MEDITATING

Eastern mysticism seems to have laid exclusive claim to the art of meditating. But the Bible not only encourages God's people to meditate, it contrasts it with what most Eastern religions have presented as meditation.

Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful 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.

Meditation helps to calm the soul and still the mind. In Eastern religions, meditation is about clearing the mind to try and achieve this. But Biblical meditation is about filling the mind appropriately. It involves pondering, admiring, considering. It starts with reading the Text. It then involves taking that Text, holding it up to the light, turning it slowly, and looking at it through fresh eyes.

Psalm 1:1-2 ¶ 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.

Christian meditation doesn't require a new haircut. But it might require being still and quiet for a while. It might mean interacting with the Text prayerfully. It might mean using questions to hold the Text up to the light and more questions to slowly twist the Text like a diamond that shimmers new colours of radiance.

Psa. 77:12 I will ponder all your work,
and meditate on your mighty deeds.

Meditating on the Scriptures can have a wonderfully beneficial affect in your soul. It becomes the seedbed of spiritual growth for the Holy Spirit to rain down on and produce a glorious garden of spiritual fruit which can nourish many others. Scripture reading, prayer, and thinking are the first steps to doing what the Bible calls meditating and the reason why some Christians seem to constantly walk in the Spirit and others don't.

Psa. 34:8 ¶ Taste and see that the LORD is good.
Oh, the joys of those who trust in him!

Ps. Andrew