Scripture instructs God’s people to meditate on God’s words. When the Israelites were preparing to cross the Jordan river into the promised land God told Joshua: “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8, NIV). Hundreds of years later this was still practiced; Psalms 1:1-2 promises: “Blessed is the one . . . whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night” (NIV), (also see Ps. 119:25, 23, 78).
Meditation is the single most important spiritual discipline in Christian history. It is the central practice followed by the great Christians of the past and is essential to Christformation. Solid meditation includes prayer and walking in the Spirit so it is comprehensive. Below is a simple guide to high-impact meditation. It includes reflection on what we believe and how we act so that we do not walk away and forget how the passage is supposed to change us. I refer to it as activational meditation.
Bring to mind a Scripture that has struck you recently then apply this guide to it.
Guide For Activational Meditation
- Absorb Scripture. Read and try to understand each idea in the passage; then let it sink in.
- Feelings Reflection. What feelings does the passage mention and what feelings did you feel while absorbing it? How can you respond to God in this area?
- Truth Commitment. Have you embraced the truths in the passage and if not why not? Spend a couple of minutes embracing the truths and tell God what you are embracing.
- Virtue and Action Commitment. Have you been embracing the virtues or actions in the passage? Identify any root problems and tell God any commitments you are making.
- Receptivity. Ask God to show you anything else he wants, then sit in silent receptive mode for a couple of minutes. Follow through on any impressions from God.
You can do this in three minutes or you can take much longer to go through it. If you make this a regular practice you should notice that Scripture is having a bigger effect on you and producing more transformation.
