meditation

have I thrown you off with my post title? not to worry, I don't spend hours a day humming to myself in some tranquil state of mind.

unfortunately, the word meditation can have negative connotations these days. but it is a completely Biblical concept.

"On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate." Psalm 145:5

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8

"Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day." Psalm 119:97

"I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands." Psalm 143:5

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14

"This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful 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." Joshua 1:8

meditating on the verses in the Bible is a spiritual discipline I do no regularly practice. reading the Word is one (great) thing, but thinking about it, reflecting on it, mulling it over in my heart and mind is quite another. if you're anything like me, I "meditate" on replayed conversations I have (or haven't had) with others. I "think about" all the things I need to do or want to do. I "mull over" mindless, useless things that are hardly beneficial or profitable to mine or anyone else's life.

Scripture speaks of "putting off" certain dead and lifeless behavior and "putting on" spirit-filled practices.

"But that is not the way you learned Christ!-- assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:20-24

how can I be renewed in the spirit of my mind? how can I put on the new self, created in God's likeness? by reading and meditating on the very words of God.

so, to sum it up, I am choosing a passage of Scripture each week to meditate on, in addition to my daily Bible reading. I will spend the week thinking through, carefully reading, and meditating on the verses to really allow them to sink in, not only into my brain but my spirit.

I would love for you to join me! I will plan to post the passage that I picked each Sunday and then work through that passage for the week. I realize I am posting this late-- I have been working through Psalm 103 this past week, but didn't have time to get my post together.

this week's passage: Ephesians 1:3-14

if you would like to join and have any suggestions for passages, feel free to send them to me! also, let me know are joining, and we can keep each other accountable!