Four Powerful Tools: Meditation

Introduction

In this series, so far, we have looked at the internal spiritual disciplines of:

Study

Prayer

Fasting

Today we will look at meditation

Time out! Meditation?? Are you serious? Isn’t that what Buddhists monks, Yoga people, and New Agers do?

Are you going to try to convince me that I need to sit cross-legged on the floor, on a cushiony mat, with incense burning on the table, while I get in touch with my inner self?

No…..so breathe folks

Meditation defined

Focused, contemplative practice where we dwell upon God’s Word, God’s nature, etc, allowing it to go past your mind into your heart

The practice of focusing one's thoughts on specific spiritual matters or on a deity. In Christian traditions, meditation is a spiritual practice typically involving quiet reflection, contemplation, and prayerful focus on God, scripture, or other spiritual themes, with the aim of deepening one's connection with God and seeking spiritual insight.

Meditation is not just thinking, it goes beyond thinking. That’s how is penetrates the heart

8 times in Psalm 119 David speaks of meditation Ps 119:15, 23, 27, 48, 78, 97, 99, 148

Meditation is biblical

David, yes THAT David, was a meditator:

Psalm 1:1–2 (ESV)

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 63:5–8 ESV

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

Psalm 77:12 ESV

I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.

Meditation is commanded

While the term is not used in the Mosaic Law, the concept certainly is:

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 (ESV)

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

In Joshua’s great commission by the LORD as he took command of Israel, the LORD told him repeatedly no be courageous and not fearful. We like that part. But, we often skip what could be argued is the key to courage and success:

Joshua 1:8 ESV

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.

How to meditate on Scripture

Read a text/verse repeatedly

Write it down

Memorize it (so it goes with you)

Say it out loud

Pray about it

Think about every facet of it

Conclusion, and a common thread

Study, prayer, fasting, and meditation have one major element in common: effort in solitude.

Busyness, noise, chaos are all distractions. If we are going to get alone, it is going to require some effort

You have got to get alone to make these happen effectively, and getting alone with these is getting alone with God.

If we are going to grow in Jesus, then we are going to have to spend time with Him and Him alone.