Renewing Our Minds,pt3

Joel Beeke gives this insightful illustration of the spiritual discipline of meditation in the foreward to GOD'S BATTLE PLAN FOR THE MIND. "Imagine being invited to a private dinner hosted by a friend who works as a chef in a five-star restaurant. This person is renowned for cooking meals that are nutritious, healthy, delightful, and satisfying. You can hardly wait for the day to arrive. Finally it comes, and from the moment you step in the front door, you are embraced by tantalizing aromas. As the host seats you, the colors and arrangement of the food on various dishes are a feast for the eyes. Your friend has thoughtfully chosen your favorite foods. However, just as you sink your fork into the first bite and raise it to your lips, your phone chirps like a cuckoo clock gone mad. The strident voice on the line is your boss's, and before he finishes his first sentence you know that you will never eat the delicacies set before you. With a rumbling stomach and a tight smile, you make your excuses and head out the door. You saw the food and smelled it, but never chewed it, digested it, or benefited from it. That is the Christian life without meditation. All over the world, people go to hear the preaching of the Word on the LORD'S DAY. Those who are serious about spiritual growth spend time regularly reading the Bible. However, though they hear and read the Word, too often they do not chew or digest it. Before their time in the Word is done, the world is calling, and they rush off after the cares and riches and pleasures of this life...they have neither enjoyed the Word in the power of the Spirit nor incorporated it deeply into their lives." But, dear Christian friend, don't you wish that were not so true of us? Probably the greatest spiritual discipline that is neglected in our day, that keeps us from benefiting the most from Bible reading, studying, and listening is that of MEDITATION. While Scripture memory has fallen on bad times as well, we are not exhorted to memorize & furthermore we memorize Scripture to the end that we might obey the injunction to meditate day and night, to peer into His law, to dwell on His truth. We'd love it if you joined us in prayer and study that God would so graciously grow us in the practice of His truth (Phil 4:9) through more intentional and diligent engagement in meditation. Tonight will be part 3 of "Renewing Our Minds" as we pick up where we left off, of not just changing our thoughts patterns to THINK right, but to also DWELL on these right truths (Phil 4:8).