Faithful on Fridays Blog

Over the past three weeks we’ve seen the different nuances of this Bible word: meditation, however, we’re not finished yet. Meditating also means to declare out loud, musing to yourself, especially if you’re devising a plan. 

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

Proverbs 15:28 

I think you know what I mean, intensely concentrating, even imagining what you’re going to say; the Bible calls that meditation. You talk it over with God, receive His direction, and feel more confident about your response. 

Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? Psalms 2:1 

The word for plans is the same as meditation: that’s fascinating. As believers we desire to be in alignment with God, with a thirst for His will; we know life works better that way, in fact, Jesus called it Kingdom Living.

I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that You have done; I ponder the work of Your hands. I stretch out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land. Psalm 143:5-6 

The final component of Scripture Meditation is also intriguing; it means to remove an obstacle or hindrance out of the way. The story from 2 Sam. 20:11-13 uses our word, but with this new spin. In the lower story there was a dead body in the middle of the road needing to be removed because it was a stumbling block, an obstacle, and it had to be cleared away. Meditation, a new spin. 

And it will be said, “Build up, build up, prepare the way, Remove every obstacle from the way of My people.” Isaiah 57:14

Same word. How does one clear away stumbling blocks from our lives (upper story)? John the Baptizer gives us a clue; he said to ‘clear the road for Jesus!’ Get any obstacle or hindrance out of the way for Him to transform your life: that’s a form of meditation. If you ask God to reveal the hindrances to His higher life, He’ll show you, but here’s the kicker: you have to clear the road for Him. Our individual stumbling blocks that keep us from following Christ can be removed … if you desire it. 

Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel; remove wicked officials from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness. Proverbs 25:4-5 

… let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus … Heb. 12:1b-2a

If you want to live in the Kingdom of God now, you have to do it His way. Make a new plan, discuss it with the Lord, remove stumbling blocks, usually sin and temptations, and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into His victorious life.