Q: What does it mean to meditate on God's Word?

To answer this question, we must first understand what the word meditate means: To engage in contemplation or reflection, to focus one's thoughts on: reflect or ponder over.

Listen to what one author writes:

Meditation is a function of the mind and the heart. It is what we think about in our hearts and it is something we each do every day. Whether we realize it or not, we all spend a large portion of our time in some form of meditation. The thing is, what we meditate on may or may not be worth while. In fact, what we habitually think about is frequently unhealthy for our growth as Christians. Often it is simply sinful. This is why I asked you earlier to spend some time making notes about what you thing about. This is the first step in the process of training ourselves to think correctly.

What then is Christian meditation? It is the deliberate practice of turning our hearts and our minds to the full time task of bringing the word of God to life in the daily activities of our lives. God wants to change us from the inside out. He wants to renew our minds and hearts so they will become more like his own. However, it is only by God's grace and power that this could ever happen. We cannot change ourselves. God uses a number of things to accomplish this. But the primary tool he uses is his own word recorded in the Bible. If we ignore it, he cannot work in us. If we use it and put it to use, he will be able to enter into our lives and form us into what he wants us to be. Meditation on the word of God allows its transforming power to renew our minds and change our hearts. 

HOW do we meditate on God's Word? Justin Taylor has a great little post that will help. It also contains a bunch of links that will further your understanding in this crucial area of Christian living.

[Answered by Pastor HM]

Q: What are times you suggest for devotionals?

WHEN

I would recommend you find a consistent time when you are relatively free of responsibilities and quieted. For me, this is at night before bed, because I am most free of distractions and everything is quiet. You probably don't want to do your devotionals between classes or when in a busy place, as you will naturally have several other things in your mind stealing away your attention. I know many Christians who prefer the mornings, as it gives them a God-focused start to the day before busyness and the pace of life picks up. Whatever you choose, consistency is pretty key, because devotionals are something we should strive to do regularly as Christians; not just when the opportunity presents itself conveniently. As a young Christian, setting strong spiritual habits and disciplines now will have spiritual payoffs for your relationship with God down the road, when life only gets busier and busier, and a clear Biblical direction is needed.

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For more information on "devotionals", keep reading on. After answering your question of when, it may be important to backtrack to explain WHAT it is.

"Devotionals", or "quiet time" is a modern-day term that we use to describe spending personal time with God. It tends to look different for everyone, but will include some common elements:

- learning about God's word (reading the Bible)

- looking into your own life (introspection/reflection)

- spending time in communication with God (prayer)

So if devotionals is a modern-day term, and not a term mentioned in the Bible, WHY do we do it? Well, the principles/bare essentials of devotionals are timeless, and find their root in the Bible:

- God wants us to seek Him (Acts 17:26-27)

- God wants our dedication/commitment (Matt 10:37-39)

- God wants us to know Him (John 17:3)

- God wants us to pray to him (Phil 4:6-7)

Practically speaking, how do we do devotionals? We talked about WHEN and WHY, but let's go through the others to figure out a clear action plan.

WHO - You, just you. No distractions. There are settings for corporately getting to know God better (like Sunday mornings), but devotionals are times for growing your intimate relationship with God, and learning to hear from Him.

WHERE - Not somewhere you would easily get distracted, like a basketball court or in front of the TV. Somewhere quiet ideally, and a place where you are comfortable.

HOW - So we've talked about learning about God's word, reflection, and praying. You'll need your Bible for learning about God's word, perhaps even a devotional book or commentary to help guide your reading. For reflection, consider getting yourself a journal to write in once in a while (or everyday); repenting of sins is also a very Biblical way of reflecting. You can get creative with how to pray; but using the Bible in your prayers is a great way to pray if you are unsure exactly what/how to pray.

[Answered by Mark Cheng, Agape Counselor]

Q: We're supposed to read the Bible every day...how are you supposed to do that?

...Open the Bible to a random page? Use a devotion book? If so, what are some good devotion books?


A: I just have to say that your question is full of intensity and I praise God that there seems to a deep passion to read the Word and build a relationship with Him. That's very refreshing, thank you!

I wouldn't recommend to open to a random page and read from there. If you haven't read the Bible at all and you're just starting out, I'd recommend to read the Gospels first, particularly the Gospel of John. If you have done that already, go through the rest of the New Testament, perhaps starting with Acts and then reading the Epistles of Paul.

Also, try and find a Study Bible, one that doesn't just contain the Bible, but also has footnotes that explain the passages. I would recommend this one from Zondervan that's in the NIV translation or this one by Crossway Books in the ESV translation. Both provide good introductions to each book and gives historical and cultural background when necessary.

As for a good devotion, may I suggest "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers? This is a real classic. Other good authors that I like to read are Max Lucado and C.S. Lewis.

Hope this has helped your personal walk with Christ, feel free to ask your counselors or Pastors for some more suggestions or see what they're reading!


[answered by Pastor KJT]

Q: How come when I pray by myself, it feels like I'm talking to nothing or no one?

...how come I don't feel like this when I'm praying at school or at church?

A: In the Old Testament, people believed that the only way true way to worship God was in the Temple. It was a literal structure in which people traveled far ways to get to. The belief was that God resided in the Temple and worshiping meant that you physically had to be in the building.

In the Gospel of Luke, during the recount of Jesus' death and crucifixion, Luke adds an interesting observation. 23:45-46 says this, "for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last."

The metaphor of this is to show you that the Temple was once a building. And when Christ came, He was the living Temple. And now that He has died for all mankind, the curtain that "hid" the spirit in the Temple was now torn...and no longer is God contained in one place, but He has sacrificed Himself for all. Making it possible for people to worship outside of the traditional Temple.

God is not only present in the church building or at your [Christian] school...He is everywhere. Therefore, please do not think that you can only speak to Him during the services or Chapel times. In those "assigned Christian times", it's easy to get into the groove of spiritual things; everybody is praying, everybody is worshiping, everybody is doing "Christian-y" things. But it's in the privacy of your own home that we feel hard to keep with those disciples.

May I encourage you to keep at it and with discipline and perseverance, continue to seek after God. We often feel like we are talking to no one because we don't hear anything back, but let me ask you this: how often do you sit around in silence waiting for God to respond? Try speaking to Him, and then spending some time in silence listening for Him. Trust me...He's there.

Other practical suggestions for doing devotions and spending time with God are reading the Bible. Instead of blowing through a Book at a time...pick a couple of verses and read it over and over again throughout your devotion time. Re-reading helps you pick up things that you missed the first time you read it.
Also, what about musical worship? Put a cd on...listen to the words. Sing a worship song as a prayer to God. All these ways are different ways that we can find our connection with God.

I'd like to leave you with this verse as an encouragement, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:4-7


[answered by Pastor KJT]