Meditating on the Lord can be one of the easiest yet at the same time most difficult activities we can do to draw closer to God and grow spiritually.  (James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.)

1. Pastor Taurai Emmanuel Maforo
Warren Park UMYF Week
19 November 2013

2.  Meditating on the Lord can be one of
the easiest yet at the same time most
difficult activities we can do to draw
closer to God and grow
spiritually. (James 4:8 Draw nigh to
God, and he will draw nigh to you.)

3.  The simplicity is in the act of just being
still in silence and solitude. (Ps. 46:10 Be
still, and know that I am God: I will be
exalted among the heathen, I will be
exalted in the earth.)

4.  The difficulty is that sitting still and being
quiet for more than a few minutes can
cause a minor anxiety attack.
 Many of us are not very comfortable with
our thoughts and being alone with God.
 For some it’s like watching grass
grow. Others may be afraid of what’s
lurking underneath the surface of our
hearts.

5. Yet, spending time with God
through meditation can
literally change your life for the
better.

6. Meditation is a practice in
which an individual trains the
mind or induces a mode of
consciousness, either to realize
some benefit or as an end in
itself.

7.  Biblical meditation is FOCUSED
THINKING about a Bible verse that
speaks to you, so that you can more
effectively apply its truth to your
life. In fact, true application of the
Bible in your life requires biblical
mediation.

8.  Meditation is parallel to
contemplation
 Contemplation only engages the
mental faculty while meditation goes
beyond the mental but involves the
whole being
 Contemplation may cause stress while
meditation brings a new lease of life.

9.  "… they delight in the law of the
Lord, meditating on it day and
night. They are like trees planted along
the riverbank, bearing fruit each
season. Their leaves never wither, and
they prosper in all they do." Psalm 1:2-3

10.  John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the
branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it
abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye
abide in me.
 Since scripture and revelation are key
sources of theology abiding in Christ may
thus be achieved through meditation –
connecting with God’s revelation through
scripture

11.  Josh 1:8 This book of the law shall not
depart out of thy mouth; but thou
shalt meditate therein day and night,
that thou mayest observe to do
according to all that is written therein:
for then thou shalt make thy way
prosperous, and then thou shalt have
good success.

12.  Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou
prayest, enter into thy closet, and
when thou hast shut thy door,
pray to thy Father which is in
secret; and thy Father which seeth
in secret shall reward thee openly.

14.  Initially, meditating on the Lord by abiding may be
difficult because our mind tends to be restless and
wanders profusely; but with consistency you’ll gain more
and more control over your thoughts.
 Select a mantra (scriptural passage or word) to focus on
and anchor your attention. “the Lord is my Shepherd,” “I
walk by faith,” “the joy of the Lord is my strength”, “I cast
my cares upon the Lord,” or “Peace be Still.”
 The late John Main, one of the most influential spiritual
teachers in the Christian meditation tradition encourages
believers to use the mantra or sacred word, “Maranatha”
that means, “Come Lord Jesus.”

15.  (See Hebrews 4:12. 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and
sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.)
 They contain eternal wisdom held in the shell of human
words. God wants us to “break open” these human words
and begin to discover the rich wealth of personal application
and understanding that they hold. This goal can be
accomplished as you memorize and meditate on Scripture.
 The Apostle Paul said, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you
[live in you] richly in all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16).
Meditation on Scripture will cause Scripture to “dwell in
you” and become a source of wisdom in your mind, will,
and emotions.

16.  Remember, meditation cannot be done in a
hurry. It takes time. Doing studies on the
meaning of a passage and committing it to
memory prepare you to meditate on it. As you
meditate, the Holy Spirit will teach you the ways
of God through HisWord.
 John 16:13 “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth,
is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he
shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he
shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew
you things to come.”

17.  Picture it - Visualize the scene in your mind.
 Pronounce it - Say the verse aloud, each time
emphasizing a different word.
 Paraphrase it - Rewrite the verse in your own words.
 Personalize it - Replace pronouns or people in the verse
with your own name.
 Pray it - Turn the verse into a prayer and say it back to
God.
 Pick one of those and apply it to this verse: "Truly
my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from
him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my
fortress, I will never be shaken." Psalm 62:1-2

18. Individual
Small Group
Family

19. Bible
Daily devotionals
Devotional CD/DVD
Christian Literature

20.  Just respond, or yield to what the
spirit is saying
 Resist the devil’s accusation
 Allow God to surprise you
 Don’t set limits to the spirit of
God(when people go to music shows
they don’t limit how much the
entertainer performs)

21.  As you meditate, don’t be discouraged if
you have to go over the passage several
times before insights begin to come to
mind.
 As God reveals an insight to you, pray it
back to Him and ask Him for the grace to
apply that truth in your life.
 If the Holy Spirit convicts you of sin in your
life, confess it to the Lord and be forgiven.

22.  You can go to a retreat as a group, and
experienced what it means to soak in God’s spirit
or his presence.
 The terminology for soaking in the spirit reminds
me of soaking up all of God’s attributes like a
sponge or wading in his glory. It is a time that we
are just “being” with God in the same way that
Adam and Eve walked with God in the cool of the
day. The scriptures tell us that in God’s presence is
fullness of joy.
 You metaphorically walk in valley of dry bones
declaring life to dead situations

23. 1 ¶ Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and,
behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house
eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and
the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at
the south side of the altar.
2 Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me
about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh
eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.
3 And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward,
he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the
waters; the waters were to the ankles.
4 Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters;
the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and
brought me through; the waters were to the loins.
5 Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not
pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that
could not be passed over.