David is the only person in the Bible called a “man after God’s own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). And David, as a shepherd, obviously understood the value of being alone. He opens Psalm 1 with these words,
“Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2 [New International Version]).
David is exhorting “the blessed” to develop the ancient habit of solitude and meditation. God instructed Joshua to be strong and courageous through meditation:
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8 [New King James Version]).
Of all the instructions God could have given Joshua, it was meditation in the Word of God that He said would bring prosperity and success. It is in the context of challenging Joshua to be strong and courageous that God instructed him to “meditate…day and night.” Strength and courage come through meditation in solitude before God!
The Bible clearly tells us that meditation is the primary way we connect with God. Silence and meditation is where we experience wholeness with God. In stillness we come to deeply know God. The Sons of Korah, musicians and song writers under David, wrote, “Be still, and know that I am God…The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge” (Psalm 46:10-11). In stillness we come to know God’s heart, His voice, and the peace that is supernatural. Paul explains,
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
Countless studies illustrate the power of solitude and meditation. Across the ideological spectrum, experts agree that meditation and times of quiet can transform our lives.
Benefits of Meditation
- Meditation increases attention. A 2018 study led by the University of California, Davis, Center for Mind and Brain, and published in the Journal of Cognitive Enhancement, revealed that meditation increased attention span throughout the day.
- Meditation reduces stress. An immediate and long-proven benefit of meditation is reduced stress and a decreased level of cortisol in our brains and bodies. A 2013 study, also from the Center of Mind and Brain at UC Davis, found that participants experienced better concentration and cortisol levels after weeks of meditation.
- Meditation boosts memory. Research conducted over the past decade and published by the American Psychological Association (APA) found a direct link between practicing meditation and increased recall of facts between men in the military who had practiced meditation compared to those who followed normal protocol, even under stressful conditions.
- Meditation curbs overreaction to stressful situations. In an early study published by the APA, people who meditated and practiced mindfulness were better able to disengage from emotionally upsetting content and were able to better focus on tasks compared to other participants who were introduced to the same content but had not meditated.
The Benefits of beginning each day by taking just a few minutes to meditate in God’s Word can have huge ramifications as we navigate an increasingly dangerous world.
Pastor Steve
