Do you meditate and pray over the Word?

[Vine Abider]

I like getting into the Greek, reading the interlinear, hitting the concordance and word studies to really get into the meaning of scripture, and maybe also check a couple commentaries and/or listen to some others speaking on the topic.  But, especially first thing in the morning, I want to be nourished in the Word and use it to help me seek the Lord.

So I typically hit "Daily Light" (by Bagster/Ann Graham Lotz) after some initial quiet prayer and thankfulness.  Daily Light is simply verses/passages that have been arranged by topic.  I like to read these verse out loud when possible (sometimes other members of the household are still asleep), and frequently turn them into prayers and/or thanking and praising the Lord for His faithfulness, love, mercy, light, life, guidance, etc.  Sometimes the verses turn into prayers for myself or others or the government or the world or whatever.  Many times I find awesome verses to just strongly declare their truth - to the Lord; to myself; or to the enemy.

Oftentimes when I start out after waking, the word seems pretty dull (but that's actually me).  And as I continue reading/meditating/speaking/praying these verses, the word starts to get fresher, come alive and more full of meaning - I can even sense the life-giving Spirit giving life to my mortal body!  The faith of Christ in me gets stronger and my outlook on nearly everything simply improves. Many times I'll just have to break out in a love song to Jesus that's welling-up inside me. (again, if my wife and dogs are still asleep, the song will have to be somewhat muted . . .)

Anybody else here enjoy this kind of nourishing meditation & prayer in the word?

[bropro]

1 hour ago, Vine Abider said:

I like getting into the Greek, reading the interlinear, hitting the concordance and word studies to really get into the meaning of scripture, and maybe also check a couple commentaries and/or listen to some others speaking on the topic.  But, especially first thing in the morning, I want to be nourished in the Word and use it to help me seek the Lord.

So I typically hit "Daily Light" (by Bagster/Ann Graham Lotz) after some initial quiet prayer and thankfulness.  Daily Light is simply verses/passages that have been arranged by topic.  I like to read these verse out loud when possible (sometimes other members of the household are still asleep), and frequently turn them into prayers and/or thanking and praising the Lord for His faithfulness, love, mercy, light, life, guidance, etc.  Sometimes the verses turn into prayers for myself or others or the government or the world or whatever.  Many times I find awesome verses to just strongly declare their truth - to the Lord; to myself; or to the enemy.

Oftentimes when I start out after waking, the word seems pretty dull (but that's actually me).  And as I continue reading/meditating/speaking/praying these verses, the word starts to get fresher, come alive and more full of meaning - I can even sense the life-giving Spirit giving life to my mortal body!  The faith of Christ in me gets stronger and my outlook on nearly everything simply improves. Many times I'll just have to break out in a love song to Jesus that's welling-up inside me. (again, if my wife and dogs are still asleep, the song will have to be somewhat muted . . .)

Anybody else here enjoy this kind of nourishing meditation & prayer in the word?

Years ago (not saying how many) I attended training courses for the Billy Graham association, that was to lead up to the crusade coming to our city. We were being trained to be counselors that would meet the people who would come forward at the invitation to receive salvation. During one of the training sessions they had us trace our hand on a piece of paper. Each finger would represent a particular discipline, and the effect it would have on our grip on God’s word. Starting with the little finger being #1 around to the thumb #2, there was assigned a certain percentage of retention of God’s word. It goes like this:

 

1. Hearing                   10%

2. Reading                  30%

3. Studying                 60%

4. Memorizing           100%

5. Meditation             100% Plus

 

The instructor went on with his teaching by saying if a person only heard the word, but didn’t engage in the reading, studying, memorizing, and meditation he would not have much of a grip on the word. He would illustrate this by holding the bible in his hand with only the little finger grasping it, then asking someone to try and take it from his hand. Well, it was quite easy at that point. But as he went through each finger in the same way, it kept getting harder to pull the bible out of his hand. When a person hears, reads, studies, memorizes, and meditates on the word, that person will have a sound grip on the word of God and be more effectively transformed in the process.

I have learned that when I meditate on His word and pray through it, that His truths are not just things I know, but things that have been internalized. More specifically, God’s word is effecting every thing I think, do, and say, because it is He that is working in me to will and to do of His good pleasure.

In my daily devotions, I pray and meditate as I read a portion of scripture and write down these 3 things:

1. My thought.

2. How it impressed me.

3. My response to God

Sorry, didn’t meant to rattle on. Have a great day.

Gary

 

 

 

[Michael37]

1 hour ago, Vine Abider said:

I like getting into the Greek, reading the interlinear, hitting the concordance and word studies to really get into the meaning of scripture, and maybe also check a couple commentaries and/or listen to some others speaking on the topic.  But, especially first thing in the morning, I want to be nourished in the Word and use it to help me seek the Lord.

So I typically hit "Daily Light" (by Bagster/Ann Graham Lotz) after some initial quiet prayer and thankfulness.  Daily Light is simply verses/passages that have been arranged by topic.  I like to read these verse out loud when possible (sometimes other members of the household are still asleep), and frequently turn them into prayers and/or thanking and praising the Lord for His faithfulness, love, mercy, light, life, guidance, etc.  Sometimes the verses turn into prayers for myself or others or the government or the world or whatever.  Many times I find awesome verses to just strongly declare their truth - to the Lord; to myself; or to the enemy.

Oftentimes when I start out after waking, the word seems pretty dull (but that's actually me).  And as I continue reading/meditating/speaking/praying these verses, the word starts to get fresher, come alive and more full of meaning - I can even sense the life-giving Spirit giving life to my mortal body!  The faith of Christ in me gets stronger and my outlook on nearly everything simply improves. Many times I'll just have to break out in a love song to Jesus that's welling-up inside me. (again, if my wife and dogs are still asleep, the song will have to be somewhat muted . . .)

Anybody else here enjoy this kind of nourishing meditation & prayer in the word?

What's that saying, "Seven days without prayer makes one weak/week."

Singing hymns and choruses as they come to mind in addition to both systematic and spontaneous feeding on God's Word are essential for my growth and wellbeing.

I could say more about the shield of faith being our defence against enemy fire, but in a thread specifically about that when one gets posted.

[Marathoner]

1 hour ago, Vine Abider said:

I like getting into the Greek, reading the interlinear, hitting the concordance and word studies to really get into the meaning of scripture, and maybe also check a couple commentaries and/or listen to some others speaking on the topic.  But, especially first thing in the morning, I want to be nourished in the Word and use it to help me seek the Lord.

So I typically hit "Daily Light" (by Bagster/Ann Graham Lotz) after some initial quiet prayer and thankfulness.  Daily Light is simply verses/passages that have been arranged by topic.  I like to read these verse out loud when possible (sometimes other members of the household are still asleep), and frequently turn them into prayers and/or thanking and praising the Lord for His faithfulness, love, mercy, light, life, guidance, etc.  Sometimes the verses turn into prayers for myself or others or the government or the world or whatever.  Many times I find awesome verses to just strongly declare their truth - to the Lord; to myself; or to the enemy.

Oftentimes when I start out after waking, the word seems pretty dull (but that's actually me).  And as I continue reading/meditating/speaking/praying these verses, the word starts to get fresher, come alive and more full of meaning - I can even sense the life-giving Spirit giving life to my mortal body!  The faith of Christ in me gets stronger and my outlook on nearly everything simply improves. Many times I'll just have to break out in a love song to Jesus that's welling-up inside me. (again, if my wife and dogs are still asleep, the song will have to be somewhat muted . . .)

Anybody else here enjoy this kind of nourishing meditation & prayer in the word?

A long time ago when the Lord taught me how to speak, think, and live again, He promised to remain with me in the same manner for the remainder of my days on this earth. I rose in the morning listening to His voice, walking in the manner which He commanded throughout the day and then, when the evening arrived, the Lord bid me to rest and meditate upon what I had learned. There was much labor to perform and great hardship to endure during those days, brother, but nothing can compare to obeying the voice of the Lord. 

I found that, focusing upon His voice and fixating my heart and mind upon our Lord Jesus Christ, nothing was impossible to overcome. Yes, even my own doubt was nothing to overcome in the Lord. I read the scriptures daily, but the Spirit makes His words come to life in my walk with Him. I don't need to apply myself to a regimen of any kind, for the Lord makes His will known every day; as for praying? Prayer, to me, is conversing with the Lord and as such, is what I do from the moment I rise in the morning until I fall asleep at night. I walk in the judgment of the Lord at all times, for He is faithful to correct me if and when I stray. Did I run my mouth when I should've remained silent? 

Did I remain silent when I should've spoken? Did I blow it royally? Did I forget the lessons which His Spirit imparted through trial and tribulation? The Lord is faithful to make His judgment known here and now... all we have to do is patiently wait upon Him and listen for His voice. As for what the Lord has given to me since I arrived in this city years ago?

Rest. This is the time of my rest, and I must confess that I've struggled with this for a long time, my friend. I keep waiting for the proverbial hammer to fall and when it doesn't, I feel ashamed for expecting the worst. What did the Lord say? This is the time of my rest! Ah, but the Lord counsels me in my shame --- there's no need to be ashamed in His sight --- for after all, I've spent most of my days on this earth smashed by that proverbial hammer time and again. This is why I should rest...

And stop waiting for that hammer to fall. Every day, I learn something new in the Lord.  

[Vine Abider]

@Marathoner I realize that I do start the day well, abiding in Him.  But that often wanes as I go about the days activities.  I call upon His name often, "Lord Jesus, help me in my weakness!" and to tell Him or ask Him various things.  I feel the nudge of His Spirit telling me to also feast/meditate on His word at other times in the day.  Just like eating - I need three squares a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Too often I skip or skimp-out on lunch & dinner . . . But this forum also helps too, as I converse and interact with brothers & sisters in the Lord!.

[Marathoner]

Just now, Vine Abider said:

@Marathoner I realize that I do start the day well, abiding in Him.  But that often wanes as I go about the days activities.  I call upon His name often, "Lord Jesus, help me in my weakness!" and to tell Him or ask Him various things.  I feel the nudge of His Spirit telling me to also feast/meditate on His word at other times in the day.  Just like eating - I need three squares a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Too often I skip or skimp-out on lunch & dinner . . . But this forum also helps too, as I converse and interact with brothers & sisters in the Lord!.

The same Lord ministers to each of us differently, brother, but the ministration of His Spirit accomplishes the same work in us all. 

Bear in mind that I suffered brain damage from my close call with the grave, so matters which most of us take for granted were beyond the pale for yours truly. I struggled to form and speak coherent sentences, which was only possible if I limited what I tried to speak to what a toddler might utter to mom or dad. As for concentrating on a task... no matter how simple that task might be? It was impossible. 

Granulomatous disease would've killed me were it not for the Lord. I sustained damage to multiple body organs: the heart, lungs, the teeth in my mouth, and the brain. I was too far gone to grasp why the Lord delivered me with a mighty hand, and it was only after He restored me that I learned the reason why: the Lord chose to display His power in me in the same manner that He did with the man born blind from John 9. Just like how the Son of God restored the man's sight incrementally --- the Lord spit on mud from the ground, applied it to the man's eyes, and then sent him to the pool of Siloam --- the Lord restored me in a similar way. 

In my case, it pleased the Lord to teach me how use those regions of the brain that were damaged by infection through daily instruction. His voice was the only thing that I could focus upon. Just as I heard during those days, I hear Him now. The Lord is faithful to deliver His promises to us, brother. Every one of them! 

I grasped what the Lord had done when He bid me to read about the man born blind. That is the purpose He set me aside for.  

[Vine Abider]

17 hours ago, Marathoner said:

The same Lord ministers to each of us differently, brother, but the ministration of His Spirit accomplishes the same work in us all. 

Bear in mind that I suffered brain damage from my close call with the grave, so matters which most of us take for granted were beyond the pale for yours truly. I struggled to form and speak coherent sentences, which was only possible if I limited what I tried to speak to what a toddler might utter to mom or dad. As for concentrating on a task... no matter how simple that task might be? It was impossible. 

Granulomatous disease would've killed me were it not for the Lord. I sustained damage to multiple body organs: the heart, lungs, the teeth in my mouth, and the brain. I was too far gone to grasp why the Lord delivered me with a mighty hand, and it was only after He restored me that I learned the reason why: the Lord chose to display His power in me in the same manner that He did with the man born blind from John 9. Just like how the Son of God restored the man's sight incrementally --- the Lord spit on mud from the ground, applied it to the man's eyes, and then sent him to the pool of Siloam --- the Lord restored me in a similar way. 

In my case, it pleased the Lord to teach me how use those regions of the brain that were damaged by infection through daily instruction. His voice was the only thing that I could focus upon. Just as I heard during those days, I hear Him now. The Lord is faithful to deliver His promises to us, brother. Every one of them! 

I grasped what the Lord had done when He bid me to read about the man born blind. That is the purpose He set me aside for.  

Thanks for that testimony bro!  The Lord can use it all, can't He - nothing or no one is too difficult for Him!

[farouk]

On 3/22/2023 at 4:49 PM, bropro said:

Years ago (not saying how many) I attended training courses for the Billy Graham association, that was to lead up to the crusade coming to our city. We were being trained to be counselors that would meet the people who would come forward at the invitation to receive salvation. During one of the training sessions they had us trace our hand on a piece of paper. Each finger would represent a particular discipline, and the effect it would have on our grip on God’s word. Starting with the little finger being #1 around to the thumb #2, there was assigned a certain percentage of retention of God’s word. It goes like this:

 

1. Hearing                   10%

2. Reading                  30%

3. Studying                 60%

4. Memorizing           100%

5. Meditation             100% Plus

 

The instructor went on with his teaching by saying if a person only heard the word, but didn’t engage in the reading, studying, memorizing, and meditation he would not have much of a grip on the word. He would illustrate this by holding the bible in his hand with only the little finger grasping it, then asking someone to try and take it from his hand. Well, it was quite easy at that point. But as he went through each finger in the same way, it kept getting harder to pull the bible out of his hand. When a person hears, reads, studies, memorizes, and meditates on the word, that person will have a sound grip on the word of God and be more effectively transformed in the process.

I have learned that when I meditate on His word and pray through it, that His truths are not just things I know, but things that have been internalized. More specifically, God’s word is effecting every thing I think, do, and say, because it is He that is working in me to will and to do of His good pleasure.

In my daily devotions, I pray and meditate as I read a portion of scripture and write down these 3 things:

1. My thought.

2. How it impressed me.

3. My response to God

Sorry, didn’t meant to rattle on. Have a great day.

Gary

 

 

 

@bropro Some really good thoughts there about searching the Scriptures. Glad you were motivated to tell us. Thank-you.

[enoob57]

It is about relationship (s/Spiritually) and that ‘from God’s Word alone’ does He speak to me… so the more I know The Scripture the more I can here His desire of me on a day to day basis… He originally made us for His pleasure and a mind set upon His Word will find what that pleasure is and The Holy Spirit empowers us to act without attachment to the thing being used in that process… 
Luke 10:27 (KJV) [27] And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
1 John 2:15-17 (KJV) [15] Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
[16] For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
[17] And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

[Vine Abider]

12 hours ago, farouk said:

@bropro Some really good thoughts there about searching the Scriptures. Glad you were motivated to tell us. Thank-you.

And we need to be careful regarding the Lord's admonition when approaching scripture: "You search the scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life, and these are they which testify of Me, but you will not come onto Me that you might have life."  John 5:39-40