"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).

The Beauty of Reflection

Meditation. It just may be the best-kept secret in the whole Bible. Not that it's really a secret, because the counterfeit has been out there running parallel in New Age cults since the 70s. For that reason, some Christians have been afraid to indulge.

When it comes to the Word of God, it takes meditation to get it planted down deep into the spirit. And more than that, it can be an act of worship and fellowship with the Father over His Word.

"But it takes so much time, and discipline," I hear someone say. Oh really? Did you ever lose sleep over a troubling thought? Worrying, wondering, stewing over a "thing" that kept you up all night? Did you get up in the morning with the same thought, wondering what to do, what will happen if, how is this going to play out? Well, then you already know how to meditate. All you need to do is chew on the right thought and you will have "good success." Here are 5 ways to get started:

1. Start with Personal Prophecies

"Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands" (2 Timothy 1:6).

Have you received "a word of the Lord" -- one you knew was God's will -- and wondered why it hasn't come to pass? Prophetic words given by others or received directly from the Lord in prayer don't automatically come to pass. It is the responsibility of the recipient to come into agreement with them and watch God bring them to fruition. Many a prophetic word has gone by the wayside because of failure to partner with God to see it through. It is a partnership we are in, not a dictatorship.

As an example, just think of the Israelites to whom God gave the Promised Land. Even though it was the will of God to give them the land, the whole first generation failed to receive the promise. They looked over the fence and saw the giants and said, "We are grasshoppers in our own sight" (Numbers 13:33). In whose sight? Theirs! They had come out of slavery and their mindset was defeat. They did not believe they could overcome giants and receive what God had for them.

We all have "giants" to overcome. Those thoughts that tell us you can't do it, who do you think you are, you're too old, you don't have the credentials, you don't have the right pedigree -- a thousand other "thoughts" the enemy of your promise hurls at you to keep you out of your promised land.

2. Tend to Your "Roots"

​

A woman should always be aware of the condition of her roots. And most importantly the "roots" of the thoughts she is thinking. Who is the author of the thought? Where did it come from? Is it pure, lovely, of good report, worthy of praise? Or are you in a pleasant thought drought? Certain seasons of life may seem dry and unproductive. You may even be experiencing a drought. But meditate on this scripture:

And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither, and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity] (Psalm 1:3 Amp).

Do those trees ever experience drought? Never. Their toes are rooted deeply on the banks of that riverbed and always drinking of the water of life. This is our challenge. Locate your roots and find out where they are living. When you meditate on the word of God you will be like that tree ". . . planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither . . ." and whatever they do prospers. No more dry roots. No more dead roots. No more gray, brittle, lifeless roots. Only flourishing roots drinking of the water of life.

3. Put God in Remembrance

Pull out the scriptures that are meaningful to you. Be selective, choose only a few.

​

• Write them on an index card or list them on sticky notes (electronically or manually)

• Recite them to the Lord during your devotional time, morning and night -- Talk them over with Him. Ask Him for revelation, insight, and understanding. Visit with Him over His Word.

• Post them where you can see them -- on the kitchen windowsill, the bathroom mirror, the dashboard of the car.

• Reflect on them throughout the day, verbally engaging with the Lord.

• Think about one or more of the scriptures and repeat them back to God with your own commentary.

4. Make it an Act of Worship

When you offer back to God what He has given you it is to Him a sacrifice of worship. We honor God when we come to Him with His word and say,

"Father, I love You with all my heart, all of my soul, all of my mind, and all of my strength. I love the plans You have for me. Your promises are precious to me and I take them seriously. And as an act of worship, I present them to You now to remind You that I believe and trust You to bring them to pass. Because You are good, and Your mercy is forever. I marvel at Your goodness and that you have chosen to partner with me on adventures in building Your Kingdom " . . . on earth, as it is in heaven." I love Your promises. I love Your leadership. I love Your goodness. I love Your heart. Teach me to hear You when You speak and act when You give instruction.  I am Yours, my Father, my Lord. I just want to see Your face. Show me more of Your Glory and Your Beauty every day. And may I be a reflection of Your Beauty and Love to my family, my friends, and even to myself. By grace, through faith, I pray this prayer. Amen."

5. Decree Your Agreement with God

"Father, I am in agreement with what You have spoken over my life. It is my honor to partner with You and the Holy Spirit in the Name of Jesus to see it come to pass in my life, for your Name's sake. I thank you, Father, that you have given me the assignment of ______________, and I know you have already equipped me and are training me for the good success of that assignment.I am in agreement with Job 22:28 that I shall decree a thing and it shall be established because Your favor is upon it. I agree with Psalm 1:3, and I will be like a tree planted by the water. My roots will flourish and I will think about who You are and whom You made me to be. I am in agreement with all the promises you have for me. I am in agreement with Your leadership because I know you hover over me to show favor and your lovingkindness is with me always, and that you will never, never forsake me (Deut. 31:6-8). I am in agreement that all things work together for my good (Rom. 8:28). I am in agreement that You love and cherish me and have a good plan for my life because You are good (Jer. 29:11). I am in agreement with Your word which calls me forgiven, blessed, cherished, loved, protected, cared for, a delight in Your eyes, and holy in Your sight."

Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart] (Phil. 4:8 Amp.).