Heavenly Meditation

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." (Joshua 1: 8)

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." (Psalm 1: 1, 2)

Who today does this? Who meditates in the bible every day? Is it only the "fanatical" Christian? Only the Christian "weirdo" or "fundamentalist"?

Do most Christians practice daily meditation in the scriptures? Sadly, most do not. It is also why many Christians do not find "success" and "prosperity" of soul. It is the reason many cannot overcome depression or deal successfully with life's difficulties. It is why they make bad decisions.

If we want to be "blessed" and happy, we will daily delight ourselves in the scriptures. We do good to our souls when we meditate upon the word of God and we harm our souls in failing to do so. Why do people, even professing Christians, not delight themselves daily in the word of God?

"The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts." (Psalm 10: 4)

"The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity." (Psalm 94: 11)

"Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths." (Isaiah 59: 7)

Solomon said - "as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23: 7) People do not think and meditate upon God and his word because they had rather spend the time thinking upon sin, and in entertaining vain thoughts, and putting God out of their thoughts.

Sinners and backslidden Christians spend their thought time thinking upon that which is evil and sinful, the thing they love to think upon in their hearts. They cannot say with David - "I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love." (Psalm 119: 13)

When Solomon said, of the wicked, that "God is not in all his thoughts," the implication is clearly that those who are righteous are they who do in fact have God in all their thoughts.

It is ironic that those who read very little of God's word, on a regular basis, seem to have the most to say about it, and who put themselves forth as authorities on who is God, and on his works and ways. But, they are deceived, and it can rather be said of them - "But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel." (Micah 4: 12)

Christian meditation is not like the eastern practices of "meditation." The Christian does not sit in silence and try to "think of nothing," as do many who call such a practice "meditation." Meditation is not the practice of thinking about nothing, but is the practice of thinking deeply about things that are great mysteries. The Christian has obeyed the command that says:

"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." (Isaiah 55: 7)

Having forsaken his own thoughts, thoughts of sin, vanity and pride, he now, by God's grace and Spirit, focuses on other things, heavenly topics and divine subjects, and he finds these thoughts much more delightful than thoughts of sin and wickedness.

"I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands." (Psalm 143: 5)

"My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned." (Psalm 39: 3)

Rather than spending time "musing" today, especially in the things of God, in theology, people spend their time in "amusement," which is the opposite of "musement." To "muse" is to be wholly absorbed in thought, to be mentally in another world, yea, in the realm of spirit and thought, while to be "amused" is to be in a state where there is no deep thought, in a state where people want to "turn off" their brains from any "higher thoughts" and just want to please and entertain the flesh.

It is a heavenly state of mind in which to be! to be enraptured in thought! It does produce this inner "burning" of heart about which the Psalmist spoke. It is such a good and sweet feeling!

"My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD." (Psalm 104: 34)

"O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day." (Psalm 119: 97)

"O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep." (Psalm 92: 5)

"In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul." (Psalm 94: 17)

Friend, do you ever read the word of God? Fellow Christian, are you neglecting the reading, studying, and meditation of the word of God? Are you substituting sinful thoughts for thoughts of God and righteousness? Do you not know that wicked thoughts destroy the soul? Do you not know that to be enraptured in thoughts of the Lord is a mental state that can be compared to the best "high" in the world?! I urge you to begin reading and musing upon God's word today, and every day, so that you might prosper and be blessed in spirit.

"Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all." (I Timothy 4: 15)

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4: 8)