Meditation In God's Word

"Meditation in the Word encourages me."

A MAN who believes the wrong thing will fall prey to the wrong thing that he believes. About anything. To know Truth is to be free (John 8:32). Freedom is ours through the Word. We must put it in our hearts, however, and that means taking time to study and meditate in it. I enjoy study. I do meditation of what I know, hour by hour, whenever I find a second. Meditation in the Word encourages me, especially when I’m discouraged.

It’s easy to give up. I’ve had moments where I want to give into defeat. Meditation in the Word lifts me out of them. It’s not reading, necessarily, but thinking upon. Muttering, which is the actual meaning of the Hebrew word. Sometimes, I’m preaching to myself. Amusing, since I’m not one who talks loudly. But point is, the sermon is what I need to hear. I’m into Truth and hate lies. Guessing is out, too. Just tell me what something means and I’ll listen. Point me at a symbol and wait for me to guess, and you’ll be there until Jesus returns. It’s just not how my mind works. Jesus loves me like I am, quirks at all. I want you to take that to heart for yourself. So much damage is done in our thought life by self-doubt. I have tiny ones but nothing that makes God upset with me. He just isn’t.

And this includes my slip-ups. Sin is bad. Know this first. Then know God sees where we are, what we’re dealing with, and has enough mercy for us. His mercy endures forever, a Truth I learned well from hearing the Jews talk. It is the first words they utter when they hear testimony of miracles, and those are among them in abundance. As many, in as many wonderful ways as in the church. We’ve not paid attention, out of ignorance. Set the ignorance aside and hear me in this. Covenant assures me God answers prayer. In fact, what we call prayer for sickness isn’t what the Jews do at all. The male of the family – a father, brother, or son – approaches the Rabbi for a blessing, and he speaks directly from God. They know what he says is what God will do, and he knows what he said is God speaking. It’s the most beautiful thing that comes out of meditation in the Word. The Torah IS God’s Word. Whether you read it or they do.

They read passages together at the same time on the calendar. We find this odd, but it causes them to read all of the Word they love and causes them to remember it. There’s no set schedule in the church. We’re too independent. And in that, we don’t have the unity that we need. We read the same Scriptures but interpret them in myriads of ways. Mostly, Gentile. We ignore Jesus’ meaning to His people and apply His words to a modern mindset. Meditation in the Word eliminates this if it is in the Spirit.

He has set me in the way of integrity. It is my rule in everything. I will not be misled and misstate His Word. How is that possible to do all the time? By continual worship. I have nothing else in my ears. God has many styles of songs He writes. Know this. He adores our hearts behind it. What the words should say, though, is about Him. Now and again, something sung isn’t Truth. What the singer means behind it is most important. I have found a lot of singers write about spiritual warfare. We are not in a war that Jesus never fought. He laid down His life and allowed death, the spiritual opposite. In doing so, however, He was never spiritually dead. That was the point. Those songs are uplifting at times. That’s what I’m saying here. Knowing the heart behind them only comes as I lean into my Papa, the Spirit. He helps me understand. I cannot begin to say this loud enough: Find your closeness with Him. Spend time in His Presence and refuse to walk out of it. So much of what we struggle with isn’t God’s desire.

Meditation is the key. Repeat those Truths, though you’ve heard them before. And if you have no desire to read His Word, then ask Him for it. I did, years ago, and today, it is salvation.

Photo by Daiga Ellaby at Unsplash


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com