Lesson 6 - How To Meditate On Scripture
If you base your convictions and your words on the Word of God, you can speak with confidence and your life will be on the right path. Why is meditation important? The words of the Bible are living words and eternal wisdom. God wants us to discover the rich wealth of understanding and personal application that are in them. This is accomplished through meditation and the teaching work of the Holy Spirit. 1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. What Is Meditation? 1. Pleasant murmuring Psalms 1:2 But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Meaning: to murmur in pleasure or to ponder. 2. Quiet reflection Psalms 119:99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies [are] my meditation. Meaning; To contemplate 3. Musical repetition Psalms 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Meaning: a musical notation 4. Prayerful reviewing 1 Timothy 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Meaning: to carefully revolve in the mind 5. Communing with God Psalms 119:48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes. Meditation is talking to the king in the king's language 6. Building your day and night around prayer. Psalms 119:97 O how love I thy law! it [is] my meditation all the day. Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food]. 7. Worshipping God in spirit and in truth Psalms 104:34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD. How To Meditate As we meditate on scripture and compare the needs of our society with similar situations in scripture, we will gain an understanding of some of the goals God wants to accomplish. We get vision from meditating on scripture and praying. 1. Memorize God's thought structures If we are to think God's thoughts after Him, we must be able to comprehend and appreciate His structure of thinking. The best way to do that is to memorize whole thoughts and ideas from scripture, not just verses. Get the main idea; make sure you understand it. I.E. Matthew 4:4 "... Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." 2. Personalize the scripture you have memorized Add personal pronouns to the scriptures to personalize them. I.E. Matthew 4:4 "... Lord, I shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of Your mouth. 3. Repeat the verse several times, emphasizing a different word each time. I.E. "Man shall not live by bread alone..." "Man shall not live by bread alone..." "Man shall not live by bread alone..." 4. Visualize the significance of each word I.E. "Man..." Every man; all mankind. This is a universal principle applicable to everyone. "Man shall not..." This a firm negative; a final decree. God means no! "Man shall not live..." Living is more than just existing. God made us to enjoy the pleasures of life in His presence. Christ came to give us eternal life. 5. Repeat the verse and ponder the full meaning of each word or phrase I.E. "Man, shall not, live, by bread alone, but by every, word, that proceedeth out, of the mouth, of God." 6. Rest - let the words grow in you mind, will, and emotions I.E. John 15:7 "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." "Lord, I will abide in you and allow your words to abide in me. Then, whatever I ask shall be done for me." 7. Use the verse to talk with God, and ponder each word for personal application I.E. "Man shall not live..." Oh Lord, you want me to discover your life. You want to live your life through me. "...by bread alone..." Lord, every word - all scripture is important and profitable. My spiritual health requires a balanced diet. I must gain nourishment from every part of your word, or I will become spiritually weak. 8. Expect God to bring this verse to your mind and show you new insights from it. I. E. When you feel spiritually defeated: "Man shall not live by bread alone…" Ask: When was the last time you had a good spiritual meal? When you have an important decision to make: "Man shall not live by bread alone…" Why not fast and pray about it? When you have experienced heartache: "Man shall not live by bread alone…" You can gain a new and richer understanding of God’s Word through your experience. 9. Become a living translation of God's Word. Memorize a passage of scripture - i.e. Romans 6:1-2 "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" Then personalize it and let it become a part of you. - "What shall (I) say then? Shall we (I) continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall (I), who am dead to sin, live any longer therein?" Again - Gal. 2:20 " I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. " Persoanalized - " I, Rick Roberts, am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I, Rick Roberts, live; yet not I, Rick Roberts, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I, Rick Roberts, live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, Rick Roberts,, and gave himself for me. "
Study Guide For "What The Bible Is All About"
by Henrietta Mears
Chapter 6 - Understanding Deuteronomy
1. This book shows the blessings of _____________ and the curse of _______________. 2. Everything depends on __________________. 3. Deuteronomy means ___________________________. 4. Who wrote the first five books of the Bible? ____________ Are you sure? 5. What scriptures did Jesus use when he resisted the devil? ________________________________________________________________ 6. God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings, but we must _______________________________________________________________ 7. What one thing hinders God’s work? _________________________ 8. What are the conditions of obtaining and holding the Promised Land? ___________________________________________________________ 9. God chose Israel. Now Israel must ____________. Does this also apply to us? _____ 10. How does God want His people to walk in the world? ____________________________________________________________________ 11. Moses heart was burdened because he knew ___________________ ________ and ___________________________________________________. 12. What are the results of disobedience? _______________________ 13. What three word describe Israel today? ___________, __________, ____________. 14. Moses charge to Joshua and the people was "________________ ______________" 15. Why was Moses’ grave hidden? ______________________________ ____________