A Missive on the How & Why of Meditation

Because the misconceptions are vast and the benefits are huge.

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For it was I, the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things. Psalm 81:10

Why meditation?

This is a way to learn, understand, and memorize the Word.

This is a way to focus on a very direct point or precise promise from the Word.

This is a way to gently intimately connect with God without the pressure or puzzle of a complex prayer, grand sermon, or communal study group.

This is a way to begin a conversation with God or praise to God that is both specific and in line with His Word because IT IS HIS WORDS.

This is a way to build your faith around the promises of God directly from scripture.

This is another way to memorize, focus, and encourage yourself in the Lord.

This is a way of decreeing and declaring the Words and promises of God.

This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me and given me life. - Psalm 119:50 (AMP)

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What on earth is a mantra?

Affirmations

Mantras are just affirmations that are repeated in the mind or out loud and used to center you in a moment or guide you in a situation.

What better words to lead and secure yourself in than the Words from God’s lips?

Instruction

Scripture instructing us to speak the Words of God are directly applicable to intercessors. Indeed, those and other verses literally convey the power, authority, wisdom, and prescience of God in our speaking His words.

How do we know what to speak? While God works through spiritual discernment, miracles and wonders, and His Spirit bearing witness to ours, the Word of God is an always available trusted and reliable source of God's own words. And when we don't know, He does and will speak it for us. (Romans 8:26)

Study Hall

Take note! Words from scripture also are available to us if we have previously heard them. This happens through study, worship, and immersing oneself in messages that speak the Word.

Focused study of the Word is critically important and full of power. The Bible is a fundamental part of the armor of God and a constant source of strength, wisdom, healing, and encouragement. (Ephesians 6:13-18) This is why the Bible frequently instructs us to hide the Word in our hearts, inscribe it on the tablet of our hearts, and keep it on our lips. (Psalm 119:11, Proverbs 7:2-3)

Speaking, concentrating, and pondering the Word goes beyond study. It is an act of obedience, to treasure, meditate, and keep the Words of His mouth in our mouths is saying "yes" to God's invitation to know, understand, and experience His awesomeness any time we like.

Harvesting Promises

To study, meditate, and know His Word is also rich with benefits. Remember the many promises God made throughout time to His people, prophets, kings, disciples, and the children of Israel still apply to us today. If He told them that He would use His Words for their benefit, we too are covered by those promises and can expect him to keep His Word. He does not show favoritism, and is not a man who can lie. (Romans 2:11, Numbers 23:19) We are his children and have inherited the promises and blessings to His people because through Jesus we have been made sons and daughters, a royal priesthood. (Galatians 3:26; John 1:12-13, Ephesians 1:4, Romans 8:15, 1 Peter 2:9) His Word - and therefore, His promises - are as valid today as ever.

Alignment and Connection

While on the lookout we are responsible for looking for God and looking for people and issues for whom we may intercede before God. We seek, ask, and decree in the name and power of our Almighty God. And most importantly we believe that what God says is true whether or not we can see it, feel it, or understand it in the moment. So we meditate to bring us to a place of greater closeness, deeper understanding, and intense belief.

All Scripture is given by God. And all Scripture is useful for teaching and for showing people what is wrong in their lives. It is useful for correcting faults and teaching the right way to live. Using the Scriptures, those who serve God will be prepared and will have everything they need to do every good work. - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ERV)

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The How: Tips and tidbits from my own practice

Read, Speak, Repeat

Read and repeat the sections that strike you or move you.

Let the repetition inundate your mind, stir your soul, bring remembrance of things past and present, hope for the future, and better understanding of the Words, will, and character of God. Let the repetition lock the words in your memory bank as if carving them on your heart.

Let it speak to you as you speak the words out.

Speak the words in any order.

Add on the language from the verse. Or speak only the language from the verse.

Speak it again and again and again.

Use what God gives you

Use the Word or the words God speaks to you or those you sense in your Spirit.

In my own life, the Spirit frequently and regularly prompts and encourages me with two words: "Keep going". When I hear or sense that, it is like a trigger, a signal, a heart stopper, and motivation. It's my moment of exhale - knowing this is God, this is true, this is my path. I can be at peace with where I am and who I am. So I repeat it, and then do it.

Do-overs bear fruit

Come back and repeat whenever necessary. Write them around your house, desk, car, wherever to continue the prayer, meditation, praise, or reflection it brings that connects you to God.

You will find your mind, body and spirit humming with the power and love and peace of the Word and its truth. You will find the words seeping from your spirit into conversation, prayer, and random moments.

Keep at it because the time is not wasted. It is a good way to heal the tongue and bring your mind, attitude, and words into line (or hold them captive!) with the Word.

Consider it the Spirit working with your spirit or your spirit rejoicing and reaching out to the Creator.

Unfocus is practice for focus

If you have trouble focusing, don’t worry, don’t fight, don’t strive. Relax. You can rest in these moments—this is you coming and resting in the presence of your Father.

I sometimes have to remind myself that it is okay to let my self or mind reset or calm down a bit before I attempt to dive into something else. Take a beat to do a brain dump in a list, rest a bit, or just zone out before starting. No one is focused all the time. That is ridiculous. So don't be hard on yourself if it takes minutes not seconds to find your focus.

Just be gentle with your mind and bring it back into focus on the words—maybe in a different order.

Find a rhythm of speaking the words out.

Set a timer for 30 seconds, then 1 minute, then longer, to help you focus on the Words. When the timer goes off pause, reflect on what the words brought to mind, how you felt, what else it makes you think of, bring anything it triggered to God, then remember to breathe and go back to the Words. Repeat if you find yourself losing focus.

It’s okay to just go with your unfocused mind sometimes. This is a spiritual engagement with your loving, patient, forgiving father not a rigid process, all or nothing test, or deathly pursuit.

If your spirit takes you to a different place or triggers the flow of prayer or praise, go with it. Then come back.

Sometimes to get my mind, mood, attitude and spirit right, I pretend like I’m sitting down to tea with Jesus. In my mind, I see just me and him in an all white room with nothing but warm goodness in our hands and smiles on our lips ready to speak to each other whenever the words flow. Quiet, easy, peaceful. No words are even necessary, because I am there with my Brother, Savior, Friend, Father and nothing else even matters or exists. I breathe, then I say the Words (if I am not too at peace just sitting and breathing! Yes, I am that person who prefers all the laying-down-while-breathing-deeply yoga poses.).

Other people cue up the mood with worship music. Try some things out. Do you.

Throw wide the gates so good and true people can enter. People with their minds set on you, you keep completely whole, steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don’t quit. - Isaiah 26:2-3 (MSG)

Come back to the purpose

The goal isn’t to just sit and say the words, but to trigger a spiritual intercession, to learn the Word of God, and to pray focused concise prayers that do not require any specialization or flourishes—after all, the Word is good just as it is and it says just what He wants it (and us) to say. So say it back. Fill your mouth with his words.

Reading multiple translations of the same verse is enlightening. It aids in understanding, memorization, and internalization of the meaning and its truth. You may use the verse itself as your mantra. Find the translation that resonates the most with you (that you understand and to which you connect most deeply).

Instinct is instructive

It’s okay to use your instinct. The Spirit uses your instinct to guide you, so flex that muscle and trust the Holy Spirit will guide you and connect with you in your efforts.

Listen to what is wise and try to understand it. Yes, beg for knowledge; plead for insight. Look for it as hard as you would for silver or some hidden treasure. If you do, you will know what it means to fear the Lord and you will succeed in learning about God. - Proverbs 2:2-5 (GNT)

Options for beginning

Pray the Lord will consecrate you (make you whole and clean and ready for engagement with Him).

Pray the Spirit will intercede for You using and bringing the Words you may not have to say.

Deep breath…and continue breathing.

Relax.

Read, re-read, repeat the Words and phrases out loud.

What it's like

This should remind you a bit of how praise and worship songs are constructed: phrases from the Word, brief words of prayer or praise that are repeated over and over. The repetition is impactful!

If you are a musical person, put your words to music, put (nondistracting) music on in the background, give the words a rhythm.

What it is

When all is said and done, this is your time with your God. Do you, boo.

Let the Spirit meet you and love on you.

You will find healing and rest for your soul.

You will be stronger and wiser and more intentional as an intercessor with the practiced and understood Word of God on your lips and at the ready.

Take it one step at a time.

Do it for you.

Keep an eye out though, because you are sure to meet God on the way.

On the day I needed You, I called, and You responded and infused my soul with strength. - Psalm 138:3 (VOICE)

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A Call to Action: Meditate Your Way

Feeling ready? Feeling curious? Feeling challenged?

Find your own way. Take what you need and leave the rest.

God will show up when you look for Him. He will give you the answers you seek. Keep going.

I respect and love your commandments; I will meditate on your instructions. - Psalm 119:48 (GNT)