Meditation on the Word is a Christian activity that is downplayed. We pray all-night, fast all week, and go to 96 meetings, but
meditating on a scripture until God reveals Himself to us is often “hard to do.” Prayer, fasting and fellowship are all
necessities for healthy Christian living, but so is meditation. [See Joshua 1:8]
I was teaching a Bible study on standing up for our beliefs and was asked to “prove” the value of meditation. The study was
on Paul’s confrontation with king Agrippa in Acts, Chapter 26. As I read verse 2: “I think myself happy, king Agrippa,
because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews.” (Acts26:
2KJV), I couldn’t get past the first 4 words of the verse. As we meditated on these words God revealed Himself to us. Paul
was on trial, threatened with death or permanent exile, and the apparent end to his ministry. He doesn’t complain about his
situation or accuse individuals for his problems. What is the first thing Paul says to the king who can free him? “I think
myself happy.”
Other scriptures were quickened to us to confirm this. We are to think on things that are pure, lovely and of good report (Phil.
4:8). We renew our minds and know God’s will (Rom.12:2). We are to rejoice always (1Thess.5:16). We are not happy for
the problem, but with God there is always a solution. (1Cor.10:13)
We began to see that as we face trials we must “think ourselves happy” according to the promise of the Word of God in
Christ Jesus. As we face rough situations, it is up to us, not the circumstances to get us happy. Happiness itself, is not the
answer to problems, but it does bring us to a place were we are:
1] in one accord with God, Who is not challenged by our challenges
2] open to see the answer to the problem when we are not focused on the problem
3] grateful for who we know, what we have and what God promises
Since, 80% of what we worry about never comes to pass, and most trials are temporary, thinking ourselves happy is part of
good mental health. As long as we don’t presumptuously deny that trials exist, we can, in faith, believe for a victorious
overcoming life in Christ Jesus.
So . . .Think yourself happy!
Love In Christ,
Gregory & Linda Emler
meditating on a scripture until God reveals Himself to us is often “hard to do.” Prayer, fasting and fellowship are all
necessities for healthy Christian living, but so is meditation. [See Joshua 1:8]
I was teaching a Bible study on standing up for our beliefs and was asked to “prove” the value of meditation. The study was
on Paul’s confrontation with king Agrippa in Acts, Chapter 26. As I read verse 2: “I think myself happy, king Agrippa,
because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews.” (Acts26:
2KJV), I couldn’t get past the first 4 words of the verse. As we meditated on these words God revealed Himself to us. Paul
was on trial, threatened with death or permanent exile, and the apparent end to his ministry. He doesn’t complain about his
situation or accuse individuals for his problems. What is the first thing Paul says to the king who can free him? “I think
myself happy.”
Other scriptures were quickened to us to confirm this. We are to think on things that are pure, lovely and of good report (Phil.
4:8). We renew our minds and know God’s will (Rom.12:2). We are to rejoice always (1Thess.5:16). We are not happy for
the problem, but with God there is always a solution. (1Cor.10:13)
We began to see that as we face trials we must “think ourselves happy” according to the promise of the Word of God in
Christ Jesus. As we face rough situations, it is up to us, not the circumstances to get us happy. Happiness itself, is not the
answer to problems, but it does bring us to a place were we are:
1] in one accord with God, Who is not challenged by our challenges
2] open to see the answer to the problem when we are not focused on the problem
3] grateful for who we know, what we have and what God promises
Since, 80% of what we worry about never comes to pass, and most trials are temporary, thinking ourselves happy is part of
good mental health. As long as we don’t presumptuously deny that trials exist, we can, in faith, believe for a victorious
overcoming life in Christ Jesus.
So . . .Think yourself happy!
Love In Christ,
Gregory & Linda Emler
| The Value of Meditation |