Meditation to Transformation Meditate: To meditate on scripture is to give deep thought and consideration to the scripture one is meditating on. Meditating on the Scriptures is a vital practice for maturing in the Christian life. As one anonymous writer said, “The Bible is not meant merely to inform but to transform.” Throughout history, godly leaders have commended the transforming effects of meditation. Consider this beautiful description by Thomas Brooks, a seventeenth-century church leader: "Remember that it is not hasty reading but serious meditation on holy and heavenly truths, that makes them prove sweet and profitable to the soul. It is not the mere touching of the flower by the bee that gathers honey, but her abiding for a time on the flower that draws out the sweet. It is not he that reads most but he that meditates most that will prove to be the choicest, sweetest, wisest and strongest Christian." Meditation is a deep consideration of the Bibles' declarations 1. Meditation has a higher propensity to move us to position us to receive revelation. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Matthew 4:1 2. It expands our spiritual and mental parameters. Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. Psalm 119:97-99 3. The purpose of meditation is transformation. Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2 Theologian J.I. Packer describes it this way: “Meditation is the activity of calling to mind, and thinking over, and dwelling on, and applying to oneself, the various things that one knows about the works and ways and purposes and promises of God… It is an activity of holy thought, consciously performed in the presence of God, under the eye of God, by the help of God, as a means of communion with God.” Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that. Mark 7:13 The Song of Moses and Miriam - This song was written by both Moses & Miriam Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea. “The LORD is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name. Pharaoh’s chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea. The best of Pharaoh’s officers are drowned in the Red Sea. The deep waters have covered them; they sank to the depths like a stone. Your right hand, LORD, was majestic in power. Your right hand, LORD, shattered the enemy. “In the greatness of your majesty you threw down those who opposed you. You unleashed your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble. By the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up. The surging waters stood up like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea. The enemy boasted, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake them. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them.’ But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters. Who among the gods is like you, LORD? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? “You stretch out your right hand, and the earth swallows your enemies. In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. The nations will hear and tremble; anguish will grip the people of Philistia. The chiefs of Edom will be terrified, the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling, the people of Canaan will melt away; terror and dread will fall on them. By the power of your arm they will be as still as a stone— until your people pass by, LORD, until the people you bought pass by. You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance— the place, LORD, you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established. “The LORD reigns for ever and ever.” Exodus 15: 1-18 Questions for Discipleship Groups: Does meditating on scripture come naturally to you? Think of a time when you were meditating on God's word and it led you to a deep understanding. What understanding did you gain? How has meditating on scripture expanded your Christian thinking? Have you been able to see the transformative effects of meditation, why or why not? Do you approach meditation religiously (one more thing to do) or devotionally? Wanting to become more like God/Jesus? What are you looking forward to meditating on, a passage, a verse, a topic, a concept, or a word?