"But His Delight Is In The Law Of The LORD."

The art of meditation

(George Mylne, "Lessons for the Christian's Daily Walk" 1859)

"So I applied my mind to understand,
to investigate and to search out wisdom
and the scheme of things." Ecclesiastes 7:25

We live in stirring days,

when deeds are everything--

when closet work is often

neglected for active business,

and little time is given to meditation.

Yet, with more thought and prayer--

wholesome activity would be greater

in the end, and all our actions more

successful. Time is not lost,

which is spent in meditation--

in searching wisdom's ways,

and seeking out profound realities.

There is one who often meditates--

and yet accomplishes much.

There is another who hastens--

and yet does little. None works

so heartily, nor reaps so fully--

as he whose wits are sharpened

by prayer and meditation.

Reading either Scripture or

Christian books, apart from

meditation, does little good.

It is much the same as not 

digesting what you eat--

this only starves the soul.

How many read the Bible thus!

The art of meditation may 

be learned by dint of effort.

You say, "I am quite unused 

to meditate. How shall I begin?" 

Deal gently with yourself at first. 

Select your subject--

some passage from the Word. 

Then fix the time you choose to 

give; say, five minutes at a time. 

Begin, and think aloud. 

This makes it easier, and saves 

the mind from distracted thoughts, 

the hardest task of all. The sound 

even of your own voice will help 

you; it is like speaking to a friend. 

And what is meditation, 

but communing with self--

that self may be a constant hearer.

But, more than all, 

make it a time of prayer--

of communing with GOD. 

This helps the matter greatly. 

Take the words of Scripture--

and ask JESUS what they mean. 

In doing this, the mind is exercised. 

A glow of thought attends the effort. 

You honor JESUS; and HE 

will honor you, by pouring out 

a largeness of capacity--

a quicker mind. The interchange 

of thought between you and JESUS 

goes on apace, and you are surprised 

to find how long the exercise has lasted.

Thus meditation grows, the more it is exercised. 

It . . .

  feeds the soul,

  expands the mind,

  increases thought, and,

  best of all, it brings you into 

fellowship with JESUS. This is 

the very life and soul of meditation.

"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 do everything 
written in it. Then you will be 
prosperous and successful." 
Joshua 1:8

"But his delight is in the Law 
of the LORD, and on HIS Law 
he meditates day and night." 
Psalm 1:2

"I will meditate on all YOUR 
works, and consider all YOUR 
mighty deeds." Psalm 77:12

"I meditate on YOUR precepts, and 
consider Your ways." Psalm 119:15

"Oh, how I love YOUR law! 
I meditate on it all day long." 
Psalm 119:97

"I meditate on all YOUR works, 
and consider what YOUR hands 
have done." Psalm 143:5

"My eyes stay open through 
the watches of the night, that I 
may meditate on YOUR promises." 
Psalm 119:148

   
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GraceGems has published J.C. Ryle's insightful article,
 "Faith!"