Meditation and Obedience

Excerpts from Study & Meditation by Jan Johnson

You've probably heard someone say that the longest distance in the world is from a person's head to a person's heart. What that statement usually means is that to know a fact in your mind does not mean you truly believe it in such a way that your behavior changes. The premise behind this Bible study series is that our behavior changes as we connect with God. When we do the connecting, God does the perfecting.

One of the ways we connect with God is through Scripture, but merely reading Scripture or even studying it is not enough. The connection is extended and made stronger as we meditate on Scripture.

The overlooked discipline of meditation on Scripture is mentioned many times in the Bible - fifteen times in Psalms alone. When Scripture talks about meditation, it often mentions obedience in the next breath.
"Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful" - Joshua 1:8 (Oh my wow, we just learned this in youth group!)

Read and reflect upon Psalm 119:97-104

"It is not that you will think about what you have read, but you will feed upon what you have read. Out of a love for the Lord you exert your will to hold your mind quiet before him. In this peaceful state, swallow what you have tasted... take in what is there as nourishment." - Jeanne Guyon

If you have the time, take a walk, bringing either your Bible or a passage of Scripture with you. As you walk, put yourself completely into the text and picture yourself as part of it.
Ex: The woman that was bleeding who longs for a secret healing (Mark 5:25-34) OR the father who only half believes that Jesus can help his demon-possessed son, but sees Jesus heal the boy anyways (Mark 9:14-27)