I am not sure if this is in my future as I get older, but Lucy, our 10.5 year old poodle has developed an annoying habit as of late. Over the past couple of weeks, she has started "woofing" to go outside around 4:30 or 5:00 a.m.-- even on weekends when I could sleep in! The worry is that if I ignore or scold her for this new rise-and-shine schedule, there will be puddles and piles to clean. So right now, I am just acquiescing to her demands and letting her outside.
The problem is that I am now awake and don't want to trudge back to bed and wake Kristi. Instead I grab a blanket and lay on the couch for 30 minutes or so until I need to get up for work. I find my mind wandering to the issues and concerns of school. But this morning, I was able to discipline my mind to meditate on scripture. Philippians 4:6-9 and the 16th Psalm were the two passages of choice this morning.
Meditating on scripture is more than just saying a verse over and over. I thought about ways each part of the passages could apply to my life and what spiritual truths were present in the verses. For example: Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true. . .think about such things." I spent time thinking about what I knew was true. God loves me. His Son died for me. He will never leave or forsake me. The list went on.
And you know what? Any anxiety, angst or disquietude I felt about this world vanished. I was unable to worry about MAP scores when I pondered God's truths. When I meditating on God's love I could not also stress about the economy. I can choose to think about Kingdom truths or earthly concerns.
Heavenly Father, please help me to choose Kingdom truths over earthly concerns. Matthew 6:33- "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
What are some other wee hour ponderable verses?
I never know just what term to use when responding with joy and pride to someone else's Christian growth. I am aware such growth is the work of the Holy Spirit, but the individual also plays a part. Anyway, "Congratulations" on your finding that meditation on scripture has such practical life-assisting value.
ReplyDeleteThe Good News Bible has Psalms 16:5 reading "You, Lord are all I have, and you give me all I need; my future is in your hands." In the summer of 1986 my divorce was only a few months old. I went on a singles retreat with a group from South Haven church. (That is the week-end I met Jo.) It is also the time I discovered this verse. As I remember it, this was the first real glimmer of light I saw at the end of the tunnel of anger, regret and despondancy. (Or maybe that should be two glimmers of hope.)
On another tack: The idea of "think on these things" has been valuable to me when Satan attacks me with guilt for past mistakes. He will hit me with such ideas several times per week. That is when I have to say something like "Satan, get away from me. You have no right to attack me. I am a child of God." Then I think of specific, pleasant things that leave no room for guilt.
Thanks for your sharing.
One of my favorite 'ponderables' - especially when I am 'in the thick of it' is Isaiah 43:1b-3a. I particularly like the idea of 'passing through' promising a definite end to the challenges when I'm actually experiencing difficult situations plus a victorious survival because He is MY God...
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