 There are several people I know that start their year by choosing a word, a word that they want to utilize in the coming year. I always thought it was interesting and decided that I too would choose a word for myself. This past year in my Bible reading I have come across the word "meditation" several times and discovered how often God asks us to meditate, especially on His word. I have been thinking just how important mediation is in the Christian life. Did you know that mediation promises success and that the word success is only found once in scripture? In Joshua chapter one and verse eight we find: "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." God told Joshua that he needed to mediate on the word of God in order to know the word of God and understand it better. By understanding God's word better we are able to live it, and then make it a part of our daily life. The godly man mentioned in Psalm chapter one is an individual whose "delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." It goes on to say that he shall be like a tree that is planted by the water, will bring forth fruit and not wither but rather prosper. I believe he prospers because he is soaked in the word of God. There are many who emphasize the importance of memorizing scripture and I agree that it is wise to store up God's word in our hearts. However, I believe there is a greater importance in meditating on God's word versus simply memorizing it. Please hear me out, again I agree that it is important to memorize God's word but what good does it do us if we merely memorize scripture without meditating on it and allowing it to change our life? Years ago I heard an evangelist preach from Joshua 1:8. He gave the example of how a cow consumes it's nutrients. This large creature gets everything it needs from grass! It eats the grass then proceeds to get every bit of nutrients the grass can offer by chewing on it for a long time. We all have witnessed a herd of cows resting comfortably in the shade slowly moving their mouth from side to side. We need to do the same with the word of God. When we take the time to chew or muse on the truths found there we, like the cow, will gain all the spiritual nutrients necessary to develop into a mature, fruit bearing christian. Over and over again you will find the word "Selah" mentioned in the book of psalms. David is asking his readers to meditate on the truth disclosed, he is not asking us to memorize it. I believe that as we meditate on the word of God, allowing it to soak into our hearts and minds, it will eventually become a part of who we are and what we do every day. We are to have the mind of Christ and that only comes by internalizing His word and we do that by meditating on it daily. Do you know what the word "meditate" means? Here is the definition: Meditation is a practice where an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing their mind on a particular object, thought or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm state. Is that not what we are to do as Christians? Are we not to achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm state? As we meditate on God's word we begin to understand who He is and what He desires for and from us. We begin to understand that He cares for us and wants us to trust Him with our life. He desires for us to know the peace that passes all understanding. When we begin to grasp the character of God we can have a mind that is clear and a heart that is at rest. I don't know about you but this is something that I desire to have in my life so I choose meditation as my word for 2019. In the coming year I want to take a verse or even just a phrase or thought from my quiet time and meditate on it throughout the day. I pray that by this time next year my knowledge of God is greater and my faith in Him is deeper. What about you? What is your word for 2019? I would love to hear which one you have chosen! If you would like to listen to the message that I heard so many years ago on "God's syllabus for Success" just click here
Recently I came across this statement, "God delighted in taking the least, the lost, and the last and using them." God's ways are not our ways and His plans are carried out by people we would not have chosen for Him. If God had an important announcement we would choose someone that we believed to be worthy of making such an announcement. But God often chooses the last and the least. I think of the first people to be told that a Savior had been born. They were not important in the sight of those in the town, in fact they would probably not have even been invited to any of the local festivities. Yet God choose a group of humble shepherds who were "abiding in a field, keeping watch over their flock by night" to be the very first recipients of the best glad tidings ever to be delivered to earth. These were the least and the last in everyone's mind. These shepherds kept watch over sheep which means they had an unpleasant odor about them and due to their work may have even been considered unclean at times. They were definitely not on anyone's guest list for Christmas dinner. Yet it would be these lowly shepherds who were given the glorious message first, that the long awaited Messiah was born. He who would bring peace to earth was born in Bethlehem and given a sign that they might know Him. Something I never realized before today is the fact that these shepherds were never told which manger the newborn King was laid in, only that He would be wrapped in swaddling clothes. I wonder how long it took them to find the right stable. The Bible says that they found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger which indicates they had been searching. It took determination and courage on their part to go into a town where they were considered the least and the last and search every stable to find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes. I am pretty sure they received more than a few odd looks. Maybe that is why God entrusted them with the news first, to shepherds who were used to searching. I am confident that these men spent many hours scouring the hills looking for lost sheep so what was a little town compared to that? They were relentless in their quest for the babe whom the angel had told them about and their endeavor was not in vain. And it did not stop there, when the shepherds saw with their eyes the newborn babe their hearts could not contain the joy inside. Everyone in the town, whether they wanted to or not, heard the news that had been told them, they made sure to tell their glad tidings to all. No wonder the people of this little village wondered, or marveled at the things "which were told them by the shepherds". (Luke 2:18). God is not interested in our background or our upbringing, what He does want is a willing heart that will do His bidding. I want to be like these shepherds who make people marvel at the news, the good news I share with them. May we share the glad tidings of this glorious season with everyone we meet. Merry Christmas everyone!!  |
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Sarah GraceI am just an ordinary girl who is loved by an extraordinary God and I seek to love others the same way. I love to bake, read, do puzzles, watch Hallmark movies, and go shopping with my mom! This blog was created as a place where I could share some thoughts that the Lord has shown me and to be an encouragement to others who desire to know Him in a deeper way. My prayer is to learn to sit still and trust God with my future. Archives
July 2023
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