“ . . . I will not leave you nor forsake you . . . . 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. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:5-8 NKJV)
Christian meditation is the art of learning how to think about the Word of God, spiritual principles, even God Himself — as I go through the day. It means whenever something comes up, my mind is quick to turn to what God says about it so my actions and responses will match His will. But meditation is seldom easy.
The human mind is amazing. We can process information, retrieve it (most of the time), remember things that happened yesterday or years ago, invent, define, rearrange, synthesize, create and disassemble at speeds a computer could envy. We are capable of emotion, making choices, solving problems, observing and recording.
People do not think the same though. My mind wanders all over the place and I’m easily distracted. Others are able to focus to the point that getting their attention with a new thought is almost impossible. My mind can come up with all sorts of creative ways to do things. Others are far better at seeing reasons why some of those ideas will not work.
Even with differences in the way we think, one thing seems difficult for everyone: meditation on the Word of God. We need commands to do it!
Over the years I’ve tried memorizing Scripture, writing it on cards or wall plaques, repeating it at intervals during the day, and teaching it to others. Meditation is still difficult. However, the more I read and study the Bible, the more I put it into my heart and mind, and — most important — the more I obey it, the more often it jumps to mind when I need it.
Obedience is the key. Doing what God says helps make His will part of how I think. When I obey, I see that He is wise and that His will is perfect. Doubt and fear are answered. Even though biblical faith does not need proof, obedience often provides it. Obedience also makes it easier to put principles from the Bible in those ‘memory tracks’ inside my head.
Joshua 1:8 is the only verse in the Bible that uses the word ‘success’ — not the success of a big house or fancy car, or prestige and popularity in the world, or fame, etc. but the success of God’s blessing on my life, a ‘prosperity’ that does not depend on the stock market or the price of our dollar. It is a gift that is unwrapped simply by reading and remembering His Word and letting that be my guide for each day.
So simple. So difficult.
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