Meditate on God’s word

"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success."

-Joshua 1:8

How often are we to meditate on God's Word? Day and night. God's Word should be the first thing we are thinking about when we wake up and the last thing we are thinking about when we go to bed. We can only get to that place if we are in God's Word reading and studying.

Many of you may remember that song, "Oh be careful little eyes what you see, for the Father up above is looking down with love, oh be careful little eyes what you see."

We have to be careful what we are putting in front of our eyes and what we are focusing on. Are we focused on our problem, challenge or circumstance or are we focused on Jesus?

Let's look at two stories.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we are not in need of an answer to give you concerning this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods nor worship the golden statue that you have set up.”

-Daniel 3:16-18

Most of us know this story. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are facing being burned in the fiery furnace if they don't worship King Nebuchadnezzar. What I love is that WHO (GOD) they were meditating on dictated the outcome of their situation and as a result, their situation didn't change, but God changed them. God didn't remove the flames, HE PUT THEM IN THE FLAMES and was WITH THEM.

How about Peter when he was walking on water? What or Who was He meditating on? Let's look.

Peter responded and said to Him, “Lord, if [r]it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and when he began to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out with His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind stopped.

-Matthew 14:28-32

Peter is so focused on Jesus, trusts and believes the Word of the Lord, he gets out and literally walks on water. What happened? He gets distracted and he begins to dwell on the storm around him, the winds and the waves and begins to sink. Jesus asks a simple question to Peter, "Why did you doubt?"

Did God remove the storm while Peter was walking? Nope. The storm stopped after they got in the boat.

I believe there will be storms in our lives, moments where we have opportunities to compromise or be thrown in the flames (figuratively speaking). Our response is the only thing that matters, and our response is dictated by WHO or what we are focused on.

My encouragement this weekend is to focus on JESUS, no matter the storm, the obstacle, the situation, MEDITATE ON GOD'S WORD. Even if your situation doesn't change (which it can), you know what God's Word does? God's Word changes you, transforms you into HIS likeness and for HIS glory.

Hands to the plow, EYES ON JESUS.