Last night, in our Bible class, we talked about the importance of taking time every day to spend time alone with God. Even Jesus saw the need to get away from the crowds to be alone in prayer (Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12).

In those quiet times, prayer is important. So is Bible reading. But, just as important is a discipline that we tend to overlook – meditating on God’s Word.

God told Joshua, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8).

David wrote:
“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.” (Psalm 1:1-2).

To meditate on the law of God means to think carefully about it, to consider what it means to our lives. Is there a promise that God is making? Is there something God is telling us we need to be doing? Is there something God is telling us we should stop doing?

Part of the value in meditation is letting God’s Word remain in our thoughts throughout the day. Just as Mary “kept all these things [about Jesus] and pondered them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19), so we continue to think about what God is saying to us as we continue with our daily responsibilities.

I gave a challenge to our congregation for the new year. Instead of making a resolution to read through the Bible in the coming year (as many do), I challenged our church to meditate on one verse or two verses every day, allowing God to speak to us through those verses as we ponder them, filling our hearts and our minds

In order to facilitate this project, I will be sending out one or two verses by e-mail every day at 6:00 a.m. EST in 2018. If you would like to participate in this meditation challenge, you can sign up here:  http://eepurl.com/dec_sX

“I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
Yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
I will ponder all your work,
And meditate on your mighty deeds.” (Psalms 77:11-12)