“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.” – Psalm 1:1-2
Psalm 1 lets us know just how important it is to meditate on God’s Word since without doing this we are will not be able to actually DO God’s revealed will. “Blessed is the man… his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.”
What is a simple workable definition for Christian Meditation? I found this one that I like; “Christian meditation is not an emptying of the mind but an intentional focus with upon God’s truth for our lives and the lives of others.” Even this one is too long…but it isn’t really about the definition but the need for the practice.
The Puritans were masters of meditation, chewing on Scripture until it warmed the heart, killed sin, strengthened grace, and worked obedience. They wrote countless books on this Christian discipline since the people had become so dependent upon the priests teaching and had no understanding concerning the Word for themselves. Books like Richard Sibbes’, Divine Meditations and Holy Contemplations, as well as, Isaac Ambrose’s’, On the Nature and Kinds of Meditation, then there is William Bridge’s, The Sweetness and Profitableness of Divine Meditations, and Thomas Watson’s, A Christian on the Mount; or the Treatise Concerning Meditation and lastly (but in no way the last, just the last of this very short list) Thomas Manton’s Holy Meditations. These are all still in print or digitally available in their original language or modernized.
All of these books give steps toward achieving the final goal of putting meditation into practice. Here are just five taken from Holy Meditations and others.
1. Pray for the Holy Spirit’s help to focus your mind, warm your desire, and kill the sins of distraction and temptations that will seek to invade your time. Some also recommend in this prayer to pray for increased grace.
2. Read scripture and choose one clear text and doctrine (start simple) which fits the present needs God has made you aware of. All recommend memorization even noting the fact that this is hard for some, especially the immature in the faith. I also recommend reading out loud when you can for the Bible promises great blessing in this and it keeps your focus on the Word.
3. Fix your eyes/thoughts on that truth that you have before you, stay within what God has revealed. Then turn it over and over in your mind at the time and then continue to think on IT throughout the day. (eventually you will also want to find supporting verses for a fuller meditation.)
4. Stir the affections (a word that our forefather’s in the faith used a lot…if you are unaware of the meaning and usage of this word…there is your first meditation!). When stirring up your affection begin to discover ways to apply it personally. Speak to your soul, the Puritans would often say, press the truth home for your comfort, duty and reassurance for growing in Christ and putting sin more and more to death. For when we are convinced and convicted of the Truth we are more effective witnesses for God.
5. Then lastly, turn this meditation into an on-going practice. Form concrete resolutions and stick with it…it will take time to develop the beloved habit of meditation. Then after sometime, conclude with prayer and thanksgiving. And if there is time and you are so inclined they always recommended singing a Psalm. Singing like memorization impresses the truth into our soul. Then, of course, strive to live out what you have meditated on. For as they all remind…death is always with us and today may be the last day we have on this earth and we need to make the best of it for the glory of the LORD.
Remember our definition, “Christian meditation is not an emptying of the mind but an intentional focus with upon God’s truth for our lives and the lives of others.” Don’t let the practice scare you but remind yourself of this verses, “Blessed is the man… his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.”
The promise of God blessing should motivate us forward….always.
God Bless y’all today.
In His Grip,
Pastor Mike
