| In Matthew 13:14, Jesus expressed this by saying, | | | | vacation time, we would be complete. These |
| "In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: 'You will | | | | things can provide joy in our lives, but if we |
| be ever hearing but never understanding; you will | | | | believe they are the source of our fulfillment, |
| be ever seeing but never perceiving.' | | | | we're setting ourselves up for failure. Those who |
| Recently on the Oprah show, Dr. Oz, frequent | | | | don't have these things are on a constant mission |
| guest and author of "You on a Diet," gave the | | | | to get them. Those who have obtained them and |
| audience six "must dos" for optimal health; | | | | realized their failure to produce lasting happiness, |
| number 3 was to meditate. The word meditate | | | | often become hopeless and despondent. |
| means to ponder, reflect upon, think about, muse | | | | Many Christians possess beliefs and behaviors |
| over or to ruminate. When we're meditating on | | | | similar to the secular world. We're being dragged |
| something, we're singly focused and giving it our | | | | along like a herd and subdued by the world's |
| full attention. We block out everything else around | | | | philosophies. The weekly sermons or bible studies, |
| us both mental and physically. We allow no other | | | | though they give us the ideal, often fail to help us |
| thought or activity to steal us away from that | | | | embrace God's truth and put it into practice. |
| moment. We're 100% present and fully conscious | | | | Richard Peace in his book Spiritual Journaling: |
| of whatever we're doing. | | | | Recording Your Journey Towards God stated that |
| Whether we realize or not, we all meditate to one | | | | "widespread church studies indicate that there is |
| degree or another. We may meditate on our | | | | no distinguishable lifestyle characteristics by which |
| careers, our love relationships, our goals in life, or | | | | to discern between those who attend church and |
| becoming successful. People also meditate on | | | | those who do not. It appears that the teachings |
| things that are harmful or destructive to them or | | | | of Jesus haven't sunk deeply into his followers," |
| others. We become what we repetitively think | | | | stated the author. |
| about.(Proverbs 23) What we meditate on will | | | | Yet, God in his wisdom and absolute truth gives |
| steer the direction of our lives. | | | | us a fail proof method of gaining everything we |
| In Joshua 1:8, God declared, "Do not let this Book | | | | want-- to meditate on Him and his word, always. |
| of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on | | | | That doesn't mean we will receive everything on |
| it day and night, so that you may be careful to | | | | our prayer list of wants. Instead, through the |
| do everything written in it. Then you will be | | | | transformative power of meditating on God and |
| prosperous and successful." | | | | his word, we will find a peace and contentment in |
| We all want to be successful, happy, fulfilled, | | | | knowing that God is the source of our success, |
| loved, and whole. These are basic human needs; | | | | period. We can stop seeking, we can be still, and |
| and we're all on a quest to obtain them. We | | | | we can enter into a deeper relationship of |
| believe if only we have the right job, the right | | | | knowing God that will sustain us through the |
| spouse, more money, a nicer home, children, | | | | elusions, trials, and inadequacies of life. |
| better parents, own a home, or have more | | | | |