It is different than prayer, but can include prayer. It focuses our thoughts on a specific verse or short passage of Scripture or on one of the names or attributes of God that are given in Scripture. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:8 NKJVīiblical meditation is one of several ways to commune with God. “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. In the middle of an exhortation for Joshua to be strong and courageous as he was commissioned to lead Israel into their Promised Land, God gave a command to meditate on the Book of the Law. 99, and 148.īiblical meditation was first mentioned in Scripture in Joshua 1:8.
That Psalm alone uses some form of the word meditate eight times, in verses 15, 23, 27, 48, 78, 97. Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, mentions the Word of God in almost every verse. Some form of the word meditation is mentioned in the Bible 23 times, 19 of which are found in the Psalms. “Close or continued thought the turning or revolving of a subject in the mind serious contemplation.” Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines meditation as:
Today, I am looking at the biblical model of meditation. Last week I wrote about one of the world’s ways to use meditation, the process of Mindfulness Meditation. When we make God’s character, laws, promises, and works our focus, we engage in Christian meditation.” “(Christian meditation) involves the solid truth of God’s Word… It’s an invitation to deeper relationship with the One who perfectly loves us. I think you will find it to be a powerful tool for increasing peace in your life. It is simply the practice of thinking about Scripture and communing with God. I can understand if you feel hesitant, but I’d like to reassure you that the idea of meditation is not foreign to Christianity.
“You may be skeptical about the word meditation because of its association with New Age and Eastern religions. As we humbly depend upon the Lord, the Holy Spirit brings forth a more Christlike life through us, by His grace.Author Sarah Geringer, in her book Transforming Your Thought Life: Christian Meditation in Focus, addresses the difference between our society’s current understanding of meditation and genuine Christian meditation. In addition to this initial gift of righteousness (imputed, or credited to our account in heaven), grace also provides ongoing practical righteousness (imparted for our daily lives on earth): "That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" ( Romans 8:4). "But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed…even the righteousness of God which is through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe" ( Romans 3:21-22). Godliness results from ministering the new covenant of grace, because it is a " ministry of righteousness." The message of grace tells people that righteousness is available by faith. When we minister the message of grace to others, they can grow in righteousness. On the other hand, when we live by grace, we grow in righteousness. When we minister the law to others as a means of developing a godly life, they also experience condemnation. Consequently, when we try to live by law (that is, attempt to meet God's standards by our resources), we sense condemnation. "It is the Spirit who gives life the flesh profits This makes the flesh incapable of producing a righteous life. "We are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags" ( Isaiah 64:6). All natural abilities are flawed by unrighteousness. The only resources available for law-performance are natural human abilities (the flesh). This is inevitable, since the law is a " ministry of condemnation." Living and ministering by the law depends upon human performance. When we try to minister by the law, we put others under condemnation. When we try to live by the law, we walk in condemnation.
God's glorious grace is a " ministry of righteousness," which offers the richness of God's resources. God's holy law is a " ministry of condemnation," which exposes the bankruptcy of man's resources. Here is another vivid contrast between living by the old covenant of law versus living by the new covenant of grace. Ministry of Condemnation versus Ministry of Righteousnessįor if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.
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