MEDITATE AND INCUBATE AT A GOOD RATE

Joshua 1:8 says, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” (NIV).

The Book of Joshua is a wonderful book full of history, miracles, and memorable people.  It also has some very important spiritual instructions in chapter 1.  Joshua has some encouraging words said to Him by God Himself.  God speaks to Joshua and amidst the words says to him to “meditate” on His Word.

How do we do that?

The promise for meditating on the Word is that we will be prosperous and successful.

How do we do that?

MEDITATE

When it comes to the word “meditate,” you might think of a person in a physically contorted position contemplating the meaning of the universe while chanting.  That is not what God means.  Believe it or not, the Hebrew word (hagah) used in Joshua 1:8 means “to growl,” “to mutter,” and “to moan.”  When I looked at this Hebrew word, I got the sense of “talking to myself.”  My understanding (just me!) is that God wishes us to mutter and think on His Word.  He wants us to always be muttering about Him and to be musing on His Words.  In other words, daydream about Him or get lost in thinking about God.

INCUBATE

Because it rhymes, when it comes to “meditate,” we also need to understand that we are not in a hurry.  Meditation on God’s Word is not 5 minutes in the morning and knocking out 5 chapters.  Meditation is not rushed.  You certainly may read for 5 minutes in the morning, but take time the rest of the day to think, ponder, work through, ask questions, and pray over the Word you read.  The Bible is living and active (Hebrews 4:12) and should not be rushed through.

AT A GOOD RATE

It also seems important to “meditate” on a regular basis.  Thinking about God’s Word should not be relegated to a Sunday only affair.  Daily we need to be thinking about our Heavenly Father and His will for our lives.  Daily we need to be groaning through His Word so that those Words change our hearts to be more like Him.  Once a month doesn’t cut it.  Twice during a crisis is not what He means.  We are talking regular meditation on His Word.

MEDITATE AND INCUBATE AT A GOOD RATE

The covenant life that God invites us to partake in does work… it does bring us prosperity and success in Him by keeping us in the center of His will.  May you and I be committed to growling through Scripture until we look just like our God.

TMB