meditation

Be still before the Lord.

I am in a season of learning this. Sometimes I am too patient, but most times I am just impatient. I am mainly impatient with myself– with my progress, or, more typically, lack of progress. It’s easy for me to get caught up in the cycle of doing stuff — anything to keep myself busy when that isn’t probably what needs to happen. Being still before the Lord is a process. It’s a way for my mind and heart and spirit to be quiet before God.

I love to meditate on a short passage of Scripture. It doesn’t actually have to be an entire verse. It can be a snippet. If I read it and it is resounding in me, I like to see why. Of course, all of Scripture can resonate with me, but every verse doesn’t grab my attention at the same time. It can’t. Focusing somewhere means you are not focusing somewhere else. And so when I am busy doing something, it takes away from my being still and hearing God.

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. [Psalm 19:14, NIV]

We do a lot of traveling for our business. I love the people we meet but I also love the time my mind can wander around and explore different ideas. Of course, one thought leads to another and pretty soon I am way down a path and I couldn’t even tell you how I got there. If I don’t have a “plan” for my thinking time I usually wander, and that isn’t always a bad thing.

But, when I pray and meditate, I like to have a focal point. For prayer, I usually use a word or phrase and talk it over with God. Sometimes that word or phrase conjures up some interesting reflections and reactions from me but, more importantly, I want to learn what His thoughts are on it. When I meditate, I like to mull over Scripture – particularly an area where I need God’s counsel. Sometimes it is just a couple of verses of the Bible but other times it is a chapter in a particular book of the Bible. It’s also a good time for me to use music, particularly soothing music without words. But but hymns and other spiritual songs that fill my mind with God’s Word and Truth are a great way for me to step away from myself and explore the deeper things.

Spending time in prayer and meditation gives me the opportunity to pause and be refreshed with healthy thoughts and concepts. It helps me to uncover those things I might wish to keep covered. By letting God into my thought life I am allowing His truth to correct me and guide me and encourage me.

How do you like to ponder God’s Word?

¹Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
²but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
³That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers. [Psalm 1:1-3, NIV]

May God bless you as you meditate on His Word!

Liz

PrayerPrompt: UPROOTED

Tag: meditation

Be still before the Lord.

Be still before the Lord.

Be still before the Lord.