Meditation is Focused Thinking

Phil 4:8-9 NKJV - Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things.

Many people see meditation as an emptying of the mind. This is just emptiness. Nothing constructive or even destructive is going on. Quiet is nice at times, but it is better for the mind to be focused on the right stuff. The Bible tells us to meditate on good things, things that align with how God meant us to live.

Worrying is meditation of the negative kind. You are focused on all the bad stuff going on. Unless you are working on a solution to the problem, stop thinking about it. Especially stop wondering what to do about things you have no control over. If it is the past, you can’t change it.

What you can do is meditate on positive things. No matter how bleak things may look and feel to you, there is some positive there, too. It might even be as simple as someone just giving you a friendly smile, holding a door for you, or saying hi even if you are a stranger. It might be the way the sun hits the dew on the grass. Finding a flower where you did not expect one to grow. The hug of your child even if they were just being bad a few minutes before.

God’s Word is the best thing to meditate on due to all the great promises He has given us if we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. Way before God sent this wonderful gift of salvation to us, He was telling His people to meditate on his word. He told this to Joshua when he took over leading the Israelites after Moses died. Josh 1:8 NKJV - 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. Sure this part is based on the old covenant and law, but Jesus came to fulfill that law. If it were not for the Law we would not know what was right or wrong and thus know we were sinners needing a savior.

Never stop meditating on God’s word every day. It is our spiritual food and we need it as much as we need meals to fuel our body each day. Do not just read the Word, but digest it to know how to be prosperous and have good success.