To Gain Insight into God’s Word, Learn to Meditate on It

In review of Joshua 1:8 this morning, I read “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.” (NIV)

Many think that prosperity and success come from having power, influential personal contacts, and a relentless desire to get ahead. But the strategy for gaining prosperity that God taught Joshua goes against this. He said that to succeed Joshua must (1) be strong and courageous because the task ahead would not be easy, (2) obey God's law, and (3) constantly read and study the Book of Instruction, God's Word. To be successful, I too should follow God's words to Joshua. I may not succeed by the world's standards, but I will be a success in God's eyes. For many, success is controlling others; for Joshua it meant being controlled by God. Act on what I know God has said, and God will assure me success in carrying out his purposes.

There are so many things I can do to unlock the gifts the Bible offers. I can read Scripture, study it, and memorize it. But I should also meditate on it.

Second Timothy 2:7 says, “Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this” (NIV).

When I reflect and meditate on the Bible, God will give me more insight into his Word.

To meditate means to think seriously about something. It means I engage my mind.

If I know how to worry, I know how to meditate. Worry is simply negative meditation. When I worry, I take a negative thought and go over and over it in your mind. And the more I worry, the bigger my thoughts become.

In meditation, I should do the same thing with Scripture: I should go over and over a passage of the Bible in my mind. But unlike worry, meditating on Scripture produces positive results.

One of the ways to meditate on Scripture is by doing what is called “pronouncing” it. Say a Bible verse aloud over and over again. Each time I say it, emphasize a different word.

Take Philippians 4:13, for example: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (NKJV). The first time you say the verse, emphasize I. The next time I emphasize the word can. And so on, until I emphasize the last word of the verse.

Each time I say the verse, its meaning will be nuanced in a different way.

Another tool for meditating is a reflection bridge. Beneath every story in the Bible is a timeless principle, and the reflection bridge helps you find it. First, read the story and ask what it meant when it first happened. Then ask what timeless principle it’s teaching. Then personalize it by asking what it means to me today.

The Bible promises tremendous blessings if I spend time meditating on it: “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 NIV).

If I take the time now to develop the habit of meditating on God’s Word, I’ll reap the benefits for the rest of my life.

In summary, keep God's Word on my lips; meditate on it day and night, so that I can be careful to do everything written in it. Then I will be prosperous and successful. Like God told Joshua, I too should be strong and courageous, obey his lay, and constantly read and study his book of instruction. For many, success means controlling others. For Joshua and myself, it means being controlled by God. So act on what I know God has said, and God will assure me success in carrying out his purposes. If I know how to worry, then I know how to meditate. Taking the time now to develop the habit of meditation on God's Word will allow me to reap benefits for the rest of my life.

Father thank you for the guidance and insight you teach me through your words. I consider today, in light of changes at work and my reporting relationship, that I consider and realize that success is not having power or control but being controlled by God for his purposes. I pray today for wisdom and guidance for my day, my activities, my leadership and my interaction with others. This I pray through your Son Jesus name, Amen.

Becoming a Student of the God’s Work, the Bible

In review of Psalm 1:1-2 I read, “Happy are those who reject the advice of evil people . . . Instead, they find joy in obeying the Law of the LORD, and they study it day and night.” (GNT)

There are joys of obeying God and refusing to listen to those who discredit or ridicule him. My friends and associates can have a profound influence on me, often in subtle ways. If I insist on friendship with those who mock what God considers important, I too might sin by becoming indifferent to God's will. This attitude is the same as mocking. True friends should help me draw closer to God, not hinder my relationship with him. God will judge me based on my faith in him and my response to his revealed will. When I diligently try to obey His will, I am blessed and watched over. I learn to follow God by spending time reading and thinking about what I've read. It means asking myself how I can change so that I live as God wants. 

What do a good detective and a good Bible student have in common? They both learn to ask good questions and draw solid conclusions.

When detectives arrive at a crime scene, they first observe. They look around and see the details most of us would overlook. Then they ask questions. Finally, they put all the facts together to make conclusions.

When I’m a student of the Bible, I approach Scripture like a detective.

I come to a text and look closely at it. I look for details that a quick read might overlook. I ask questions about it. I compare it with other Bible verses or translations. Then I put it all together to figure out, “What does this mean to me today?”

Psalm 1:1-2 says,“Happy are those who reject the advice of evil people . . . Instead, they find joy in obeying the Law of the Lord, and they study it day and night” (GNT).

To really get God’s Word into my life, I can’t just read it. I need to study it, like a good detective would.

The difference between just reading and studying is simple. When I read, I merely put my eyes on the words. When I study, I engage with the words. I might make notes with a pen or pencil. I may use a good Bible app to compare verses. I have an inquisitive mind that asks questions of the text.

Consider the investigation questions many of us learned in school: who, what, when, where, why, and how. Those are a great place to start with asking questions of the Bible.

One of the best ways to do it is with a small group. Together I’ll discuss, ask questions, listen, and share with other people. And gain insights I’d miss on my own.

As I become a student of the Bible, I’ll come to know what the Bible says and what it means. And then I’ll be able to apply it to my life.

In summary, Happy are those who reject the advice of evil and instead find joy in obeying the Law of the LORD, studying it day and night. Friends and associates can have a profound influence on me. True friends will help me draw closer, not hinder my relationship with God. When I diligently try to obey His will, I am blessed and watched over. I learn to follow by spending time reading and thinking about what I've read. I ask how can I change to live as God wants. Like a detective, look for details that a quick read might overlook. Ask questions about it. Compare it with other verses or translations. Then put it all together to figure out, "what does this mean for me today." When I read, I merely put my eyes on the words. When I study, I engage with the words. Strive for an inquisitive mind that asks questions of the text. Consider the who, what, when, where, why and how questions. With this, I'll come to know what the Bible says and what it means and I'll be able to apply it to my life.

To get the most out of my time in His Word, I need to read slowly, ask questions, compare translations and look for what it means for me. Father, I know there are times when I go a little too quickly or have a distracted mind when I am looking at your Word. I pray that with the help of the Holy Spirit that I do not rush my time, and learn to absorb what you have to say. I pray also for your wisdom and guidance in how I handle my day, my task, my leadership and my interactions with others. I ask this through your Son Jesus name, Amen.

Look At Intently and Do

In review of James 1:25 it says, “He who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”

Bottom Line:

If you look into his perfect law, and not only remember it, but practice it, you’ll receive blessings.

What this means to me:

If I keep looking into and adopting God’s word in how I live, not only remembering it, but really practicing it, God has promised to bless me and what I do.

Today’s verse comes from the last part of James chapter 1. In this section James is telling me about listening and doing. He wants me to understand the value in being quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry. For my anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. I am to get rid of all the filth and evil in my life, and humbly accept the word God has planted into me. Furthermore, I must not only listen to God’s word, I must do what it says, otherwise I’m only fooling myself. For if I only listen but don’t obey, then it's much like glancing at myself in the mirror, but then walking away and forgetting what I look like. For if I carefully look at the perfect law that sets me free, and I do what it says, not forgetting what it says, then God will bless me for doing it.

Today, as I look into the mirror, I should consider what do I see?  Is it an outlook of hope, or is it one of being dissatisfied or lost?  As much as I try, I will not be the general manager of the universe. The only thing that I can change is me. So If I don’t like the person I see when I look at the mirror, it’s time to adjust.  But I must keep in mind that I cannot change what I won’t confront.

If I have trouble pinpointing what needs changing or have lost contact with myself I should consider where I’m spending my time. Where I spend my free hours is a direct reflection of who I am. I should spend time meditating on and absorbing God’s word.

I should not accept a lifestyle that compromises who God wants me to be. So I should stop living a tired lift and start living one to it’s fullest.  As I put my hope and trust in Him, I’ll have a much fuller life.