Meditation
Whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.
Psalm 1:2
Meditation is to engage in mental exercise for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness. Meditation is easy for some people and difficult for others. For me, meditation is natural because studying engineering in undergraduate and graduate school required deep concentration followed by a career in research engineering which also required deep concentration. However, there are many people that are surface thinkers, constantly focusing on things of the world, hindering their ability to be still inside and focus or concentrate on the Lord and ministering to others.
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. (Psalm 46:10) The secret of meditation is learning to be still inside, virtually independent of the world around us. This can be described as having your soul living in the Kingdom as your flesh lives in the world. This is possible because your soul is you, your personality, thoughts, emotions, and will. Picture your soul surrounded by the Holy Spirit, making the Spirit your interface to the world. Everything we see or hear is first filtered by the Spirit then accepted or not accepted by the soul. Everything we think and say is filtered by the Spirit before presented to the world. This is living in the Kingdom.
If we practice this, it helps us to look inward to the Spirit for Godly guidance as opposed to just reacting to the world around us. We are created to think and process what we hear and see, and for what we say, because God did not create us to react from a primitive emotional state. My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, (James 1:19) This verse tells us to be quick to listen and slow to speak, because we need a moment to respond with Godly wisdom.
Once we learn to be still inside and think before we speak, it will help us in meditation. We can never meditate if we cannot take our minds off the world and place it on the Word and on God. We must move from the physical to the spiritual. God is spirit and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth. (John 4:24) Consider meditation as worship and start by praying and asking the Lord for his guidance and help. Read a scripture and ask the Lord for deep understanding. Think about the scripture. What is the meaning, what is the meaning for me, and how can I teach the scripture to others? As you think about the scripture, address your questions to the Lord and write the questions and answers in a notebook. At the end of the meditation, always praise and thank the Lord. Practice this everyday in a location that is quiet and private, just you and the Lord, with no interruptions.
Today, select a time to meditate with the Lord and look at it as a time of peace and relaxation, Time to escape the worries of the world. Take at least 10 minutes and slowly work up to a longer time. You will soon find this time alone with the Lord, focusing on his Word and his love, will become the most relaxing time of your day.
Prayer: Lord, help me to meditate and focus on you, leaving the world behind. Help me to move into the Spirit as my soul unites with the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen