But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:2 NKJV)

If you want to dig deeper into God’s Word this year, one way to do that is through meditation. Not the type of meditation you hear about in the world (in which you try to empty your mind), but by filling your mind with Bible verses and thinking about them. When you learn more about God and His will for your life and apply what you’ve read, you’ll be blessed. That’s why the psalmist equates a blessed man with one who meditates on God’s Word day and night (Psalm 1:1–2).

One way to meditate on God’s Word is by asking yourself the who, what, where, when, why, and how questions as you read. Better yet, if you memorize God’s Word, then you can mull it over no matter where you are or what time of day it is.

Recently, I did this with Psalm 100 and wanted to share the first few verses with you. As I do, remember: this is just one way to dig deeper into God’s Word. If it doesn’t work for you, find another way that does. The important thing is to regularly think about God’s Word and apply it to your life.

There’s no secret formula for meditating on God’s Word. Just start with one verse and then move on to the next one, asking yourself questions about what the text says and how it applies to you. So, here we go.

“Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!” (Psalm 100:1 NKJV).

What? Make a shout. It’s phrased as a command, not a suggestion.

What kind of shout? A joyful one. Not a half-hearted shout, but one that is full of joy.

To whom? To the Lord. Notice that the word Lord is in small caps, which signifies that it’s God’s name. The word is comprised of four Hebrew letters without vowel markers: Yud, Hey, Vuv, and Hey. The English transliteration of the word is Yahweh. It’s the name of the self-existent, eternal God. That’s important because it’s very specific about whom we’re supposed to worship.

Who? All you lands. That phrase in the Hebrew language means just what you think it would: the whole earth; every country and governmental subdivision. That includes me, you, and everyone else on the planet.

So, how does this verse apply to me and you? We’re supposed to direct our worship to the one, true God – Yahweh – as we shout for joy. And there’s a lot to be joyful about: God has made a way for you to have a relationship with Him, and once you “confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9 NKJV). That means you’re forgiven, washed clean, and restored. Praise God!

“Serve the Lord with gladness” (Psalm 100:2a NKJV).

What? Serve. Again, it’s a command, not a suggestion.

How? With gladness. Not with grumbling or complaining, comparing my service with others while nitpicking their performance, or thinking about how little they’re doing. We should serve, not because we have to, but because we get to.

Serve whom? The Lord. Just as in verse 1, this refers to the name of the one, true God. He’s the One we’re supposed to serve.

Applying the verse can be both easy and hard. Ask yourself: Have I been serving with gladness, rejoicing that God has blessed me with the opportunity to serve Him? He wants us to love Him, receive His love, and serve others in practical ways out of the outpouring of His love. This is a good thing to meditate on to ensure you’re in alignment with His will as you serve. The difficult part can be admitting that you have a bad attitude. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal where you’re at and ask Him to help you to accept whatever He shows you.

“Come before His presence with singing” (Psalm 100:2b NKJV).

What? Come. Another command that we should obey.

Where? Before His presence.

Whose presence? The Lord’s. The word His in the second part of verse 2 refers to the One identified in the first part of that verse. God wants us to come before His presence.

How? With singing. You might protest this one. I know many people who don’t like to sing. But remember, this is not a request; it’s a command. If God wants you to sing to Him in His presence, who are you to refuse?

How are you doing with this one? Are you regularly coming into God’s presence with singing, worshiping the One who’s worthy of all our praise? Only you know.

If you haven’t really spent time to dig deeper into God’s Word, I hope this gives you an idea of one way to do so. It’s not the only way. The important thing is to read the Bible and then think about it throughout your day (and in the middle of the night when you wake up). Immerse yourself in God’s Word and let it permeate your heart each day as you walk by faith with Him.

 

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash