May 21

Psalm 1:1-6
Memorise Psalm 1:1
“Blessed is the man…”

To meditate is to think deeply and carefully about God’s Word for an extended period of time. It is to dwell on it, to contemplate it, study it, mull over it in your mind. Such deep thinking will often be done in silent seclusion, away and undisturbed from the hustle and bustle around us.

For the Christian, meditation consists of the following:

1. A spiritual mind – only a spiritual person will delight in the law of the Lord. An unbeliever may study the Word and find it most interesting and agreeable, but his knowledge will be academic and not a delight to his soul.
2. Spiritual matters - meditation is often used in relation to religious, spiritual thoughts. You would not refer to studying your academic texts as meditation, no matter how intense and rigorous the study may be. There is a higher purpose, when we meditate upon the Law – the inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God!
3. Time – deep thinking and contemplation of the Word requires an extended period of time. Here the Psalmist meditates day and night, signifying the fact that he was continually thinking on and pondering over the words of Scripture.

Meditation also requires a mind wholly devoted to and focused on God’s Word. To meditate is not to mindlessly repeat or recite God’s Word, but a mindful contemplation that permeates and transforms the soul.

So now that you know what meditation means, have you ever truly done it? Do you delight in reading God’s Word, or is it a chore? If we say we delight in God’s Word but we do not think about it often and in depth, are we truly meditating? The food we like, we will eat slowly and savour each bite, each chew, focusing on it. Our favourite subjects and hobbies – we think about them and do them above and beyond what is necessary. Our thoughts will wander easily to them. Favourite novels – we read over and over again, dwelling on and relishing each word, phrase, and sentence. How about the Word of God?

Thought: What adjective describes this man in Psalm 1 who delights in God’s Word and meditates upon it all the time? Is meditating easy? Does it come naturally?
Prayer: May I love God’s Word and meditate upon it.