97 Oh, how love I Your law! It is my meditation all the day. [Ps 1:2.]
98 You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies, for [Your words] are ever before me.
99 I have better understanding and deeper insight than all my teachers, because Your testimonies are my meditation. [2 Tim 3:15.] AMP
How do you approach your time of reading God’s Word? There are a few simple steps that will cause you to get much more from God’s Word. If we will come with a humble heart, eager to learn, realizing that it is the Holy Spirit that causes us to gain life, truth and understanding from God’s Word.
When we read are we looking for quick fixes for the circumstances in our lives or are we seeking to be transformed by the renewing our minds that comes from God’s Word working in us.
Are we seeking to know the author and finisher of our faith? Are we seeking to know God and please God by conforming our lives, thought, hopes and emotions to align to His?
Do we seek to please Him in all of our ways or are we simply hoping to gain His power, wisdom, knowledge and miracles for our own purposes and ego?
Reading the Bible:
Pray first before opening God's word.
Ask for guidance and to be able to accept what is written and to be able to apply His will to your life.
Do not read the Bible trying to prove your belief on any subject. It is only human nature to take ideas out of context. When you are reading and come across something that does not make sense, reread the paragraph or chapter again. If you still do not understand, write down the problem area and continue onward. You can look up words and research these areas latter.
Below is an addition article on the Word meditate and concept of meditation in scripture.
MEDITATE [Hebr. ´î(a)µ, ´û(a)µ] (Gen 24:63; Ps 77:3,6 [MT :4 :7 ]; 119:15,23,27,48,78,148; 145:5); AV also COMPLAIN , "commune with mine own heart" (Ps 77:6), TALK OF, SPEAK OF; NEB also "hoping to meet" (Gen 24:63), "lay thinking" (Ps 77:3,6), STUDY , "my theme shall be" (Ps 145:5); [h¹gâ] (Josh 1:8; Ps 1:2; 38:12 (MT :13 ); 63:6 [MT :7 ]; 77:12 [MT :13 ]; 143:5); AV also IMAGINE ; NEB also "keep in mind" (Josh 1:8), MUTTER , "think on," MEMORY; [Gk. promeletáœ] (Luke 21:14); NEB "prepare beforehand";
MEDITATION [Hebr. ´î(a)µ] (Ps 104:34); [´îµâ] (Job 15:4; Ps 119:97,99); AV also PRAYER ; NEB SPEAK, STUDY ; [higg¹yôn] (Ps 19:14 [MT :15 ]); NEB "all that I ... think"; [h¹gû¾] (Ps 49:3 [MT :4 ]); NEB "thoughtful."
In the biblical world meditation was not a silent practice. H¹gâ means "growl," "utter," or "moan" (cf. BDB p. 211 ) as well as "meditate" or "muse." No doubt meditation involved a muttering sound from reading half aloud or conversing with oneself (cf. Ps 77:6). Consequently, translations can vary: e.g., in Job 15:4 "meditation" (RSV) is rendered "prayer" by the AV and "to speak" by the NEB; in the AV Ps 5:1 (MT :2 ) has, "O Lord, consider my meditation", but the RSV has "give heed to my groaning" and the NEB "consider my inmost thought."
Meditation takes place any time of the day or night (Josh 1:8; Ps 1:2). It produces inward strength and joy (Ps 63:5). The object of meditation is particularly the law with its precepts (119:15), statutes (v. 48), testimonies (v. 99), and promises (v. 148). The glorious splendor of God's majesty, along with His wondrous works or miracles, is also the content of meditation (143:5; 145:5). Meditation takes place in the heart, the seat of the emotional and rational life. Therefore, the psalmist prays that the meditation of his heart will be acceptable in God's sight (19:14; 104:34), i.e., he wants his inner thoughts to approach the standard God approves. Thus the righteous, when they encounter the plots of the wicked, maintain a pure mind by meditating on God's law (119:23).
Jesus instructed His followers not to waste their time meditating their anticipated defense before their persecutors. Such confrontations are so versatile and unpredictable that undue preoccupation with them only increases one's anxiety and reduces one's effectiveness in the task at hand. To meet such a crisis Jesus promised special wisdom in speech from the Holy Spirit (Luke 21:14).
Conversely, as Paul taught Timothy, the mind is to be occupied with spiritual matters to increase spiritual growth (1 Tim 4:15, using Gk. meletáœ, RSV "practice," AV "mediate").
(from International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, revised edition, Copyright © 1979 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. All rights reserved.)
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