In review of Joshua 1:8 this morning, I read “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” (NIV)
Many think that prosperity and success come from having power, influential personal contacts, and a relentless desire to get ahead. But the strategy for gaining prosperity that God taught Joshua goes against this. He said that to succeed Joshua must (1) be strong and courageous because the task ahead would not be easy, (2) obey God's law, and (3) constantly read and study the Book of Instruction, God's Word. To be successful, I too should follow God's words to Joshua. I may not succeed by the world's standards, but I will be a success in God's eyes. For many, success is controlling others; for Joshua it meant being controlled by God. Act on what I know God has said, and God will assure me success in carrying out his purposes.
There are so many things I can do to unlock the gifts the Bible offers. I can read Scripture, study it, and memorize it. But I should also meditate on it.
Second Timothy 2:7 says, “Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this” (NIV).
When I reflect and meditate on the Bible, God will give me more insight into his Word.
To meditate means to think seriously about something. It means I engage my mind.
If I know how to worry, I know how to meditate. Worry is simply negative meditation. When I worry, I take a negative thought and go over and over it in your mind. And the more I worry, the bigger my thoughts become.
In meditation, I should do the same thing with Scripture: I should go over and over a passage of the Bible in my mind. But unlike worry, meditating on Scripture produces positive results.
One of the ways to meditate on Scripture is by doing what is called “pronouncing” it. Say a Bible verse aloud over and over again. Each time I say it, emphasize a different word.
Take Philippians 4:13, for example: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (NKJV). The first time you say the verse, emphasize I. The next time I emphasize the word can. And so on, until I emphasize the last word of the verse.
Each time I say the verse, its meaning will be nuanced in a different way.
Another tool for meditating is a reflection bridge. Beneath every story in the Bible is a timeless principle, and the reflection bridge helps you find it. First, read the story and ask what it meant when it first happened. Then ask what timeless principle it’s teaching. Then personalize it by asking what it means to me today.
The Bible promises tremendous blessings if I spend time meditating on it: “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8 NIV).
If I take the time now to develop the habit of meditating on God’s Word, I’ll reap the benefits for the rest of my life.
In summary, keep God's Word on my lips; meditate on it day and night, so that I can be careful to do everything written in it. Then I will be prosperous and successful. Like God told Joshua, I too should be strong and courageous, obey his lay, and constantly read and study his book of instruction. For many, success means controlling others. For Joshua and myself, it means being controlled by God. So act on what I know God has said, and God will assure me success in carrying out his purposes. If I know how to worry, then I know how to meditate. Taking the time now to develop the habit of meditation on God's Word will allow me to reap benefits for the rest of my life.
Father thank you for the guidance and insight you teach me through your words. I consider today, in light of changes at work and my reporting relationship, that I consider and realize that success is not having power or control but being controlled by God for his purposes. I pray today for wisdom and guidance for my day, my activities, my leadership and my interaction with others. This I pray through your Son Jesus name, Amen.
0 comments:
Post a Comment