Meditation: from Reading to Application
by Rhonda Henegar
Let’s look at the Latin meaning of meditation: thinking deeply about something, as well as the popular usage of focusing one’s mind for a period of time. I’m going to spring off this definition because it is closest to my idea of meditation.
We can meditate on a lot of different things and not even realize that this is what we are doing. If we look at the Latin meaning of thinking deeply about something, this could go in many different directions. What are you and I thinking deeply about? Are we thinking deeply about God or are we thinking deeply about the world and its troubles? Are we, in our deep thoughts, worrying or fearful? Are we focusing on the here and now or are we focusing on our eternal future?
Psalm 19:14 and Joshua 1:8 (respectively, below) instruct us on what we should be meditating on.
May these words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Keep this Book of Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night.
We all know that meditating on God’s Word will provide us with many healthy benefits. Meditating on His word can bring peace to our soul. It can quiet our minds and push out our worries and fears. It reminds us of who God is and what his many attributes are. It reminds us of who we are in Christ and what He’s done for us.
When I want to meditate or look intently in His Word and focus for a time on it, here’s what I do. As I study a passage of the Bible, I will usually read one chapter approximately three times. I then ask myself the following questions. I will use James 1 as my example in answering the questions.
What does this passage tell us about who God is?
God is our master, verse 1. God is a generous giver, verse 5. God is the giver of life and keeps his promises, verse 12. God is without sin and can’t be tempted by evil, verse 13. God is the giver of every perfect gift that comes from above, verse17. God is steadfast, verse 18. God gave us birth through His word (Jesus); he is creator, verse 18.
What does this passage tell us about who we are?
We are brothers and sisters in the Lord, verse 2. Persevere so that we can be pure and blameless; work in progress, verse 4. Blessed if we stand the test under trials, verse12. We can be tempted or lured into sin by our desires, verse 13-14. We were chosen to receive truth, verse 18. We will be blessed by living out what we read or know, verse 25.
What does this passage say about obedience or disobedience?
When you ask you must believe, verse 6. If we don’t believe for what we are asking, we shouldn’t expect to receive anything from God. If we persevere (stay obedient) and stand the test we receive the crown of life, verse 12. We are disobedient when we are tempted by our own desires and give in to them, verse 15. We accept the Word planted in us because it saves us, or can, if we are obedient to it, verse 21. Do what the Word says, verse 22. If we obey, we will be blessed, verse 22. Keep a tight rein on our tongues, verse 26.
Is there anything that stood out to me through this reading?
God gives generously without finding fault, verse 3.
How can I use this in my life?
I need to be firm in my belief and in God’s promises as I go through trials, and live life everyday with what it brings. I need to look into His Word for hope and encouragement. I need to remember that any temptation I’m facing does not come from God. I need to ask God for wisdom.
You may look at James 1 and get completely different answers to these questions and that’s okay. God speaks to each of us differently through His Word. I’m sure every one of us has a different answer to question 4. We are all at different stages of maturity in our walk with the Lord. We are all living with different circumstances in our life. Let’s face it, life is hard but God is good. We can use this form of meditating on God’s Word to draw us back to what we may have forgotten. We may have our minds set so intently on our struggles, our worries, or fears that we forget about who God is and what He has provided and what he has promised us as believers. We lose sight of what God has in store for us. We forget about who we are in Christ and the benefits that come from having him as our personal savior.
I will ask again, what are you meditating on? I pray this form of meditating will help you reset your mind on things above instead of on things of the world. I pray that looking intently in God’s Word will bring you peace and a hope for the future. I pray it reminds you of who God is and how much he loves us. I pray it reminds you of who you are in Christ and gives you peace and comfort when life is hard.
