Many Biblical passages urge believers to meditate. In Joshua 1:8, the Lord calls on Joshua to meditate upon the Word day and night, and Psalm 1 echoes the sentiment by comparing those who meditate on Scripture to well-rooted and nourished trees.
The key to worthwhile meditation is to keep your focus on God and let him teach, strengthen and encourage you through your time spent together.
Reading the Bible is an essential part of a Christian's walk of faith. For this reason, there are many tools to aid you in studying God's word, including devotionals, reading plans and cultural guides.
Simply studying the Bible, however, shouldn't be your goal. Instead, your aim should be to draw closer to God and learn his will for you. It's only when believers internalize the Word that true change can take place in their attitudes and actions.
Stress and busyness during retirement can keep you from experiencing the joy, peace and comfort faith in God offers. Like the rooted tree in Psalm 1, a Christian who meditates on God's Word is fed and strengthened. This nourishment enables them to live out God's call for their life.
Without the proper nourishment, you may feel spiritually drained and prone to outbursts of impatience, frustration and even anxiety.
Meditation needs to be undertaken with an understanding of its benefits and the acceptance that it takes time to master. You likely won't persevere in your attempts to practice meditation regularly if you doubt its worth. Once you've committed to try, these tips may help your efforts.
The LORD says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you." Psalm 32:8 (NLT)
Assistance in your studies is just a prayer away. God has promised to help all those who seek him. Because God created you, including your personality and abilities, he understands the areas where you struggle and can give you wisdom in overcoming difficulties.
In addition to giving you guidance and strength, God can also give you a hunger for him that can help you persevere in your meditations.
Meditating takes focus and clarity of thought. Starting the day off meditating is a great way to commune with God first thing and fortify yourself for the day ahead.
However, if you have a full schedule early in the mornings or often wake up groggy, you may get more out of an afternoon meditation.
The key is to work within your daily rhythm and find a time when you're alert and able to focus on your selected verses or stories.
Distraction is one of the main foes of fruitful study. Before you begin your meditations, consider your location. Try to avoid public spaces and physical discomforts caused by extreme temperatures, poor lighting and uncomfortable seating.
The ideal location is a comfortable chair in your living space or a private patio or balcony, like the ones provided at many of the assisted living communities under the Bethesda Senior Living Communities umbrella. If you want to write or journal your thoughts and prayers, you'll also need a desk or table.
Paul tells us all Scripture is beneficial to believers (2 Timothy 3:16). However, when selecting passages to meditate on, you can personalize your time with themes, parables and psalms that resonate with you.
While praying and pondering about the verses, ask yourself who they were originally addressed to, such as Jews from the Old Testament or believers in the early church. Consider the message God was giving to them and how those words apply to you in your life today.
Praise, meditation and prayer go hand in hand. The Psalms repeatedly encourage readers to meditate on the things God has done and praise him for them. By including thanksgiving in your meditations, you can cast a spotlight on God's glory, power and wisdom.
Fill your meditations with praise for what he's done in the past and currently doing for you and those around you. By keeping the wonder of God in your focus, you can more easily trust in his ability to carry you through hardships in your life.
Writing the verses you're meditating upon naturally causes you to slow down and focus on the individual words. If you're more comfortable expressing yourself through writing, you may wish to consider journaling your thoughts and prayers as well.
It's common to memorize verses for meditation because you can continue reflecting on them even as you go about your day. Writing memory verses can help you fix them in your mind and make a note of key ideas and themes.
