The Law Of Meditation

Donna Braman


LAW OF MEDITATION


There are spiritual laws that we must adhere to in order to make our way prosperous.  What we think on tells a lot about where our heart is and what will come out of our mouth.  Let's go to Joshua 1:8 where it states, "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth, meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Do not be afraid, be courageous. Then you will be prosperous and successful and the Lord your God will go with you wherever you go.


I pray that you can receive this truth today with meekness. Know that your faith will never rise above what you meditate on and speak from your mouth.  For out the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  So, the next time you are just about to pop to tell someone off or say something negative, meditate on Romans 8:2 before you say what you feel inside. Take a few minutes to meditate on why you are thinking on those negative things to begin with.  Verse 2 says, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.  


You see the law is weakened by the sinful nature, but if we have the thoughts of Christ we have the law of life working in us.  So you can see there are two laws at work here; When you hold the word and your profession you come under the spiritual laws.  So it is important that we speak life, and we do that by meditating on life producing thoughts.


Psalm 77:12 says, I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. Read the rest of this Psalm to get in your spirit what a mighty God we serve.  So, if we are focused on what he has done for us, we won't be meditating on how Lula Mae upset us last by getting on her phone ministry and saying negative things about you.  It is amazing how we can allow such a small thing completely take over our thoughts until there is no room to meditate on the goodness of our hearts. That is how the devil slips in and steals our joy and our blessings.


Look at Psalm 1:1-2 and you'll know what I mean, those two verses tell us, "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.  Verse 3 goes on to tell us that such a man is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yield its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers.


This truth is something we should meditate on in itself.  How many of us lose our blesings and harvests from our seed in the wait period just by speaking negative over our lives and speaking negative thoughts about others. It will make you want to be more silent when you get together at the next family dinner or church breakfast, especially if you don't have enough word in you to know if you're violating a spiritual principle.


What we have to do is meditate until that word becomes a part of us!  What do you find yourself musing about everyday?  Is it negative or positive?  Make a conscious effort to listen to your thoughts everyday.  Decide that your meditations are going to be focused on His goodness, His mercy, His works in our behalf.  Proverbs is clear, that as a man thinketh so is he.


If you will allow the word to get your thinking straight, you will become a new man with the mind of Christ.  If you feed your faith with the word, you'll see change in your home, in your marriage, in your job and with your health.


Joshua 1:8 is a powerful scripture on this subject because it tells us if you'll do what's in my word, I'll make your way prosperous, and YOU WILL BE SUCCESSFUL!  How do you think we abide in Jesus?  It is meditating on his word and making every effort to do what it tells us to do. John 15:7 tells us that, if we abide in him and in His word, that we can ask whatever we will and we shall have it.  We can't expect to step out of abiding in Him and then think we're going to get our prayers answered or see success.  


We have to meditate on His word daily for it to become a part of us.  The word is a lamp unto our feet, and it directs us and it is our instruction book on how to succeed in our marriage, at our church and in our relationships.  The word also tells us that if we walk in the spirit, we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.


What Jesus is telling us here is that if we follow His precepts that he will make us successful and into something beautiful. Then we won't have to walk around with a mask on to cover up our negative thoughts and bitter hearts, but we will be free to be transparent because we have been renewed in the mind and in the heart and we won't be a stumbling block to others, nor will we feel negative about others weaknesses and failures. Instead, our thoughts will be on things that are lovely and of good report.


Again as Psalm 1:1 says, "but his delight is in the law of the Lord and on His Law he will meditate day and night."  So we can't expect to have an upright heart and speak positive thoughts with our tongue when we only remember to pick up the bible once a week as the preacher delivers a message, or stay out of church, and have no desire for bible studies.


There is no place I'd rather be than fellowshipping with other like-minded Christians and sitting up under a Pastor who is anointed in the word. I leave different every time than when I go.  More of His word and His spirit is enfolded into the recesses of my mind each time I study and hear the word.  Would you like to be a tree planted by the rivers of water and never wither.  then get a hunger and a thirst for more of His word and you'll be exactly that, a life giving Christian that is able to give life off the tongue to others.


Once you get your mind right, then speak your desires and the word over your life and circumstances.  Praisers have a life force in their tongue because they thirst for His presence and have a desire to please the Lord.  Psalm 37:4 says, "delight yourself in Him and He will give you good things.  You see, when the word gets in your spirit, your desires will become His.  You will no longer kick and rebel against God's will because His will will become your own desires.  He changes our hearts so we get a mind like Christ, so our desires will become pleasing to him.  Jesus can't work for you without complete submission.


This is what happens when a man's ways please the Lord; your heart becomes renewed. Jesus will even make your enemies favor you, and the other enemies, well, he'll make them your footstool.  So don't give the devil any authority. Don't give him your time! Where your time is spent and what your thoughts are focused on reflects your heart's desires.  Matthew 6:21 says, Where your treasure is, there will be your heart also.  Where do you spend your time? Your money? Your thoughts? Psalm 19:14 also tells us that your mouth speaks the meditation of your heart.  Do you remember when God's word broke your spirit down? That's when revelation comes to you and gives you discernment of your wrong thinking and sin. You know the word has changed you then. 


 If your thinking can't get right you can't embrace the things of Christ, can't get deliverance or answered prayer.  We're supposed to come out of sin and enter sanctification, but something goes wrong with that process for many of us.  Sometimes it takes us back to Calvary a second time.  We think that little hard spot in our heart will be okay, or that little sin we hold on to won't hurt us in our spiritual walk.  But it will strip you of your blessings and reaping your harvest, and a 100% harvest will be impossible. Read the parable of the sower if you want the truth from Jesus' mouth. That parable gives understanding and discernment to all truth and all parables.


You must become a living sacrifice, and that is our reasonable duty as a Christian. Our thoughts have to come in line with the word.  Philippians 4:8 tells us, "to think on whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things."  Those are the thoughts that bring peace to our lives.


The following are the eight areas to think on; the formula for thinking God's way:


1.  We are commanded to think positive!


2.  We are Kingdom people, and we have to think and meditate on Kingdom things. Psalms 50:23
says, "He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may
show him the salvation of God."  Psalm 19:14 says also, "May the words of my mouth and the
meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight."


3.  Faith never denies truth, he will never allow us to turn our backs on truth!


4.  Faith demands a change that lifts up the Word of God.


Now this is where most Christians lose the battle; Your faith will never rise above your
confession.


5.  Don't meditate on confusion; God is not the author of confusion.


6.  The devil will try to tell you this scripture or that truth doesn't apply to you, don't
believe that lie.


7.  Be a living sacrifice!  Romans 12:1-2 which tells us that is our reasonable service! We are
made up of spirit, soul and body which is referred to as the truine man.  All three parts
that we are made up of must come in line with the word and operating in the spiritual realm
to see Kingdom manifestation in our lives.


8.  If you have not consecrated all parts of your being unto God, and still nursing sin and a
rotten heart then you need to get yourself back down to the altar and allow Jesus to operate
on you one more time and give all of your heart to him so he can fully regenerate you into a
new man in his likeness. Salvation is instant at the cross but it takes years to be renewed,
develop and mature as a Christian.  You know a mature Christian by his deeds, what words his
heart speaks and his fruit.  He is a seed planter with his mouth and his hands and his
harvest will be visible to all.


References and credits on this article:
This lesson is based on my notes from Wednesday night's bible study at Westmoreland PHC and taught by the Rev. Jerry Nelson, as well as my own commentary.  If you would like to order a copy of the complete 5 part series on CD please contact me at Believers Ministry at: djbraman@gmail.com
Or contact the church: www.westmorelandphc.org