Learn of Jesus, Part 8: Meditate in God’s Word

David W Palmer

(Mark 4:24 NLT) Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more.”

This is a very important statement from the Lord Jesus Christ. The phrase, “Pay close attention,” is translated as “take heed” in other versions of the Bible. It comes from the Greek word “blepo,” which means: to look at (literally or figuratively); to behold, beware, look on, perceive, regard, or see. It is the New Testament counterpart of the Old Testament word, “meditate,” (See for example: Josh. 1:8). Jesus used it in John 5:19 when he said, “The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do” (NKJV).

Jesus wants us to pay close attention to, focus on, and revolve God’s word in our mind until our “mind’s eye”—our inner sight—sees something from God by intuition or perception. This is how the Holy Spirit speaks to us and reveals God’s knowledge to us. The apostle Peter (who was there on the day Jesus taught this) explains the process in his letter:

(2 Peter 1:19 NKJV) “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”

Peter is showing us how to receive revelation of God’s knowledge from God’s written word: he says to focus on it, meditate on it, give it your full attention, and think about it in microscopic detail until something supernatural from God’s Holy Spirit happens. Peter describes it as focusing on the light you have—the written word being like a candle in a dark place—until the day dawns. When the Holy Spirit revelation finally comes, it is like the flooding in of the brightest light—a spiritual sunrise in your heart:

(Psalm 119:130 NKJV) “The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.”

When revelation dawns in our hearts, it brings light, life, faith, wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and healing; it is literally a lamp for our path (Psalm 119:105), the sword of the spirit (Eph. 6:17), mind-renewing information (Rom. 12:2), and the keys of the kingdom (Mat. 16:19). What’s more, this process is what leads to the truly blessed life:

(Psalm 1:1–3 NKJV) “Blessed is the man … his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. (3) He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.”

Without doubt, in the very tricky times in which we live, we need the revelation of God’s knowledge for every area of our lives:

We need revelation of God’s wisdom for safety and provision;

We need it to walk in God’s supernatural healing and protection;

We need it for understanding complex contemporary issues and public debates;

We certainly need it to receive answers to prayer; and

It is the only way to repel the enemy’s relentless attacks.

Praise the Lord; God’s revelation is available to you right now.

The following Scripture shows that Joshua was a success, because he obeyed what God revealed to him as he meditated on the word. Joshua not only received revelation from God through this process, but he obviously received strength and the ability to obey it; which is grace, and it’s how we receive it today.

(Joshua 1:8 NKJV) “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.”

Meditating in the Word of God is something that Jesus expects us to do “day and night.” Through it, we will receive revelation of God’s word and his will for our life. We will also receive healing, life, and the strength to obey:

(Proverbs 4:20–22 NKJV) “My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. (21) Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; (22) For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.”

(Psalm 119:11 NKJV) “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!”

(Psalm 119:148 NKJV) “My eyes are awake through the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word.”

I encourage you today; be like the blessed man of Psalm 1, meditate in God’s word day and night; you need his revelation for every area of your life. This must become our lifestyle—it’s part of loving God and his word—or we will struggle to survive in these end times. (I know I keep repeating God’s instruction to meditate on his word, but it is so very very important, and a crucial key for walking in all that God has promised you.)

I leave you to contemplate what Jesus said about the “measure” in the context of valuing and heeding God’s word; the measure of value you place on God’s word, and the measure of effort you put into meditating on it—heeding what you hear—will determine how much revelation you receive from it; and that, in turn, will determine how much of God’s help you receive in your life:

(Mark 4:24 NKJV) Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.”