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At first thought, meditation is something that we may believe is
reserved for strange, far-out cult members. But, Christians are
to spend time in meditation. The meditation of Christians is much
different than cult meditation which may use a mantra. Webster defines
meditate as "1: to focus ones thoughts on: reflection or ponder
over 2: to plan or project in the mind ... : to engage in contemplation
or reflection." The greek word logizomai is translated various ways,
but is translated meditate (NKJ) and think (KJ) in Phil. 4:8. Vines
says of logizomai in Phil. 4:8 "it signifies 'make those things
the subject of your thoughtful consideration,' or 'carefully reflect
on them.'"
Paul exhorts brethren to carefully consider, reflect, ponder, meditate
on those things which are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good
report, virtuous, and praiseworthy. He says: "Finally, brethren,
whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things
are just, whatever things are pure, what ever things are lovely,
what ever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and
if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things" (Phil.
4:8). In other words, Christians are to immerse their thoughts in
everything that is good and spiritual in the Lord.
Meditation upon spiritual things has become increasing difficult
in a society bombarded with radio and television. With the onslaught
of multi-media, our minds are being filled with thoughts of worldly
pursuits and desires. So, unless we are attentive to our personal
spiritual needs, we will be overtaken by worldly thoughts with all
absence of spiritual thoughts.
Christians must create opportunities to spend time meditating (thinking)
on spiritual things. Frankly, Christians must remove their "mind-set"
and desires from earth and place them in heaven. Paul exhorts the
Colossian brethren in this way: "If then you were raised with Christ,
seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the
right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things
on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ
in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will
appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which
are on the earth: fornicating, uncleanness, passion, evil desire,
and covetousness, which is idolatry" (Col. 3:1-5).
We are in a society that is increasingly promoting immorality.
It is not going to become easier to live a life focused upon heaven.
We must wake up every morning and "put to death" our members in
preparation to face an immoral, worldly, lustful, and licentious
world. Paul tells us how he dealt with the cares of the flesh -
even life and death. In I Cor. 15:31 Paul says: "I die daily." Are
we, as Christians, dying daily?
One may die daily by spending time in prayer and meditation. In
order for us to have peaceable, quite time in our lives wherein
we can have time for prayer and meditation, we must schedule our
time. There are many things in life fighting for our attention.
We must take control of our schedules so that we have time to meet
our needs as a Christian. Because, the world will fill our schedules
with things of the world unless we make a concentrated effort to
fill our minds with heaven.
We must take individual responsibility for what we are doing with
our lives. If life's pace is too quick to spend time with God each
day, we must make changes in our lives. Furthermore, if we allow
the world to control our thoughts and daily physical life, we will
see the absence of God in our lives as we seek the world over heaven.
As for those days when nothing seems to go as planned, we can only
plan for another day knowing that things usually work themselves
out in a fashion to include time with God in prayer and meditation.
But, if a lack of time with God is the rule rather than the exception,
we need to change the rules.
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