WordTalk Ministries

by Yuri Solomon  
9/01/2010 / Devotionals

O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Psalm 119:97

What's on your mind the most? If it's not God's word, whatever it may be, it is in the way and place of God's word.

I, myself, have been deficient in my understanding of the concept of "meditation," not wrong, but not comprehensive. I've said in the past that meditation is constantly pondering the application of the word of God, and it is certainly that too! That was far, but not far enough. I have since come to understand that "meditation" is the totality of one's contemplation of the word of God including: study, prayer, confession, fasting, fellowship, & ministry. Meditating on the word of God is Christianity. Every one of the other 6 fore mentioned major concepts fall under or within the context of meditation. In other words, meditation is the capital enterprise in the devotional life of the Christian in concept and in practice.

Meditation in eastern mysticism is to empty one's mind to become one with his experience of all things, but meditation in Christianity is to fill your mind with the word of God to interpret all things you experience. Meditation is to never let the word of God leave your mind. Psalm 1 states it, "But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night" (Psa 1:2). His word does not leave me, in calmness, in confusion, in calamity, or in controversy. Meditation means no matter the circumstances I abide/dwell/keep His precepts in my words, thoughts and deeds; the outward results are that I keep His peace, possess His power, speak His praise.

When God's peace, power, and praise leave your character or continence, it is a result of failing to meditate on His word. When your mouth can't help cursing, when your mind can't find contentment, when your madness won't let you control yourself, when you are so messed up that you can't be consoled and calm, it is a result of failing to meditate on His word.

Meditation means to keep God's word on your mind. The CONTENT of "meditation" is to EXPRESS INEXPRESSIBLE (O how), EMOTION FOR GOD'S WORD (love I thy law) which ENGULFS ONE'S WHOLE LIFE (it is my meditation all the day).

You cannot maintain what you are not passionate about. You can fail to be excited about something that is benefiting you because you don't perceive its benefit. However, you cannot be excited about something you don't perceive is benefiting you. This passion comes from God's word at work in your life perpetuating an ever-increasing love for His word. Spurgeon put it this way, "The psalmist meditated in God's word because he loved it, and then loved it the more because he meditated in it." I will state it again in the most succinct way that I believe it can be stated: Meditating on the word of God is Christianity.

Yuri Solomon holds degrees from Gospel Ministry Outreach Theological Institute and the College of Biblical Studies. He is author of the book Biblical Masculinity. More info @ www.wordtalkonline.org