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Over the next month or two I am going to be studying various spiritual disciplines. These exercises are something that we do out of a love for God and a desire to know Him in a deeper way. It is easy for Christians to treat spiritual disciplines as a burden or as a means to feel better about themselves. Sometimes Christians develop the mindset that God loves them more when they are doing more spiritual things. Holy habits do not get us on God's "good side" but are designed so that we may experience the fullness of joy in the Lord! These exercises are done out of faith working through love. Spiritual disciplines alone count for nothing, but if they are working out of a love for God, they count for everything!
The first holy habit I am going to be discussing is meditation. John Piper describes meditation as an act of...
"feeding our minds on the words of God and digesting them slowly, savoring the texture, enjoying the juices, cherishing the flavor of such rich fare" Desiring God "
Meditation is the ability to hear God’s voice and obey his word. It involves listening to His Word, reflecting on His works, remembering His mighty deeds, and thinking deeply on His laws. In order to meditate on God's Word, we must create an emotional and spiritual environment which allows Christ to speak to the most inner part of our heart.
One of my favorite passages of scripture has a lot to say about mediation.
In the Hebrew language, mediate means "to muse over something or to be absorbed in thought, to gaze thoughtfully at". Personally, meditation is one of the holy habits that I need to work on the most. During my quiet times, I tend to quickly read through scripture and put more attention on my devotion for the day. There is so much richness and life-changing truth in the Word that I miss when I gloss over passages without considering what it means. If we are truly passionate about God's Word, if we truly delight in it, then we will soak it in for all that its worth.
“Blessed is the man [whose] delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1
If you were to ask me what God told me this morning in my quiet time, I would not be able to tell you. I have forgotten. I read His Word, but did not put the time and energy into thinking and praying about what God was telling me.
“The reason we come away so cold from reading the word is, because we do not warm ourselves at the fires of meditation.” Thomas Watson
How do we go about meditating? I think we must first create the right environment, physically and mentally. Go to a quiet place. Clear your thoughts. Come before God, really go before Him. Entering into God's presence is an act we must continually do even though He is always with us. Imagine He is sitting right next to you. Talk to Him and ask Him to speak to you. Open up His Word and imagine Him speaking these words to you personally. Even if you read a big portion, pick out specific verses that jump out at you. Formulate questions you have about the verses. Read them out loud. Rephrase the words into a prayer. Develop a big idea of what the author is trying to say. Journal all of your thoughts and insights. Pray over what this verse means for you. Write out a short statement that captures all you have learned so you can take it throughout your day.
In a world of constant business and instant gratification, it is hard to sit still long enough still our soul. Before mediating on God's Word, do not forget to ask Him to quiet your heart and mind. The Bible should captivate our thoughts. Ask God to create a desire for His Word that is so strong that we cannot help but think about it not just in our morning devos, but all throughout the day. Meditation allows us to experience God's truth to its fullest. It allows God's Word to transform our minds so that we can live it out.
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Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Holy Habits: Meditation
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