I know from personal experience the power of meditating the Word because that’s primarily how I’ve received healing over the years. On a few occasions, I’ve been healed when someone else prayed and laid their hands on me. But, usually, it’s happened as a result of focusing my heart and mind on what God says about healing in His Word. I’ve proven in my own life the truth of Proverbs 4:20 –22:
My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.
Actually, those verses describe very clearly the process of Christian meditation. It involves giving careful attention to God’s Word, beholding its meaning, and keeping it as the focus of our hearts.
Christian meditation is different from the forms of meditation practiced by those involved in eastern religions. For them, meditation is about detachment. They try to clear their minds of everything in order to detach themselves from their own individuality and merge with some kind of cosmic consciousness.
Although the kind of meditation we practice does involve detachment (from busyness, crowds, and distractions), its purpose is attachment to our personal loving God through the Lord Jesus. We move closer to Him and become more aware of Him by meditating on Him—His person, His attributes, and His Word.
One believer from ages past who discovered the power of meditation put it this way. “Contemplative saints are fixed by the love of the one contemplated ….”
They are enraptured by God!
Scripture Reading: Mark 12:28-34
Source: Devotions for the Praying Heart by Lynne Hammond.
Excerpt permission granted by Lynne Hammond Ministries
On the chilly March night in 1972 when Lynne Hammond took her first step into a life of Spirit-led prayer, she had no idea what was about to happen. All she knew was the hunger in her heart for God wouldn’t let her sleep. In the few short months she’d been born again, her desire to fellowship with Him had grown so strong she could hardly contain it. “Help me, God!” she cried. “I want to know you. I want to be able to talk to you. Please, teach me to pray!”
Suddenly, a heavenly presence flooded the room. Lynne sensed waves of spiritual fire sweeping over her and a beautiful language began to flow like a river from within her. Although she’d never heard of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, she knew instantly, without a doubt—this was God!
What began that night soon blossomed into a life of prayer that ultimately became a ministry of prayer when, in 1980, Lynne and her husband, Mac, founded Living Word Christian Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Under Lynne’s leadership, the prayer ministry at Living Word has become an internationally recognized model for developing effective pray-ers in the local church.
A teacher and an author, Lynne publishes a newsletter called Prayer Notes, has written numerous books, and currently serves as the national prayer director for Daughters for Zion. Her passion for inspiring and leading others into the life of Spirit-led prayer continues to take her around the world to minister to believers whose heart cry, like hers, is “Lord, teach me to pray!”