Meditate

Psalm 1:1-6 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his Law Day and night.  That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither-whatever they do prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.  Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

What I love about this particular Psalm is that it goes beyond what we usually define Christianity as.  It goes beyond what we are to avoid.  Like the old adage “I Are a Christian, I don’t drink I don’t chew, and I don’t date girls who do!”

Now as I write about this, I want to make sure we are speaking the same language.  Sometimes we can use Christianese and not even know what the words mean.  The word “Blessed” for instance.  It means “Happy” but in a truly spiritual peaceful holy sense.  So this scripture teaches us how to be happy! In the right ways.  It then tells us what to avoid, that is bad company.  As it says elsewhere “Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” [actually, quoting the Ancient Greek poet Menander])

But immediately goes into what we are supposed to do… Meditate on God’s Word.

I used to think Meditating was more like a yoga thing, ya know when you cross your legs, hold out your hands touching fingertip to thumb tip and moan “OOOwhhhhmmmmmm” repetitively.

But being the sophisticated redneck that I am, I think in a little different way.  Here the word in the Psalm Meditate reminds me of what cows do when they ruminate.  They take the food in and bring it up again later to chew on it.  That is what we should do with scripture.  We should take it in in our devotional time like this, and then throughout the day bring it back to mind and chew on it mentally. 

Now I am not going to suggest that we re-translate the scripture to “Blessed is he who ruminates on his Law Day and night.”  But you get the idea.  I hope this ministry helps you to ruminate on the word of God.  And that is precisely why I put a “Verse to Memorize or meditate on” at the end of these devotionals… To help you do just that!

Prayer: Jesus help me to keep your Word on my mind always, so that I will meditate on it, and apply it to my life.  Remind me to pay attention to whom I am allowing to influence me so that I might live a life that is holy and honoring to you.  Continue to speak to me by your spirit constantly reminding me of the words of Jesus, and be that voice behind me telling me the ways I should turn and walk in.

Amen

Verse to Memorize and Meditate on: Psalm 1:2 (Blessed is the one) whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his Law Day and night.

Point to Ponder: Do I Delight in God’s Word, or is it merely a task that I check off in my daily reading like brushing my teeth?  Do I see it as adding value to my life with truth, and wisdom as my spiritual food?

Apply it to your life:  Maybe, get some index cards, write down the memory verse of the day and put it in your wallet, then every time you make a purchase or pull your wallet out, take a moment to read the verse and commit it to memory.

Leave a comment below to share what God spoke to you specifically in this passage with others or text me back a question or comment.