One night while trying to sleep, a phrase came to mind. It was, “life is not a chore, it is something to be enjoyed every day.”
Many people go through life as if it were a chore. They don’t look forward to the day. They just want to get through this or that. While I understand, we all will have challenges, life is good. And God is good.
The Bible says Jesus came that we might have life and enjoy it to the full until it overflows. So why are so many Christians not enjoying life?
Here is how I see it. You can’t speak negative day after day and have a positive life. You can’t speak the problem all the time and expect to walk in joy or the blessings of God.
The way to live the abundant, joy-filled life must begin with the word of God and getting more of His word in you than the negative things going on around you.
You must speak the answer, not the problem. Getting God’s word in you will change you from the inside out – but how do you do that? It begins with meditating on the word of God.
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; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:1-3
The Passion Translation paints us a better picture with verse 3:
He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree planted by God’s design, deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss, bearing fruit in every season of his life. He is never dry, never fainting, ever blessed, ever prosperous.
Deeply rooted by brooks of bliss. Bearing fruit in every season of life. Never dry. Never fainting. Ever blessed. Ever prosperous.
Wow! Now that sounds like the abundant life Jesus died to give us! Is this life possible? Of course, it is! Not only is it possible, but it has been made available to us through the blood of Jesus Christ.
These blessings are one of many blessings that come through meditating on the word of God. The Bible is filled with the blessings and benefits of meditation.
Meditation is simply defined as to utter, speak, muse, imagine, ponder or study.
To meditate is to reflect on the same thing over and over again, visualize it and let the meaning of it sink deep down into your heart. It is a spiritual practice that’s encouraged throughout Scripture.
A simple analogy can be found in a cup of tea. You are the cup of hot water and word of God is the tea bag. Hearing God’s Word is like one dip of the tea bag into the cup. With one dip, some of the tea’s flavor is absorbed by the water. However, the more we dip the tea bag, the more flavor is absorbed into the water. Continued meditation is like immersing the bag completely and letting it remain deep in the water until all the rich tea flavor has been extracted. The water becomes the tea. You can no longer separate the two.
For a tea drinker, the more dips into the water, the more flavor they experience. For the one who meditates, the more they meditate, the deeper they go in God and the more of His essence is released in their life.
True success is promised to those who meditate on God’s Word, who think deeply on Scripture. They become one with the word as it sinks deeply into them. Then they obey the word they have meditated on. As a result, God prospers their way and they succeed in all they do.
There is a divine connection between success and meditating on God’s word.
God told Joshua, “Study this Book of the Law continually. Meditate on it day and night so you may be sure to obey all that is written in it. Only then will you succeed.” (Joshua 1:8, NLT)
God’s path to success in life is to know Him. One way we do that is to read and mediate on His word.
Philippians 4:8 says; Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about.
Meditating on God’s word and His goodness leaves no room for negative thinking.
Isaiah 26:3 reminds us that God keeps us in perfect peace, as our mind is stayed upon Him.
When we mediate daily on His word, keeping our mind constantly on Him, He will keep us in perfect peace. Perfect peace. Regardless of what is going on around you.
Meditation is a powerful tool. A God-given tool. It is not an option for the believer. God commands us to meditate on His word. Therein we find success, peace and wisdom. Therein we find, unceasing fruitfulness.
Meditate on this:
Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8
