Meditation: God Smiling
by Mike Killebrew
My wife just sent me a picture from my youngest daughter’s bedroom. She’s 11 years old, and the picture showed five notecards with some of her favorite Scriptures carefully taped to the window. Receiving this picture made my day! I normally remove items taped to my kids’ walls, doors, etc., because of the damage it does to the paint when left for too long. However, this taped-to-the-glass collage will get a pass on my anti-tape rule that I’ve been adamantly enforcing over the last couple of decades. I love that she has picked some favorite Scriptures and has given them some special recognition and attention in her space. My dad smile is as broad as it can be when I see things like this from my children. Sometimes my face gets sore from smiling because of my children! I have much to smile about. I believe God was also enjoying her while she was writing and taping those cards to her window. I imagine God smiling over that scene.
Experiencing the joy of this dad moment encouraged me to reflect on how God might feel when I slow down and give my undivided attention to Him. I think meditation is a spiritual discipline that, when practiced, brings Him a special kind of delight, especially when we dwell on His work and His Word. I suspect that David had this perspective as well when he wrote Psalm 19:14, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” He was trusting that meditation not only provided great benefit to him as a participant and recipient but also gave the Lord an opportunity to be pleased.
It is interesting to me that David wants to be sure that his words and meditation are pleasing to God. Is God pleased with our words and repeated thoughts? Since God knows what our mind dwells on throughout the day, is He pleased with how we use our mental energies? In a given day, how much time do we truly spend in Scripture meditation or having repetitive, God-honoring thoughts? The repeated thoughts we have and how we focus—does it bring honor to Him? These are good questions to ask.
I don’t usually think of meditation as something that pleases the Lord. My shallow perspective is sometimes more selfish than worshipful. I’m guilty of looking for moments of impact that are pleasing and enjoyable for me and don’t frequently think of it as being pleasing to the Lord. Meditating on Scripture or God’s work in His creation is pleasing and beneficial to me in incalculable ways, and I’ve been able to drink deeply from those moments. I additionally want to make sure that, like David, I’m ensuring those moments of meditation are pleasing to the Lord. I want Him to smile.
Please find three thoughts which I believe make our Father smile through the practice of meditation:
Meditate on God's Word with Intentionality: One way to bring delight to God is by intentionally setting aside regular time to meditate on His Word. When we make a conscious effort to immerse ourselves in Scripture, reflecting deeply on its meaning and application for our lives, we show God that His words are valuable to us. We can create dedicated moments where we focus solely on God's Word, allowing it to permeate our thoughts and actions. I think it pleases Him, putting a big smile on His face, when we start our day with intentionality in His Word!
Meditate with a Heart of Gratitude: Gratitude is a powerful expression that pleases God. Again, I think it makes Him smile! When we meditate with a heart full of thankfulness for His blessings, His work in creation, and the countless ways He works in our lives, we honor Him. Consider using your meditation time to list the things you're grateful for, reflecting on specific instances where you've seen God's hand at work. This not only strengthens your relationship with Him but also shifts your focus from personal desires to a profound appreciation for His goodness, echoing the sentiment of David in Psalm 19:14.
Meditate to Align with God's Will: Meditating to seek alignment with God's will, I believe, can bring Him great joy. When we avoid some of life’s distractions by seeking His guidance, asking Him to shape our thoughts, attitudes, and actions according to His purpose, we demonstrate our trust and dependence on Him. This practice can involve reflecting on His promises, seeking His wisdom in decision-making, and allowing His Spirit to transform our hearts. By striving to align our lives with His will through meditation, we show our dedication to living in a way that is pleasing to Him, just as David aspires to in his Psalm. God will certainly smile when you meet Him where He’s already at work!
So, the next time you spend time with the Lord, remember with intentionality, gratitude, and alignment with God's will, you're not just enriching your soul—you're putting a smile on God's face. Happy meditating and picture Him smiling!
