““The disclosure of your words illuminates, providing understanding to the simple”.”
Disclosure is the revealing of what is inside, but understanding comes when the light of the work shines. So when the word of God is revealed, it brings froth light that helps us to see what it really means. John 8:12 “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” When we read the word of God, Jesus is revealed in the letter as light, and he can shine froth through our spirit man, and we are able to understand what the word says. Meditation helps us to understand what we have read.
What is Meditation?
Joshua 1:8 “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.”
Meditation involves the consistency of a deep reflection and thinking of the word of God. The focus is on the mind and the word of God, allowing the word to occupy the mind. Meditation is one of the channels through which the Spirit of God can connect with the spirit of man and bring the scriptures to life and understanding. For Joshua this had to be a practice in the day and night, implying all the time, a lifestyle built on thoughts and action around God’s word. Joshua’s prosperity and success in life and ministry was dependent on his obedience to this word. Colossians 3:16 “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Meditation is like a magnetic that binds the word of God in us and as we continue to reflect on it, it finds a resting place within us and begin to flow from us through wisdom, psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit of God. Meditation ensures that our minds functions like a storage house for the word of God, when needed, it becomes readily available for urgent use.Meditation is our ability to dwell on God’s revealed truth until it can control our thoughts, mouth, and actions. To ponder, mull over, ponder, reflect on, speak it to the heart, it’s a focused and intentional thinking of the word until it becomes it shapes one’s thinking and behavior. The expectation of meditation is not just random thoughts but a time where the Holy Spirit is invited into shine light in the revealed word of God. John 14:26 “ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
When you are a Jesus’s lover it makes it easy for you to meditate on the word if you understand how and what the benefits are. All through the book of psalms, David constantly talked about how he meditates on the laws of the Lord. Psalm 119:97 “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.” Psalm 63:6 “When I remember you upon my bed, andmeditate on you in the watches of the night.”
If we don’t understand what ours is, we will be unable to enjoy it and therefore become frustrated with life for no reason. Romans 15:4 “For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.”
The psalmist understands this; the words of his mouth must line up with the meditation in his heart. You cannot stand in the place of prayer, quoting scripture with unbelief or a different thought in your heart. Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
Advantages of Meditation
Meditation pushes sin away from us: The word of God stored means its always there: Psalm 119:11 “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
Fuit yielding and prosperity: Psalm 1:2-3 “2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his Law Day and night. 3That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither whatever they do prospers.”
A mind occupied by the word of God will always think about these things as stated: Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Meditation keeps the word of God within reach and provides you with wisdom to engage your enemies and people around you: Psalm 119:97-99 “97 Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. 98 Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies. 99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.”
Meditation enhances your spiritual senses and discernment: Genesis 24:63 “And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening. And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, there were camels coming.”
Meditation draws us close to the presence and word of God: Psalm 119:15-16 “15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. 16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” Psalm 119:148 “My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.”
Meditation increases our understanding and strengthens our relationship with God.Reference Joshua 1:8 above. The life of Joshua as a leader in Isreal was greatly influenced and successful because God had prepared him in the place of studying and meditating the word day and night.
Meditation exercise is important for our spiritual growth and understanding, as it permitsus to align their thoughts and actions with God's will: Proverbs 6:22-23 “22When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you 23 For this commandment is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way to life.”
Meditation enables us to walk in clear direction: Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”
Mediation has the potential to renew your mind and cause you to change your thoughts and actions: Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Some practical ways to Meditate on the Word of God: Note that there is no clear way stated in the bible on how to mediate but from scripture one can extract some ways that helps.
1: Determination, intentional, purposeful, Serious.
2. Pray and read the bible
3. Stop and think about what you have just read. What do you think the Holy Spirit is revealing to you, it may be the verse.
4. If a particular verse comes into your thoughts, focus and reflect on that.
5. Wait and allow the Holy spirit to minister to you spirit.
5. Repeat that verse several times, write it down, if possible, take it along with you wherever you go. Think about it. Say it aloud so it becomes part of you.
Some Prayer Points
Pray for the grace to be in the word of God like Joshua 1:8
Pray that the for the spirit of wisdom and revelation in our knowledge of Jesus Christ: Ephesians 1:17-18 “17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him. 18 I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints.”
Pray that the word of God will create impact in our lives that will change the way we understand and walk in the word: Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Pray that God will open our understanding on to what we actually have received- the Spirit of the Lord, not some random thought or imagination: 1 Corinthians 2: 12-13 “12 We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.”
Pray that God will fill us with the knowledge of his will: Colossians 1:9 “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”