The thought that came to my mind as I read the verse is, “That’s a word we’ve given up.” I don’t know very much about Eastern Mysticism or Eastern Religions but I do think we’ve ceded some ground to it . . . allowed them to claim a concept that should be ours . . . relinquished to them a discipline that should be ours. The word I’m thinking of begins with “M” . . . and ends with “editate” . . .

“On the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works, I will meditate.” (Psalm 145:5 ESV)

I wonder if “meditate” or “meditation” came up in a word association game, how many of us would immediately respond, “Christianity!” or, “God!” Instead we might first go to images of someone with legs crossed in a lotus position, incense burning around them as they chant some mysterious sounding non-word. But, as I read through the Psalms, I’m thinking we need . . . or at least, I need . . . to reclaim meditation as a tool in my toolkit for building upon the foundation God has graciously laid in my life through His Son.

And it is so not about repeating a sing word or phrase . . . so not about emptying the mind. Rather, my meditation is all about filling the mind . . . with many, many themes and facets connected with the God of my salvation. It’s about filling my mind to overflowing as I consider “the glorious splendor” of His majesty and the wonder of His many, many works. Mine is to pause to reflect on all that He is and all that He has done. Pretty big book of “think material” if you ask me!

To take time to focus my thoughts on the attributes of God . . . to muse upon the beauty and glory of His person . . . that will stretch the mind and heart a bit. To commune around the subject matter of all that He has done — from creation to redemption . . . to ponder the mysteries of grace . . . to sing of the wonders of the heaven that awaits . . . to speak with others on how cool it is to just be a child of the Almighty . . . that has the potential to occupy a bit of time with high and lofty considerations.

So many things to compete for my thought life. So much stuff I need to run through this limited brain capacity I have. All necessary. But oh, to take time to let “living water” flow through this grey matter. To pause, even if just for a few minutes, and let the Spirit lead me to a fresh “Wow!” at the some thought of some aspect of the majesty of my God . . . or the beauty of His Son . . . or the mystery of His Spirit within me. To find myself, even in the middle of a crazy day, “escaping” just for a moment to reflect upon the love God has for me . . . that love expressed so vividly, so completely, on the cross . . . and to say, “Thank you!”

Yeah, I need to reclaim meditation . . .

May my meditation be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the LORD. (Psalm 103:34 ESV)