Week 9

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
Author Unknown

For as he thinks within himself, so he is. Proverbs 23:7a

Meditate: think, ponder, dwell, reflect

Greek Definition

1. to reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over
a. to take into account, to make an account of
1. metaph. to pass to one's account, to impute
2. a thing is reckoned as or to be something, i.e. as availing for or equivalent to something, as having the like force and weight
b. to number among, reckon with
c. to reckon or account
2. to reckon inward, count up or weigh the reasons, to deliberate
3. by reckoning up all the reasons, to gather or infer
a. to consider, take into account, weigh, meditate on
b. to suppose, deem, judge
c. to determine, purpose, decide

This word deals with reality. If I "logizomai" or reckon that my bank book has in it, it has in it. Otherwise I am deceiving myself. This word refers to facts not suppositions.

Followers of Eastern religions and New Age cults practice a form of meditation where they "empty themselves" in an effort to discover what they believe to be a divinity that lies hidden within themselves. Christian meditation, however, is more of a "filling oneself" with scripture and stoking the fire of the Holy Spirit. Meditation is reflective thinking with the intent of application. You think about God's ways and align your heart with His will and purpose.

There are many ways to meditate on God's Word. Some possibilities include:

1. Read a verse or passage over and over.
2. Memorize all or part of it.
3. Listen—quiet your heart to allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you though God's Word.
4. Consider how it fits with the rest of the Bible and life in general.
5. Become emotionally involved—allow yourself to feel what God feels, his desires expressed through his words.
6. Move from meditation to application—connect your thoughts to action. Consider how the truth and power of the Word of God should affect your behavior.

Memorizing in itself is of little value. Getting the truth or value of the verse inside is the real aim. Meditating (thinking about what the verse says) on verses is the thing that accomplishes both ends: understanding (making it useful); remembering (having it at our finger tips, but may not understand it).

"This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Joshua 1:8

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:2

Tremble, and do not sin; Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah. Psalms 4:4

It can be a battle, but when you meditate on the Word, it's like wielding a sword in your mind.

...casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ... 2 Corinthians 10:5

Meditation is a slow process. Much like enjoying a piece of hard candy, you savor the Word.

How sweet are Your words to my taste! {Yes, sweeter} than honey to my mouth! Ps 119:103

And in turn, your meditation will be like candy to God.

May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the Lord. Psalm 104:34 (NKJ)

Meditation can be done at any time, how wonderful to fall asleep with the Word to spur your dreams.

When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches, For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy. Psalm 63:6-7

Even Mary knew the power of meditation.

But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. Lu 2:19

What should we meditate on? Paul lets us know...

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philipians 4:8-9

The end result will be a changed life, a renewing of your soul, which will be obvious to others. As Carolyn said, "What you feed, you will grow."

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. Matthew 15:18

Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. 1 Timothy 4:15