Meditating on God’s Word

“Blessed is the man

who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked

or stand in the way of sinners

or sit in the company of mockers.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on His law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.”

Psalm 1:1-3 NIV

Meditation is a word that is not often used in contemporary Christianity. The art or act of meditation is not too frequently spoken about among believers in Christ Jesus. In fact, many people sort of view meditation in a negative way possibly because the term is now more associated with “mystical religions”, Buddhism, Hinduism, yoga, ESP, astral travel, Christian Science and the likes.

The fact that so many other religious groups use the term and practice the act in some way does not mean that we should completely abandon it. There is a biblically prescribed act of meditation and as Psalm 1 points to us, meditating on the word of God is vital to our fruitfulness.

While Eastern forms of meditation teach people to empty their minds, stressing the need for detachment from the world, meditation as taught in the Holy Scriptures is an act of focusing the mind on one subject. Biblical meditation does not mean we are to sit and think infinity, rather it is object oriented-reflective thinking on a particular subject.

“When I remember Thee upon my bed and meditate on Thee in the night watches…”

Psalm 63:6 KJV

“I will meditate also of all Thy work, and talk of Thy doings.”

Psalm 77:12 KJV

Particularly, the Scriptures teach us to meditate on the word of God. This refers to times when we think deeply, dwell on, ponder over, and thoroughly masticate on the word of God to properly digest the truth. Rather than a casual cursory glance at His word, it is an act in which we give careful attention to internalize and personalize God’s word. It is in the place of meditating on the word of God that realities of His truth dawn upon our hearts. Convictions are changed and firm decisions in obedience to the truth are made.

Not only is meditation vital for our fruitfulness as believers, it is also a very important part of our transformation. Romans 12: 1 & 2 speak of how we are transformed by the renewal of our minds and renewal of our minds only occurs when we focus our minds on the proper things.

Dr Merril Unger wrote in his book “Pathway to Power” in the early 1950s:

“Meditation upon God’s Word is fast becoming a lost art among many Christian people. This holy exercise of pondering over the Word, chewing it as an animal chews its cud to get its sweetness and nutritive virtue into the heart and life, takes time, which ill fits into the speed of our modern age…”

If this was true then, it is so much truer now almost 70 years after. We are a generation of hustle and bustle. Some people are so busy they don’t even have time to go for medical check-ups! Rest, relaxation and sleep are almost a luxury for some people. Deep reflection is now a thing of the past.

However, we must follow the example of people of God who walked with Him and made a practice of meditation:

“I will meditate in Thy precepts, and have respect unto Thy ways.”

“Princes also did sit and speak against me: but Thy servant did meditate in Thy statutes”

“My hands also will I lift up unto Thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in Thy statutes.”

“Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in Thy word.”

Psalm 119:15, 23, 48, 148 KJV

Someone once said about the devil and his activities, “our adversary majors in three things: noise, hurry, and crowds.” All three are present in our world in alarming ubiquity. We need quietness, stillness and solitude to meditate on God’s word. This week, as we muse on this Psalm, may God’s Spirit awaken in us the right desire that will be matched by the required diligence to create the time and find the appropriate places to meditate on the word of God.

My song for the week is “Breathe” by Jonny Diaz.

Our All-Powerful God

“For it was You who created my inward parts;

You knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I will praise You because I have been remarkably

and wonderfully made.

Your works are wonderful, and I know this very well.

My bones were not hidden from You

when I was made in the secret,

When I was formed in the depths of the earth.”

Psalm 139: 13 – 15 HCSB

A young boy was traveling by airplane to visit his grandparents sat beside a seminary professor on the plane. The boy was reading a Sunday School take home paper when the professor decided to have some fun with him. “Young man,” said the professor, “If you can tell me something God can do, I’ll give you a big shiny apple.” The boy thought for a moment and then replied, “Mister, if you can tell me something God can’t do, I’ll give you a whole barrel of apples!”

That innocent response from the young boy captures the reality of the immensity of God’s ability-there is nothing He cannot do! That is a way of expressing God’s omnipotence; He has the ability to do all things. Our God is all powerful.

“Is anything impossible for the Lord?”

Genesis 18:14a HCSB

“I know You can do anything and no plan of Yours can be thwarted”

Job 42:2 HCSB

“Oh, Lord God! You Yourself made the heavens and earth by Your great power and with Your outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You!”

Jeremiah 32:17 HCSB

“Look, I am Yahweh, the God of all flesh. Is anything too difficult for Me?”

Jeremiah 32:27 HCSB

“For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Luke 1:37 HCSB

I often stand in awe of God’s power when I consider that He can do anything effortlessly. There are no bounds or limits to His power. Unlike us human beings or anything else in creation, God does not need to expend more energy on one thing than another thing. In fact, He does not need to rest to replenish His energy after completing any task.

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? Yahweh is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never grows faint or weary…”

Isaiah 40:28 HCSB

This segment of Psalm 139 (verses 13-15) only deals with one aspect of the demonstration of God’s immense power. Creation is an expression of God’s unlimited ability. Psalm 19:1-6 and Romans 1:20 are passages of the Bible that point this out to us quite clearly. Psalm 139 however focuses on the phenomena of man’s creation and birth. As a medical doctor myself, I am just astounded by even just the complexity of the mechanisms of the physiological processes of our physical bodies. I recognize that aside this, there is still a whole lot more in the unseen immaterial aspect of man. All of it demonstrating that our God is undoubtedly awesome.

I even stand more amazed when I contemplate on the reality that all of God’s greatness and power displayed in creation is described in Scriptures as “the mere fringes of His force, the faintest whisper…” (Job 26:14). Think about that. All of creation is just the outskirts, the border, and periphery of God’s ability. Can you then imagine the fullness of His ability or the thunder of His magnificent power?

“…Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think…”

Ephesians 3:20 KJV

Muse with me this week dear friend on this truth about God’s awesome power and allow His Spirit fill your heart with comfort, confidence and assurance of victory.

My song for the week is "Our God" by Chris Tomlin

Our Ever Present God

“Where can I go to escape from Your Spirit?

Where can I flee from Your presence?

If I go up to heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.

If I live at the eastern horizon,

Or settle at the western limits,

Even there Your hand will lead me;

Your right hand will hold on to me.

If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me

And the light around me will be night,’

Even the darkness is not dark to You;

The night shines like the day,

Darkness and light are alike to You.”

Psalm 139:7-12 HCSB

Maintaining our focus on Psalm 139 again this week, my heart is drawn to the next section of this Psalm that eloquently speaks of God’s omnipresence. Just as mentioned last week with the word omniscience, omnipresence is not a word that is directly mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. However, it is an attribute of God that is described in several portions of the Bible.

“Can a man hide himself in secret places where I cannot see him? – the Lord’s declaration. Do not I fill the heavens and the earth? – the Lord’s declaration.”

Jeremiah 23:24 HCSB

“…Even heaven, the highest heaven cannot contain You…”

1^st Kings 8:27 HCSB

Not only does God know what happens everywhere as we considered last week, He is present everywhere at all times. The Psalmist elucidates to us that God’s presence is unlimited by space, unstopped by speed and unaffected by darkness (verses 8 &9). The Scriptures do not teach us that God is present in everything as an impersonal force (like pantheism teaches) and also do not teach us that God only watches us from afar or at a distance.

All though out history and even till present day, man has tried to confine God’s presence to only particular locations. The Jews for instance saw God’s presence as limited to the temple in Jerusalem. Later on in history, some people began to believe that God’s presence was limited to hills or mountains (see 1^st Kings 20:23). Some people still think in this way. And even now, many Christians think that God is confined in heaven.

However, we must realize that God isn’t confined to any location. He may be ignored, but He cannot be avoided. He is the ever present God. To chip this in, God’s omnipresence is one of the attributes that demonstrate His incomparable greatness and absolute awesomeness. Some of us are so scared of the devil and we think that the devil is almost as great as our God. The devil however, cannot lay any claim to omniscience or omnipresence.

This reality of God’s enduring presence should always bring comfort and assurance of support for the believer. The truth is that for believers in Christ, God is present with us anywhere we are in a relational sense. He is not just present with us but He is committed in unending love and faithfulness toward us. So we must always remember that no matter the situation or circumstance, trial of life or tribulation, whether we are in Cape Coast, Cairo, Chicago, Coventry or Christchurch, God is ever present.

“…for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you”

Hebrews 13:5 HCSB

“…And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age”

Matthew 28:20 HCSB

Muse with me on this Psalm again this week as we worship our ever present God.

My song for the week is "I am not alone" by Kari Jobe.

Our All-Knowing God

“Lord, You have searched me and known me.

You know when I sit down and when I stand up;

You understand my thoughts from far away.

You observe my travels and my rest;

You are aware of all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue,

You know all about it, Lord.

You have encircled me;

You have placed Your hand on me.

This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me.

It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.”

Psalm 139:1-6 HCSB

The Wall Street Journal in December 2008 reported on some predictions that had been made about America for 2010. The predictions were made by Russian Professor Igor Panarin, who was the dean of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s academy for future diplomats, and a former KGB analyst. Because of his pedigree, many people paid attention to his predictions that the U.S. would fall apart in 2010. It did not happen. Professor Panarin obviously did not have all the facts and did not have all the knowledge to make an accurate prediction.

He is not the only one in history to have made wrong predictions however. Consider the following statements that were reported to have been made by some people:

·         “Man will never reach the moon regardless of all future scientific advances”- Dr Lee De Forest, inventor of the vacuum tube and father of the television

·         “Drill for oil? You mean drill into the ground to try and find oil? You’re crazy!”-Drillers who Edwin L Drake tried to enlist to his project to drill for oil in 1859.

·         “It will be years-not in my time-before a woman will become Prime Minister”-Margaret Thatcher, 1969 (she later became Prime Minister in 1979)

There are many more examples that illustrate one common thing about us human beings: we have limited knowledge and grasp of facts or details about everything. We do not have all the detailed memory of the past. We do not know everything about the present and we certainly know almost next to nothing about the future.  

Psalm 139 however reminds us that God is not like us. The Psalm is a song of praise written by David to God in recognition of His omniscience (Psalms 139:1-6), omnipresence (verses 7-12) and omnipotence (verses 13-18). This week, I’m drawn to just focus on His omniscience.

Though the term is not found anywhere in the Bible, omniscience as an attribute of God is described in many verses of the Scriptures:

“Our Lord is great, vast in power;

His understanding is infinite”

Psalm 147:5 HCSB

“No creature is hidden from Him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account”

Hebrews 4:13 HCSB

“…God is greater than our conscience and He knows all things”

1^st John 3:20 HCSB.

Our God has all knowledge. He is all-knowing. There is no detail or fact that is outside the scope of His knowledge. He knows all the minutest details of our external circumstances and characteristics including the very hair on our heads (Luke 12:7). He also knows the unseen, internal condition of our hearts (Psalm 139:4, Acts 1:24, Romans 8:27).

This understanding should bring us comfort and assurance, as we realize that we have a God who will never be taken by surprise by anything at all. He saw all our mess, knows all of our human frailties, our weaknesses and He chose to make His home in our hearts so He sent His Son to die in our place. It also makes me realize that I cannot hide away from Him-He even knows my heart! It draws my heart to trust Him even more-He knows even the future so I should stop worrying and rather put my faith in Him.

Muse with me on this Psalm this week and let us together remain in awe of our all-knowing God.

My song for the week is "He Knows My Name" by Maranatha Singers.