Meditate on God’s Promises

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. – Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

An empty mind is the devil’s workshop. To live a godly and righteous life, we need to fill our minds with thoughts that are right in the eyes of God. God is Spirit and we are made in the image of God. He has created us as a trichotomy: Each of us has a spirit, soul/mind and body. Imagine a situation like this: When you have to talk with someone you do not like, you are able to see him physically (body), engage in conversation with words and expression (soul/mind) but deep down in your heart, you wish you never needed to speak to him (spirit). As God’s children, the Holy Spirit lives in us.

As such, that inner sanctum is God’s territory unless we choose to reject Him. The mind is thus the place where daily battles take place: to make decisions that please God, ourselves, others or the devil. If we want our daily conduct to be pleasing to God and be successful and prosperous in everything we do, we need to fill our minds with God’s Word and godly thoughts.

What does God say about this?

The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

Psalm 19:7 (NIV)

This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do.

Joshua 1:8 (NIV)

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

What does this mean for practical living?

We need to make God’s Word our solid rock and foundation in daily living. Since we have accepted His Word as the absolute authority over our lives, we must mean it. Just as nutritious food needs to be properly chewed and digested in our physical body to make us healthy, the Word of God must be properly studied and digested in our spirit to effectively strengthen our spiritual body.

We can meditate on God’s Word during quiet moments of solitude or simply let His Word ruminate in our minds as we go about our daily life activities. The key is to stay focused and being attentive to how we are digesting each part of the scripture and assimilating it in our spirit. Let the light of God’s Word shine into every nook and cranny of our hearts and be prepared to confront the issues. The purpose is to let its meaning, power and revelation so convict and consume us that it drives us into acting upon it and claiming it for our life situation. If we believe that God’s Word is truth and life, doesn’t it make sense that our minds should be preoccupied with it?

Reflect and respond to God’s Word

• What kind of thoughts are you preoccupied with throughout the day?
• What are the physical and mental obstacles that prevent you from meditating on God’s Word?
• Each week, choose a portion of scripture that speaks to your situation and meditate upon it. Note the positive change in your thought pattern.