WATCHWORD:
1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, 2 But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. 3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. Psalms 1:1-3
Meditation:
Pages from a Prayer Journal, Part 1
Nearly 40 years ago I was part of a group entitled “Wanted, Ten Brave Christians”. There were actually 26 at the start and we committed ourselves to five disciplines for just 30 days: Tithing, early morning prayer and scripture meditation time with the Lord, a daily act of anonymous generosity, service to the church or community, and journaling. After those first 30 days, we all agreed to continue, and most of us did, for six years! From that early start to the present time, journaling has been one of my frequent disciplines.
It didn’t take long for me to realize that what I wrote in my journals were meditations and prayers, or rather, conversations with the Lord. Content was a mix of prayers, praise, thankfulness, and practical matters that I encountered in my work at the College or the ebb and flow of family life. For me writing out my thoughts has always been a way to think through ideas and problems, often seeing the light at the end of tunnel, so to speak.
As I read through some of the entries, I recalled scenes that provoked the thoughts I had written. Each entry, in reality, is a prayer-conversation, not a recitation of a familiar prayer, as if my time of meditation were following some liturgy. There’s a familiarity about those entries in talking with God that is comfortable and warm. I rather think God likes that. It speaks well for what Paul has said about praying without ceasing.
For example, on Sunday, February 26, 1984, I wrote the following: “Heavenly Father, I begin this week’s journal with joy in knowing you are with me and You are my protection and my support. Lord, I am a sinner, often scoffing at things of God. Forgive me and lead me along Your paths. Bring me, Father to the conviction and dedication and the light of doing everything you want me to do. Dedicate me, Lord, to always meditating on your laws and always thinking of ways to more closely draw myself to you.”
There is a calming affect that comes with such conversation-prayers, whether written or spoken aloud or in the quiet of your heart. That calming is just another way that the Lord has of communicating with us. It is that calm of God that we need to be aware of, and “meditate on day and night.” So be it.
Bulletin Board:
Advent thoughts: We are prayers. We pray for family, friends. We pray with people (when we can), and we pray alone (mostly). But we pray. We pray for peace, for justice, for healing, for direction and we pray thanks for all the blessings that fill our lives. It is the perfect and most constructive way to fill our time. Praise the Lord!
Closing Prayer:
Father, I begin this beautiful day with the thankful spirit for what you have created and what you have planned for me. All the joys, rewards, disappointments, and thoughts I give to you as a full offering of love and dedication to Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. Let me truly meditate on your words throughout this day and consciously act in ways that are a blessing to you and to all those whom I meet. I asked this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
