One of the subjects Dr. Stanley addresses in today's study is meditation. According to the dictionary, to meditate is to think, to reflect, to ponder, to contemplate. In Psalm 1, the writer (who is anonymous), says that meditating on God's law is a source of blessing. Dwight Moody quoted "Dr. Bonner of Glasgow" as saying, "The Lord didn't show Joshua how to use the sword, but He told him how he should meditate on the Lord day and night, and then he would have good success". In our reading in 2 Samuel, God gave David, through Nathan, an entire passage of "food for thought". At this point, the Lord was giving David rest from all his enemies. Dr. Stanley comments that when we attain success it is a good idea to reflect on how we arrived, acknowledging God's blessings in our lives.
The Anne Graham Lotz method of Bible Study has been mentioned previously in this blog. It is a path of meditation that brings us to applying passages of scripture in our lives. Proverbs 23:7, reminds us that our thoughts make us into who we become. Thoughts enter our mind to the tune of 12,000 to 60,000 in a 24 hour period of time, according to those who have researched this subject. When we meditate we are purposely focusing our minds. Dr. Stanley says, "We must have a pure purpose for meditation: to get to know God more intimately". He says, "Meditate on who He is--and you will come to know His character and His desires in a deep, fresh way".
In Psalm 64:1, we see that David may have meditated out loud. He writes, "Hear my voice, O God, in my meditation". Being alone in the fields as a shepherd, David no doubt spoke out loud to God in prayer as well as when he was meditating on God's goodness, God's plan for his life, God's will for him, God's glory, and God's promises (Dr. Stanley lists all these in his section on meditation). The reading in Proverbs mentions that a haughty spirit goes before a fall. Our meditation on God on a regular basis should serve to humble us and help us realize we are so inferior to God and without Him we are nothing. He holds our very lives in His hands. Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Peter, just to name a few, were taken aback at the holiness of God. When we see who God really is, it will knock the pride right out of us and put us on our faces! Meditating on the Word of God with a willing heart and the help of the Holy Spirit can lead us to this life-changing realization.
John 5:24, in our New Testament passage, certainly has the potential to bless us with understanding when we meditate on these words of Jesus. "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life". When we fail to think about God and His Word on a daily basis--we tend to forget who God is and where we stand with God as believers. To walk with God and live the abundant life (John 10:10) is to continually think on the things of God. At first, this might seem "boring" or impossible. However, when we consider the mundane thoughts that can depress us and weigh us down with worry and concerns, we realize it is a privilege as well as refreshing to meditate on the things of God!
One of the most beautiful verses in the Bible is found in Philippians 4:8. (This scripture is not in our reading for the day, however, God's word connects throughout the Bible and one verse or passage can trigger thoughts of other verses that add to the idea in the initial passage.) And now, this beautiful verse: "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things" (NKJV).
It is a documented fact that on average, a large percentage of our thoughts are negative--without looking it up, I'm thinking it's about 80%. It's no wonder we live in a time of depression, anxiety, suicide, and despair. Do we allow the negative aspects of life to consume our thoughts? I read an article this morning that linked depression to strokes for middle-aged women. Life for all of us is going to include problems and difficulties. However, Jesus has said, "You shall know the truth and the truth will make you free" (John 8). In John 17:17, we find that God's word is truth. Jesus prefaces this statement by saying, "Sanctify them by your truth". Jesus says we are set apart for a holy purpose by the truth--by God's Word! This is the reason for meditating on His Word. It can set us apart from despair, from hopelessness! May we focus our thoughts and discover the blessings and benefits of meditating on God's Word!
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