The world is stealing Godly concepts such as meditation, but we can’t avoid using them because the world tries to redefine them! Let’s find out what the Bible says about meditation.
The truth is that meditation is God’s idea and it is an important part of our spiritual walk with God.
Worldly meditation is about focusing, emptying the mind, and observing thoughts, or an Eastern form of meditation. However, Godly meditation is completely different.
According to Strong’s dictionary: Meditate (H7878)
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to put forth, mediate, muse, commune, speak, complain, ponder, sing…
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to complain
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to muse, meditate upon, study, ponder
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to talk, sing, speak
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(Polel) to meditate, consider, put forth thoughts
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Godly meditation is about pondering or thinking about scripture. According to the above definition meditation is also about singing, and speaking the truth.
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe 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. Joshua 1:8
The Lord commanded Joshua to meditate on the law of God day and night and to observe and obey it. The truth is that we cannot obey something we don’t know or don’t remember. That is why we need to meditate on God’s word.
God gave these instructions to Joshua after Moses’ death about taking on the leadership of the nation of Israel. Although Joshua had been walking with Moses and was trained by him, God was establishing a foundation in this man’s life. The Lord was setting Joshua up for success in life and his leadership. The Lord had already told him to be strong and courageous, but those characteristics were not sufficient for us to be successful apart from meditating on God’s law day and night and obeying it.
Joshua would have needed to know the law of God as they advanced in the Promised Land. He needed to meditate on the law of God, so he can live it, speak it, and lead others with it. The nation of Israel needed to know how to behave and conduct themselves in brand new situations, which they had never encountered before, and Joshua was the one who had to remind them of God’s law and set an example for them.
Similarly, if we desire to have success in life, we want to make it a priority to meditate on God’s word day and night. This is not necessarily about listening to another preaching or attending one more church activity. It is about hiding God’s word in our hearts, speaking it, and declaring it in prayer and worship! It requires effort and practice on our end.
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:1-2
The above passage written by David states something very similar to Joshua 1:8. When we meditate on God’s word day and night, we recognize ungodliness quicker. We are also able to flee from temptation and the path of sinners faster.
Is the word of God your delight? How often do you speak it out loud to yourself and those around you? Do you use the word of God in prayer and worship? How often do you meditate on God’s word!?