In my last teaching post, we learned about the power of meditation in the area of healing. If you missed it, here is the link! Meditating God’s Word as Medicine – Come Away Moments
There is no lack of the subjects we can meditate on between the principles of God’s word and the promises God reveals to us personally. Be sure and check out the three new meditations that have been uploaded to the blog. The links are included below! Here is a testimony of a reader who is experiencing the benefits of making meditation a daily discipline:
“I grew up a church girl but never really sought out a true relationship with Jesus until I became an adult. Before I grew in spiritual maturity I was just going through the motions. For several years now I have set aside the first hour of my day to spend with God. Every day I read scripture, read devotions, and pray. My day goes so much better when I give that first time in the morning to Him. However, it is only recently that I started “Meditating” on God’s Word. I must say that speaking HIs Word out loud helps me to absorb it into my heart and then speaking aloud what it means to me and making it personal has opened a reservoir of peace that I had not experienced before. In the past, I would maybe stop a dozen times a day and ask my Lord to fill me with peace and he always did. But now, through mediation, it is like His peace just flows through me throughout my day and I don’t even have to ask or beg for it. I know that Jesus is in control of the outcomes of all my situations, and I can feel his peace even when things don’t turn out the way I had hoped. Meditating on his Word, for me, chases away fear and anxiety. If we truly believe that His Word is truth and place our faith in Him, then we can receive a reservoir of peace and joy every day.” Lynda G.
As a Christian, we do not empty our minds to meditate, but rather we fill our minds with God’s words. It’s best to include the very words of God versus only positive affirmations that man’s wisdom has derived.
Psalm 1:1-3 shares the value of meditating: “Oh the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night, they are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”
The word meditation for a Christian means to “think deeply” or to “mutter.” It is a “muttering or growl” because meditation is the process by which we renew or transform our mind to come into agreement with what God is saying. Some people have termed it “the suffering between the ears!”
This is because our natural mind is hostile to God and His ways of thinking. When our mind does not agree with what we are speaking from God’s Word, it will be quick to let us know through mental dissonance. Cognitive dissonance is defined as “a psychological state of discomfort or tension that arises when a person receives new information that challenges existing beliefs.”
James 1:6-8 explains the spiritual dilemma behind mental dissonance. “But when you pray, you must believe and not doubt at all. Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea that is driven and blown about by the wind. If you are like that, unable to make up your mind and undecided in all you do, you must not think that you will receive (take/possess*) anything from the Lord.” (emphasis mine)
This mental pushback can be daunting, but if we persist in the practice of meditation, our mind can become “single,” and one with the mind of Christ!
It is also a continuous process to keep our minds renewed to think God’s thoughts. As a boat slowly drifts away from the shore, so will our natural minds drift from the things of God and His desires for us. A wise mentor put it this way, “If you’re coasting in your Christian walk, you’re going downhill!”
As we meditate, we are “laboring” to enter into what is known as God’s rest. This is a state of true faith in complete confidence, where we really believe without doubt what we are speaking. This faith rest will result in a bold and confident declaration of the words God has spoken to us!
2 Corinthians 4:13 – “And since we have the same spirit of faith in keeping with what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we also believe and therefore speak.”
God says believing without doubt that what we say will happen is the key to seeing our prayers manifest in this natural realm (Mark 11:23). This is why meditation of His Word is the crucial first step in petitioning God in prayer.
A bold declaration is what the Bible calls confession, or “saying the same thing.” The purpose for God revealing His Word is for us to meditate on it and become completely persuaded of it. Then, we can return it or speak it back to God in complete confidence and trust!
His word in our mouth becomes the sword of the Spirit, accomplishing what God sent His Word to accomplish. By using His sword, we are able to slash the lies and temptations of the enemy! We can proclaim our freedom from every form of captivity and advance the Kingdom of God!
Isaiah 55:11 – “So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not RETURN to Me void (useless, without result), without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.“
Romans 12:2 – “Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete CHANGE OF YOUR MIND. Then you will be able to know the will of God–what is good and is pleasing to Him and is perfect.”
Romans 10:8 – “But what does it say? The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart.” that is, the message concerning faith that we PROCLAIM.”
Let this song be a reminder of the powerful result of meditation…saying what God says and praying what God prays! I hope you enjoy, “Where You Go, I Will Go,” sung by Brian Johnson & Lindsey Strand.
Below are the links for three new meditations that have been added to the blog! They are very easy to use. Just read out loud, deeply considering with thanksgiving what God has to say.
*Healing For My Broken Heart Meditation:
Healing My Broken Heart Meditation – Come Away Moments
*Victory Over My Enemies Meditation:
Victory Over My Enemies Meditation – Come Away Moments
*God’s Word is Living and Powerful:
God’s Word is Living and Powerful Meditation – Come Away Moments