Precious Words to Live By

" Rejoince in the Lord Always."
"Let your gentleness be known to all men."
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication( in humility,) with thanksgiving; let your request be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report. If there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy- meditate on these things."(Philippians 4: 4-8)

The word-Meditation doesn't jive well for most of us Christians. We tend to connect the term with the eastern religious practice and visualize it as chanting mantras in a yoga position or counting prayer beads in a serence atmosphere under the glow of candles.

On the other hand, Christians, who had understood the meaning of the word -meditation, and had experienced the value of it without following the eastern religioius practice, truly treasure it as a great discipline for Christian walk.

In John Piper's words in his book, "When I don't desire God- how to fight for joy," meditation means reading God's word and chewing on it to get the sweetness and the nourishment from it that God designs to give.

He further goes on to say that the essence of meditation is to think our way into the very mind of inspired writers who were granted by inspiration to think the thoughts of God.(2 Tim.3:16-17; 2 Peter1:21) Think and mull and ponder and chew until you see God the way they see God-namely ,as precious and valuable and beautiful and desirable.

Piper writes that prayer is our response to God in reliance on his spirit,and meditation to be as our response to God in reliance on his Word. Both tend to be inseparable. One without the other may reflect our own views and desires, but not of God's. However, the Word without grace would turn us to be legalists and prayer without love would turn us to be hypocrites. None of us want to become like Pharisees,whom Jesus warned about.
Meditation on God's Word brings about rejoicing and anxiety-free life. What a blessed life that could be for you and me !