MEDITATION

Today's blog is an addendum to yesterday's thoughts about the difference between reading and studying the Bible.

In Joshua 1:8 Moses commanded the people not to let the book of the law "depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night. . ." The Living Bible Paraphrase pretty well defines the word "meditation" when it says, "think about them every day and every night." (It also tells why, "so that you will be sure to obey all of them" -- God's laws, or His words, that is!)

But back to the thought of meditation. Meditation is more than mere reading. And it is more than studying, too. Studying, of course, comes first, for we really can't think on the Word of God day and night until we first read and then study it. Meditating upon it just takes it a step deeper. We need to speak the Scriptures constantly, but we can only do that by hiding them in our hearts. Meditating upon the Word helps us live exactly as the Bible instructs us.

Psalm 1:2 confirms the truth of the above Scripture. Talking about the man who is blessed, the Psalmist says, "(H)is delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." If we really delight in God's Word, we just can't get enough of it. We'll relish every opportunity we can find to think "about ways to follow him more closely" (LB).

Meditate while dressing in the mornings, while preparing your meals, while driving to and from work (if you haven't retired), while doing your housework, going shopping, waiting in the doctor's office, etc. You'll find that meditating upon God's Word will help give you victory over Satan and your circumstances.

If meditation is not part of your daily habits, I challenge you to start meditating today.

Preacher's Kid

P.S. I finally did it -- blogged every day this month!!