WEBVTT 00:04.688 --> 00:11.155 [SPEAKER_00]: In today's verse 15, we're going to look at the role of meditation, hearing from God. 00:11.641 --> 00:17.870 [SPEAKER_00]: Meditation for so many reasons seems to have found its way out of our Christian context. 00:18.712 --> 00:24.640 [SPEAKER_00]: But the reality is that meditation has been central to our faith throughout its history. 00:25.542 --> 00:37.159 [SPEAKER_00]: And the Bible is chocked full of encouragement to meditate on who God is on His Word, allowing space for God to fill in our daily lives. 00:37.139 --> 00:49.379 [SPEAKER_00]: May God reveal his heart for us to meditate as a central discipline of our faith and May He empower us to make room for his presence in a meaningful way today. 00:50.400 --> 00:52.684 [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast. 01:14.467 --> 01:30.106 [SPEAKER_00]: Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 119 verse 15, Scripture says, I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. 01:34.311 --> 01:43.663 [SPEAKER_00]: The spiritual discipline of meditation does for the heart of a Christian what nutrients 01:44.707 --> 01:52.754 [SPEAKER_00]: Through meditation, the seed of God's Word takes root and produces life giving abundant fruit. 01:54.195 --> 01:57.938 [SPEAKER_00]: Richard Foster, in his book Celebration of Discipline Road. 01:58.959 --> 02:03.884 [SPEAKER_00]: The purpose of meditation is to enable us to hear God more clearly. 02:04.945 --> 02:14.713 [SPEAKER_00]: Meditation is listening, sensing, heating the life and light of Christ. 02:14.693 --> 02:19.185 [SPEAKER_00]: The life that pleases God is not a set of religious duties. 02:20.187 --> 02:23.155 [SPEAKER_00]: It is to hear His voice and obey His word. 02:24.238 --> 02:28.028 [SPEAKER_00]: Meditation opens the door to this way of living. 02:31.349 --> 02:37.486 [SPEAKER_00]: The Christian practice of meditation is at its core Rumanating on the Word of God. 02:39.211 --> 02:47.113 [SPEAKER_00]: Meditation creates space for the Spirit to speak directly to our hearts and apply God's Word to our lives. 02:48.528 --> 03:01.102 [SPEAKER_00]: When we rumanate on a passage of Scripture, like lamentations 322 which says, the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases His mercies never come to an end. 03:02.584 --> 03:10.333 [SPEAKER_00]: We give God space to reveal all the ways in which His mercy and steadfast love are available to us. 03:11.326 --> 03:19.254 [SPEAKER_00]: Meditation creates a pathway for Scripture to go past our minds and affect change within our hearts. 03:21.737 --> 03:27.143 [SPEAKER_00]: Another powerful aspect of Christian meditation is mulling over the character of God. 03:28.824 --> 03:37.013 [SPEAKER_00]: Sometimes when I feel hopeless, I will take a few passages of Scripture about the hope God provides and meditate on them. 03:38.309 --> 03:50.773 [SPEAKER_00]: and in the process of meditating on God's perfect character, my thoughts, perspectives, and emotions come in line with the unchanging nature of my heavenly Father. 03:52.757 --> 03:58.107 [SPEAKER_00]: Meditating on who God is, powerfully affects the way we view the world. 03:59.403 --> 04:03.690 [SPEAKER_00]: It's for this reason, some one versus one through three declares. 04:04.591 --> 04:17.751 [SPEAKER_00]: Blessed is the man who walks not in the council of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord. 04:17.791 --> 04:23.520 [SPEAKER_00]: And on his law, he meditates day and night. 04:23.500 --> 04:35.774 [SPEAKER_00]: He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yield its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither, and all that he does, he prospers. 04:39.418 --> 04:41.921 [SPEAKER_00]: Take time to meditate on scripture today. 04:43.262 --> 04:52.933 [SPEAKER_00]: Make space to listen to God and apply the seed of His Word. 04:54.432 --> 04:59.886 [SPEAKER_00]: May your day be filled with abundant life as you bear the fruit of meditation. 05:29.330 --> 05:36.218 [SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, choose a verse or aspect of God's character to meditate on. 06:16.597 --> 06:23.044 [SPEAKER_00]: And next, make space to hear from God as you meditate on His word or character. 06:24.486 --> 06:28.891 [SPEAKER_00]: Allow the Spirit to apply God's word to your life as you meditate. 06:30.353 --> 06:34.658 [SPEAKER_00]: Allow God's character to lay a foundation for your emotions. 06:36.380 --> 06:45.490 [SPEAKER_00]: Psalm 119 verse 15 says, 07:26.628 --> 07:27.269 [SPEAKER_00]: and last. 07:28.372 --> 07:37.513 [SPEAKER_00]: Take note of how the verse or phrase seems to have made an impact in the way you think, feel, or desire to act. 07:37.533 --> 07:42.645 [SPEAKER_00]: Rejoice in the power of God's Word to transform lives and hearts. 07:56.412 --> 07:57.496 [UNKNOWN]: Thank you. 08:25.657 --> 08:29.242 [SPEAKER_00]: Meditation should be a daily practice for Christians. 08:30.524 --> 08:37.775 [SPEAKER_00]: God's Word was never meant to just be understood, but to be alive and active in his children. 08:39.237 --> 08:47.209 [SPEAKER_00]: Scripture is meant to direct us into becoming more like Jesus, both internally and externally in our actions. 08:48.472 --> 08:57.912 [SPEAKER_00]: Meditating is one of the best tools God has given us in taking the Bible from words on a page to a living and active lifestyle. 08:59.396 --> 09:08.455 [SPEAKER_00]: May engaging in meditation transform your spiritual life into one filled with joy, power and fruit of the Spirit. 09:27.706 --> 09:32.995 [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for listening to today's podcast on listening to God's speak through meditation. 09:33.757 --> 09:35.500 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh Miller with First 15. 09:36.482 --> 09:46.660 [SPEAKER_00]: In the business of our world, where we're constantly inundated with information and solicitations, we need meditation more than ever. 09:46.640 --> 09:57.850 [SPEAKER_00]: So as you go about your day today, look for one more opportunity to quiet yourself, close your eyes, and allow God to move in whatever way he wants to. 09:58.791 --> 10:04.856 [SPEAKER_00]: And if God is moving in your life through this podcast or through first 15, would you let us know about it? 10:05.297 --> 10:14.605 [SPEAKER_00]: You can always leave a rating or review on your preferred podcast platform, or you can send us an email at podcast at 10:14.585 --> 10:21.321 [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you again for being here, have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you see Kim.