This week, we finished Kingdom Revolution, our series in which we examined our CABLE practices through Jesus’ life and what it looks like to live them out in our own lives. We’re finishing out this series by looking at the practice represented by the headphones icon: listen for God’s voice and learn from His Word as we follow Jesus with our whole lives. Specifically, we took a look at the “learning” part of this practice and what it means to have a life that’s actively rooted in the Bible.
Read Psalm 1.
The key words here are in verse 2—the psalmist is telling us that God will bless those who meditate on His Word. “Meditation” can be an intimidating word; it seems irrelevant, like a distant practice. This psalm makes it clear that it’s a practice worth implementing in our own lives. Before looking at the benefits of meditation, it’s important to define it. Meditation is spending time in God’s Word in such a way that it penetrates and affects your heart. In other words, meditating is more than just reading the Bible for information; it’s reading the Bible for formation.
Psalm 1 shows us three benefits that come from making a habit of meditating on God’s Word.
1. Meditation results in a productive life.
According to verse 3, someone who meditates is like a tree which bears fruit. Meditation means more than being close to God; it means living a life that actually produces good things. As we spend more and more time with God through His Word, we become more and more like Him.
2. Meditation helps you persevere under trial.
Verse 3 also talks about the leaves of the tree not withering because the tree is rooted in deep, life-sustaining water. As we meditate, we gain courage and boldness under pressure because we are rooted in the Bible and God’s life-giving promises. Our roots are in a God who is bigger than any storm.
3. When you meditate, your life is bent toward flourishing.
Verse 3 references seasons, but it also says if a person meditates on God’s Word, whatever they do will prosper. This doesn’t mean that there won’t be difficult seasons or times of struggle, but it does mean that even during hard seasons our life will trend toward flourishing. This is because we will be rooted in God’s wisdom and because God works for the good of those who love Him in all things (Romans 8.28).
Forming a habit of meditating on God’s Word is much more than just knowing the benefits. There is a four-step process that can make meditation a habit rather than a spiritual-sounding, distant discipline.
- Get quiet. Have a place where you can go to be free from distraction and invite the Holy Spirit to speak.
- Read the Bible, listening for an idea that captivates you. Maybe it’s only a verse or two, but make note of whatever grabs your attention.
- Think deeper on that idea or verse, asking two questions to get you started:
- What does this say about God, His character, and His purpose?
- What does this say about me, who I am, and where God wants me to go?
- Pray the idea into your heart, thinking about three specific things to guide your prayer:
- How does the verse lead you to praise God?
- Where does the verse lead you to repent or confess your own sin?
- What is the verse leading you to ask from God?
Discussion Questions
- How often do you meditate on God’s Word? If you don’t do it as often as you’d like, why do you think that is?
- Think back to a season when you haven’t been intentional about spending time in the Bible. How did you see that affect your mindset, your heart, and your relationships?
- What keeps you from reading the Bible and spending time listening to God’s voice? Is it practical—busyness, fatigue, etc.—or a deeper heart issue?
- Think over a typical day for you. What time of day would be best to set apart for meditation on the Bible? Commit to doing this every day for a week and having a friend or CABLE group member hold you accountable.
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