Hello and welcome back to cultivating growth. We want to thank everyone for joining us again this week. Now, over the past couple of weeks, we've been talking about topics that will help us develop better daily habits around study. Around prayer and today we're going to talk about how we can develop better daily habits around meditation So we're going to talk about what the Bible has to say about that and how we can grow in that area And so with that let's get right to it 

Well John as I was thinking about the idea of building habits in regard to meditation Certainly a comparison to the last couple of weeks that we've talked about In building better habits when it comes to our prayers. We talked about a couple of weeks ago or  our study habits Like we talked about last week, you know, those are both things that,  you know, we recognize that each and each of us really, there's, you know, there's progress to be made and, and we can understand even some steps to take to, you know, kind of make those things happen.

But, you know, when it comes to meditation, I think in a lot of ways, although it still is something that we're able to see and we can understand, and there are certainly steps that we can take to, you know, add some of that into our life a little bit more, but I think in a lot of ways.  Building a habit of meditation for us, at least here in the country and the culture that, you know, that we are a part of, may be the most difficult of all three of them that we have because, you know, it is the one thing that fights against meditation more than anything else.

And listen easy working definition is focused attention, right? Focused attention. And the one thing that fights against focused attention more than any other thing is distractions. And we live in a country and we live in a culture that is, is chock full of distractions. And I don't think it's going to lessen as the years go by.

I think it's only going to get more. And so, and I think a lot of ways. Of the three that we've talked about over the last three weeks, maybe this is the most difficult to really begin to to establish good habits regarding it. I agree 100%. And you're right. I think sometimes, too, another potential barricade to this is our modern concept of meditation when we compare it to what the Bible views as meditation. 

You know, we get this image in our mind of somebody, you know, sitting in, in a certain position in a certain place led by a guru of some kind. And it's that's meditation. And yes, in one definition that is meditation, but that's not really what. The Bible is talking about, I think your definition is much more appropriate.

It's, it's focused attention. It's being consumed or absorbed into something for a period of time. You're giving your full attention to something for a period of time. And that's really what meditation and scripture is. And you're right. Our culture fights against that. Unfortunately, we live in a society where I think a lot of people will go to extremes to avoid sitting by themselves quietly.

We'll do almost anything to avoid that. And so we fight against that because our culture has started to shape us and mold us in that direction. And it's something that as Christians we do have to combat because there is great value found and the scriptures are clear about the value found in quiet time contemplating God and His Word.

That's such an important practice for us to get in, and so we're gonna have to be counter cultural in order to grow in this, in this way. Yeah, I mean, it's, it's almost ironic in a lot of ways that, you know, a Bible verse is plastered on so many different walls and, you know, stickers made, you know, all over the place, even though the actual word meditation isn't made mention of.

And, and Meditate is made mention of by name, by word, all over Scripture, and I'm sure we'll get to a few of those. But Psalm 46 and verse 10, Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the peoples, I will be exalted among the nations. But it is the beginning of that verse, you know, Be still and know that I am God.

It's a verse that a lot of people know. And there is a profoundness to that for sure,  but it is something that we're just as Americans not super great at. I struggle with it for sure. Just the idea of the first two words of that verse, be still  and know that I am God. And when it comes to meditation. 

That's what it takes. If you're going to focus your attention on something, it takes a level of stillness. It takes a level of quiet. It takes a level, at times, of privacy and alone time. Certainly, I think that's what the scriptures point to. And it's just You know, I mean, we could talk about this the whole time, I guess.

It's just something we, we don't do well. Yeah, it's something that we struggle with. But, you know, you, we've both referenced some of the, the scriptures that speak to this concept. And I think you're right. Psalm 46 is one of those, even though the word meditate isn't used. Another one where The word itself isn't used, but certainly the concept is present is in Isaiah chapter 26 in verse 3, where it says, you will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you.

I love that concept. My mind being stayed on God, that speaks to the focus that, that is being asked of us and the benefit. of that is that God will keep us in perfect peace with him. And that's really what we're all seeking. I mean, we live in a world where everyone is seeking peace. And really where it's found is in a life and in a mind.

Who is focused on God. That's where peace is found. It's not going to be found anywhere else. And so the meditation on God's word and the meditation on Him and His power and His grace and His love and all of these wonderful things is what's going to lead us to peace. And that's not just, you know, some pie in the sky hope.

I think God assures us of that. That if we are focused on Him, if our mind is stayed on Him, Then he will provide to us the peace that all of us are seeking. Yeah. And just like the other two things that we've talked about this month, prayer and study, it's, it's more than just, you know, kind of making a decision that, Hey, you know what, I'm going to, I'm going to pray  or I'm going to study.

Like we understand that just saying those things or even making that decision, it doesn't equate to. Building better prayer habits. You've got to take that next step. You've got to put that effort in. And I think in a lot of ways that's what it comes to meditation. That, you know, we would say that, Man, this is a really great idea and it's something I need to be better at.

But the effort that it can take. Because it's hard. Yeah, to get away. It's hard to slow down. It's hard to find alone time even and so there's got to be some some effort made we read a passage from Mark chapter one a couple weeks ago specifically in talking about about prayer and even though this was Jesus doing so by way of prayer.

prayer. I think certainly meditation is a concept that's involved, but just how busy he was and he was filled. His day was filled with healing and, and teaching. And you know, the disciples wake up the next morning and they're looking for him and they can't find him. And that's because he has awoken well before everyone else to go out into the wilderness to pray.

There's another example of that now. Where the word meditate is actually found, I guess we'll use, in Genesis chapter 24,  specifically with Isaac. And it said in verse 63 of Genesis chapter 24 that Isaac went out to meditate  in the field in the evening. And I thought about, you know, that idea. He does that for a reason. 

He does that because In the morning and in the afternoon, the field is a very busy place, but in the evening, there's no one out in the field, and so he is using that now as a quiet spot, a private spot, where he can go and meditate, and so he uses his that meditating in the field in the evening, he has to make that journey, he has to make that time, and I think in a lot of ways that's what it takes.

And that, you know, you mentioned Jesus as one of those examples. He's, he's such a perfect example of someone who, while we're not told explicitly with the use of the word. That he was meditating. That's clearly what he was doing. He meditated on God's word and focused on him and his desires for Jesus while on, on this earth, just endlessly.

And we see the result of that when he's. challenged and tested and tempted by Satan, the Word of God is readily available to him. That only comes by focusing on God's Word and spending time, dedicated time, with it. I think we see the same concept being given to Joshua in Joshua chapter 1  as You know, that passage where he's being encouraged by God as he kind of steps into the leadership role that Moses has vacated Joshua chapter one in verse eight, we're said, we're told this book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night that you may observe to do all.

According to all that is written in it. And so Joshua is told meditate on this day and night so that it can impact the decisions that you're going to make as a leader. That's what meditation does. It impacts the daily decisions that we make from that point forward. And so meditating on God's word, thinking about him and his, his word, that's then going to influence the decisions I make, the way that I speak to other people, the things that I do or don't do.

All of those things are going to be positively impacted if I have spent dedicated time meditating on God's Word. And we see that. There's another example of that in Psalm 4, specifically in verse 4, in the same verse, the very beginning of the verse is, Be angry and do not sin. That's the beginning of the verse.

But the same verse, the same thought follows that up with this. So you have this idea, be angry and do not sin. Well, how do you, how do you do that? Well, he tells us how. Meditate. Within your heart on your bed and be still as we have a lot of, you know, a lot of the things that we've talked about already.

And so you see now how this level of focused attention now upon God, upon his word. Can make a difference in our life. Listen, we've talked about that last week You know, I made mention about you know The stacking of habits and how you know I'm trying to make mention of it enough to steal you're originally making that comment a couple weeks ago  But you know you listen you you start your day with the study of God's Word and maybe it's a verse Maybe it's a few verses and now you've given yourself the opportunity to kind of Focus your attention on that throughout the day, you know, making opportunities that throughout the day I'm going to think about what it was that I read, or what it was that I've read this week, or what I've read this month, and now I'm making opportunities, and you're going to find that come in handy in times of difficulty, in times of temptation in times of stress, in times of anxiety, that because of your meditation upon God, His work, His words now is serving you because of that time of meditation.

And you know, just one practical tip maybe before we wrap things up that somebody gave to me and I've tried and it was more challenging than I could imagine. I don't really care to admit but one thing that was suggested to me was to just sit in a room, a quiet room, all by yourself, set a 10 minute timer on your phone, and then put the phone on the other side of the room, and just see what it's like to just sit.

Still for 10 minutes with no distractions. There's nothing in front of you. There's no one else in the room. There's not a TV on. There's not a window you're looking out. You're just, you're not looking at your laptop or anything that you're just sitting for 10 minutes. 10 minutes is not very long. It feels like a long time when you, cause we're so used to being distracted, but I think something like that can potentially help us as we begin to develop a habit around this is just practice sitting still for 10 minutes without any distractions and do that.

semi regularly and see if you don't get more comfortable with a practice like that. And then the more comfortable you get with it, the more you can begin to think about and ponder and consider while in that 10 minute, you know, meditative practice. It's a good way to maybe start a practice like that if it's not something you're currently doing.

Well, we're going to close in Psalm 1. Before we do that, I'll add one other, you know, kind of quick and easy practical tip that may be helpful to you. It's been shared with me multiple times. I've tried it. In my life, I certainly could be better at it than I am. I know friends of mine who say it's the most important thing when it comes to their meditation.

But even if it's something very simple and very small, but incorporate some journaling into your meditation. You know, have a piece of paper there or have a book that, you know, those things that you're thinking about, those things that you're pondering. Write those things down. That kind of adds, you know, a little bit, you know, to us.

And hopefully those practical ways will be helpful. Psalm verse, chapter 1, the very beginning of the Psalms, I mean literally the beginning of the book of Psalms, specifically talks about the importance of meditation. In the very second verse of the very first Psalm, you have this, His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law he meditates day and night.