Hello you
Wanna know one of the reasons we reflect on the nougat? Consider today’s Holy Nougat
“This book of the Torah should not depart from your mouth—you are to meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will make your ways prosperous and then you will be successful.” Joshua 1:8 TLV
While this is not expected to quote scripture in every sentence we speak, it is expected that we reflect on God’s word as often as possible. I hasten to further caution that knowing the words in the Bible is of little importance if we are not conversant with the Living Word, Jesus Christ. So the person who has read the Bible multiple times may easily be like the Ethiopian eunuch if there is no understanding to accompany the copious reading.
And that’s why we meditate on the Word. I usually think of yoga postures and people saying, ‘ummmmm’ (which I later discovered was Ohm); but that’s not biblical meditation. A quick visit to the context reminds us that this was God’s message to Joshua at the beginning of his tenure to guide the Children of Israel INTO the Land of Promise. The same Children who were with Moses and seemed to have sent him to an early grave! Joshua has every reason to be afraid! If meditation is the spiritual form of worry, then Joshua would probably be transforming his concerns into prayer. Thus, we know it would include repetition and either reading or saying the words aloud.
In the original language meditation is connected to speech (muttering, moaning or even roaring), and implies that one considers that which is before oneself. I suspect that Joshua was encouraged to swap his concerns with God’s Word to ensure his effectiveness as a leader. For me, that implies an act of substituting scripture each time a situation would seek to overwhelm him. And if he internalized it enough, then he’d have the right scripture for each situation when he kept the Word in his head and heart.
If my theory is correct, then it is a blueprint for how we ought also to be. We internalize the Word BEFORE we need it; then we utter, reflect, respond, repeat at the times of trial. (Of course google and Bible apps often offer the chance to search when caught, but that doesn’t always work). In meditating we’ll find that despite the intensity of our experience(s), we are likelier to remain Standing like the Ephesians warrior after a battle.
So whatever it is that we’re undergoing – there’s a scripture, rather a Word, for it. Utter, reflect, respond, repeat. Joys. There’s a Word. Sorrow. There’s a Word. Sickness, Jealousy, Anger, Excitement. Whatever we face – there is a Word. Locate. Utter. Reflect. Respond. Repeat. And watch what God will do with that process in our lives.
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
