get bored.  LOL  Sounds sacrilege, right.  I mean it's God's Word... I shouldn't get bored thinking about it, but I doubt the fault is in the subject matter.  😀

The Bible tells us to meditate.  Joshua 1:8 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.  I think a lot of our struggles could be overcome more quickly, we would mirror Jesus better, and be better witnesses if we spent time in meditation.  Right here in Joshua it tells us that if we spend time mulling over God's Word we will have success.  I think meditation actually makes God Word become a part of us.  Maybe it's the way it goes from one's head to one's heart.  I've always felt that was trouble spot for me.  I know a lot more in my head than is a reality for my heart. 

I picked up a book last year called "Quiet Prayer" by Marie Chapian.  It leads the reader into the purpose and power of Christian meditation.  I have to say, I picked this book up to read it in the beginning of this year and stopped. The book talked about spending 20, 30, 60 minutes in communion with the Lord.  What!!  Staying focused for anything more than 30 seconds is difficult...I mean there are chores to think about, phone calls to list in my head, time schedules to figure out, plans to organize....LOL  My head is a busy place!  As so I try to meditate only to be sidetracked, fumbling with starts and stops through five minutes of "meditation" until I just give up. 

Well, I decided to try this all again.  And wow, I actually hit on something that helped!  I started to picture the scene in my head.  Literally.  The passage given was the Sermon on the Mount.  An easy passage to recreate in one's head.  And maybe that's how we need to start...places in the Bible that actually have a physical place where the passage happened.  We can all picture those.  Most of us can picture a hillside, people seated in small groups, families gathered together, Jesus in the middle.  The sun is warm, maybe a light breeze.  The birdsong outside my window served as a backdrop for what was likely heard as Jesus spoke.  His voice gentle, powerful, filled with wisdom.  Then I went onto the people.  Many were there because they needed the Word of life, they needed to hear this amazing man.  Others may have been dragged there by a friend or family member, they would have had scoffer's hearts.   Flesh these scenes out as you focus on them.

Setting the scene in my head then lead me to the words Jesus was speaking.  Next up I pulled apart the sentences, focused on individual words, their meanings and this lead me into praying for these words to become my life. 

Wow.  What an experience.  My mind didn't wander once.  Just thinking about this now sets butterflies fluttering in my stomach.  It was so cool!!  I actually meditated!!  And if I can do this, anyone can!!

So, here was my "formula" as it were.  I took an easy passage, one with a physical location or scene to start my focus on.  Something I could easily draw a picture of in my mind, something from personal experience.  Next, I went onto the people, another thing I could relate to, being I'm a people.  And then into the words, their meanings, what Jesus was saying them for.  And finally, prayer for His Word and concepts to manifest themselves in my life.  The create in me the character of  Jesus. 

I believe meditation is key to making God's Word a part of us.  So I hope this entry gives you guys some ideas into trying it for yourselves.  I hope it allays some of the fear you may have about it and lets you know that you too can do this. 

Lord, teach us to meditate on Your Word.  Teach us to connect our hearts to You and let the Holy Spirit guide us into all truth through concentrated focus on You and the Bible.  We need this.  Let us draw near to You in quiet times of contemplation and prayer.  Our lives are busy, our heads our busy, but as Jesus told Martha in Luke 10:41-42  Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”  You are our greatest "to do."  Our greatest need.  We want to make You our greatest focus.   In Jesus' Name.  Amen. 

Psalm 1:2  But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

Psalm 77:12  I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds.

Psalm 119:15  I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways.

Psalm 145:5   I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works.

Try it.