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                               Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.
                                                                                                             Psalm 119:11

          Meditation is the vehicle for hiding God's Word in our hearts.  It comes from the word "ruminate",
          which is the process by which a cow continues to 'chew his cud'  all day, re-chewing his earlier
          ingestion of breakfast grass.  It is simply reviewing God's Word frequently and thoughtfully.
          The psalmist gave us a clear understanding of its importance when he clearly outlined the lifestyle
          that displeases God in contrast to the lifestyle and results of  pleasing God.
    
                            Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,
                            nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
                            But his delight is in the law of  the Lord; and in his law doth he     
                            meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
                            that bringeth forth  his fruit in his season;  his leaf also shall not wither; and
                            whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
                                                                                                                   Psalm 1:1-3


           Meditation is a critical discipline in our personal intimacy with the Lord.  It is only in this  manner
           that we are able to deal victoriously with the temptation to sin, following the pattern given us by
           Christ in the wilderness. He, being tempted by the devil, gave the three time repetitive answer, "it is
           written".  He brought the Scripture to bear, thus defeating Satan.

           The best way I have found to recall the words of God on a regular and continuing basis is to write
           out the verse for personal meditation each morning on a 3x5 index card.  Throughout the day, it can
           be rehearsed aloud, thoughtfully, every hour or so.  As it becomes an integral part of our life, we are   
           convicted by it, we heed it, and we are cleansed by it.  As a result, we demonstrate its profit to all and
           find our life pleasing to God and profitable to men.

            Our love for God is to consume our individual lives so fully that we actually think, act and     
            talk His word in all our interpersonal communications with others, in agreement with Psalm 19:14.

                             Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable
                                           in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

                                                                                                                        Psalm 19:14
                  
                                                             (c) 2015 N.A.Collins
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