THINKING AND SPIRITUAL LIFE
"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing EVERY THOUGHT into captivity to the obedience of Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

Devotion 8 of 12

CONSIDER MY MEDITATION
     What is the subject of your meditation? In what realm do you have extended thought? It is good to present your thinking to the Lord, asking Him to examine it. "Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation" (Psa 5:1). "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer" (Psa 19:14). Your meditations will be "acceptable" to the Lord when they are in accord with His Person and purpose.  He will walk with you in such thoughts, unveiling His secrets to you. Thus it is written, "The secret of the LORD is with them that fear Him; and He will show them His covenant" (Psa 25:14). What a blessed consideration! Those who spend time with God will soon become evident. Their spiritual progress will not be hidden.  Thus it is written, "Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting (progress, NASB) may appear to all" (1 Tim 4:15). May the Lord raise up a mighty army of meditators that give themselves completely to the consideration of the things of God!

MUSING
     Musing, like meditation, is spiritual rumination--working the truth over in your heart and mind. It is to mental activity what chewing the cud is to a cow. The food consumed by animals that chew the cud is processed in a stomach with four different compartments. Partially digested food is regurgitated and processed through the compartments until fully digested. This is a depiction of spiritual  reality, placed in nature by its Creator. It portrays a very real process that occurs in our hearts and minds. Truth is processed by meditating or musing upon it. As that musing, or reflection, takes place, the truth becomes more a part of us, and less theoretical. The difference between a novice and a mature believer is found in this area--spiritual rumination, or musing.

Considering the past
     David pondered long upon the times he experienced divine fellowship. "I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Thy works; I muse on the work of Thy hands" (Psa 143:5). He probed what the Lord had done, extending himself in that sacred consideration. On one occasion David spoke of a spiritual fire igniting in his spirit while he was musing on the things of God.  "My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue" (Psa 39:3). I  must acknowledge that my most joyous times are when I am musing upon the  good things of God. It is then that the fire burns within, and holy intentions and resolves are developed. Some seek spiritual highs in the context of external activity. Such elevations last no longer than the phenomenon that produced them.  God's people must leave the realm of flesh and blood to experience effective motivation. Musing brings that to pass.

CONSIDERATION
       Another aspect of thought is consideration, or pondering. Here again extensive deliberation or contemplation takes place. In consideration, we focus upon particular matters. They are viewed in relation to ourselves, and provoke us  to draw conclusions. Critical issues that escape the cursory thinker will be made clear to those who give consideration to key matters. Consideration is "careful  thought," deliberate and necessary to the formulation of sound judgement. It engages our rational powers, directing us to do something productive with our conclusions. 

PRAYER POINT: Father, I know by experience that I am at my best when my thoughts are centered upon You and Your Kingdom. In Jesus' name, I pray for grace to involve my mind more extensively in meditation, contemplation, consideration, and musing upon eternal matters.

-- TOMORROW: THINK ABOUT THIS! --