Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law, he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

Psalm 1:1-3 (ESV)

 

The Psalmist encourages us to value God and His Word above all else. He says God bestows a blessing on those who ponder on His Word from dawn to dusk. This purposeful awareness of God draws us away from sin and towards salvation.

Biblical meditation does not seek to empty the mind, but rather to fill it with God's truth. Meditation takes you to the point where the written word becomes a living word within you. It takes you to an experience of being united with Christ in the depth of your heart.

Meditation nurtures and renews your spirituality. A daily reading of God's Word strengthens your faith and prepares you for a fruitful and flourishing life. We must resemble the tree depicted in Psalm 1. It continues to grow and produce fruit by rooting itself in good soil and running water. As we draw life from God's Word, which promises favour and fruitfulness, we will have His life within us, allowing us to grow in ever-increasing obedience.

Many of us overlook our time with God while we serve Him.

We can be good producers of holiness and spirituality even if we are poor pursuers ourselves. When we measure success by our busyness, we feel compelled to add more goals or make bigger plans. We want to be fruitful for the Lord, but not at the expense of compromising our relationship with Him. We will face stress and burnout if we value what we do over who we are in Christ.

The tree planted by the waters is a picture of abiding rest in Christ and His Word. The fruit of our persistent abiding in Christ is a productive life. To put it another way, effective ministry comes from being with God rather than working for God. When we genuinely understand this truth, our ministry will transform from a parade of our works to a demonstration of God's work in and through us.