How to Meditate - Psalm 119:2

“Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in His ways!” Psalm 119:2

Here’s another promise, like the happy, blessed one in Psalm 1 “who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers,” who absolutely delights in God’s law, what makes God happy, who meditates on His word continually.

“Keep” refers to habitually doing and obeying. It is obedience to God’s best, righteous, pure, loving, good, and way of life that makes God happy. I’ve never been more happy and free from fear than when I was obedient to the Lord despite being afraid of what others may think about me. The reason we're not happy is because of our sin. Our sin is missing the mark of perfection, falling short in the daily thoughts, words, and choices we make when we try to be in control and think life will work better when we do it our way instead of God's way. The solution is to humbly repent and surrender over the control before Jesus as Lord.

Obedience is a daily walk. May I pursue Him every day! Knowing what to obey comes from knowing His Word. May the things of this world become less attractive to me and let me find satisfaction, fulfillment, contentment, peace and pure, overflowing JOY in His Word. Oh, give me a greater desire that I may seek You with my WHOLE heart! 

Meditation works best for me when I try to memorize one verse each day or season. I try to think about each word in the verse. I ask what it shows about who God is, what He likes or dislikes, and how I can live it out. What does He want from me? Then, I ask for strength to do it. That helps me walk in obedience and meditate on His word. Sometimes, I am battling sin in my thoughts, and need to continually say that verse to take that thought captive over and over. Reciting and rereading the verse over and over helps me remember it better. Listening to the audio Bible while I get ready, drive, wash dishes, or walk also helps me to hear and recite it repeatedly.

Recently, I’ve realized that when I’ve struggled in the ever-raging people-pleasing battle of fearing people more than obeying God, it wasn't until I truly obeyed and did what honored the Lord by sharing the gospel publicly, I stopped struggling with anxiety over what people thought of me. Every time I’m afraid to share the gospel and feel like I don’t know what to say but just say something, I’ve been thankful at the outcome of obediently taking the first step and no longer feel in bondage to fear!

"Seeking Him with my whole heart" reminds of the command to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your might" in Deuteronomy 6:5 and Matthew 22:37. When we love Him with our whole heart, there's not much room to love self! "Seeking" Him, His kingdom, and wisdom like treasure is a common theme in the Bible like in Proverbs 2:3-5 and Matthew 6:33 and 13:44. May I have an ever-growing unquenched desire to keep seeking Him!

Reflection: How about you? What area is causing you anxiety that could be an area of unconfessed sin in which you know the Lord wants you to obey? How fervent is your pursuit of the Lord? Do you seek to obey Him daily? Do you meditate on His Word? On a scale of 1-10, how great is your desire to even read God’s word? When was the last time you shared the gospel to someone other than your kids? What lost friends or family are you praying for? How is your prayer life on a scale of 0-3? If you’re convicted by these questions, the Bible says to examine yourself (2 Corinthians 13:5). Then, repent, trust the Lord’s forgiveness and ask for His help to walk in obedience starting now!