Meditations
I was reading a blog today over at Lorawilliam08… talking about desires and it got me thinking so I thought I would pop back here and write my thoughts!
I pray the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you oh lord. This is the desire of my heart. Our hearts are so dark most of the time. When we think our motives are pure, that is when God reveals the hidden motive lurking in that dark corner. The bible says that the heart is desperately wicked and deceitful! How true is that??
The bible talks about how it is the things we behold that form our character. Our heart is filled with the things we spend time meditating on… In the times of the old testament meditation had different connotations than today. Take Psalms 1:2 for instance. The word meditate there translates to mutter, to moan, to growl. In ancient times, when someone would meditate on God’s word, they would take part of the word, and repeat it to themselves out loud, mutter, moan…they would tear it apart in their mind, so they could fully understand the text. So that it became part of them. Now think about music. what happens when you hear a song a couple of times? You begin singing it… you begin repeating the words to your self aloud, right? Sounds a lot like meditation doesn’t it? Now, this is a new thought concept for me..I am wrestling with it even as I write because it just sounds crazy to me! But the more I think about the concept through the lens of the Bible, it totally makes sense! The bible tells us to guard our heart for it is the well spring of life. The word heart here is translated as inner man, mind, will, knowledge, thinking. Romans 12:2 says do not be conformed to the world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. So, obviously we become like the world by filling it with the thoughts and ideals of the world, right? If we are transformed (changed) by renewing our mind (thoughts) then it goes to say that the things we meditate on affect us.
This is sort of left hanging… I want to continue chewing on it…. muttering! : )
Any thoughts?
lorawilliams08 said,
October 24, 2007 at 6:24 pm
You are so right as we sing the song or mutter the beat it’s getting into us.
And one thing a lot of us tell ourselves I just like the beat. I’m not listening to the lyrics.
An good example of that is I listen to Christian Music in the car and some time I hear a song that really encourages me. I’ll play it over and over.
Next thing you know my 4 yr old daughter is singing the whole song because she has heard over and over.
Just think if that was some other music with curse words or a song that they call women out of their name what would my daughter be singing then.
How does that affect the way she sees herself.
What image would she desire?
heatherblankenship said,
October 24, 2007 at 6:54 pm
very true! Having a daughter myself is what got me thinking more about the lyrics of the music I was listening to. She is 8 now, but when she was about 3-4 she came out of her room one day singing “Don’t be fooled by the rocks that I got, I’m still, I’m still Jenny from the block”. I was shocked that she had picked at the lyrics that well. So, I work really hard to listen to edifying music now!
tam said,
October 24, 2007 at 10:55 pm
Music is huge in our house. My husband is a Music Pastor but a Studio Engineer by trade. So he loves all kinds of music. But we have put very clear guidelines out there regarding what the kids can listen too and what is allowed in our home. We HAVE to be proactive in this.
My father in law wrote a book several years ago on Romans 12:2…it is fabulous! It;s amazing how so much gets into our thoughts and we don’t even realize it until we find ourselves actually “meditating” on it.
Great stuff Lora and Heather! Thanks!!!
charitymedders said,
October 25, 2007 at 10:49 am
Great…Great… Great…. I actually have been thinking about what I spend my time thinking and meditating about. Girl you know I love some old school music and I have begun to be convicted of some of the music I listen to…two words for you that descibe what i am doing right now…iPod Purge…love you!
heatherblankenship said,
October 25, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Charity-Girl I so relate! I did the ipod purge a couple of months ago. I did a about a year ago…then I reloaded the same junk back on… then I purged it again! haha! It is officially purged now though! Love you!!
Lora and Tam- THanks so much for the encouragement! Would be interested in reading a book like that Tam!!
tam said,
October 25, 2007 at 5:17 pm
I’d be more than happy to send you one! I can send it to your church…
Hope said,
October 27, 2007 at 11:14 am
Add to the credit cards, cell phones and on-line video games because apparently you a ‘nobody’ without one. How often do we get to relish the sight of kids being kids, outside playing in PERSON, and making noise in the neighbourhood. It’s become a rare sight. I saw a 12 year old girl the other day with acrylic nails, dyed hair, a t-shirt exposing her innocence. What are they learning from us? Television, while it can be informative, sets a dangerous course. It’s pretty sad that now we have to be mindful of the advertising as well as the programming content. OY!