Meditation

It seems to me that meditation must be a big part of a Christian’s life.  Whether we realize we are meditating or not is negligible, but it is important that we do it.  I like what Thomas Merton had to say about our state,

“If you desire intimate union with God you must be willing to pay the price for it.  The price is small enough.  In fact, it is not even a price at all: it only seems to be so with us.  We find it difficult to give up our desire for things that can never satisfy us in order to purchase the One Good in Whom is all our joy.”

It seems that too often we get frustrated with anything that bends our desires or pride in any way.  Unfortunately, God’s will is often contrary to our sinful nature. I believe this is why Paul laments that he is the chief of all sinners – the more he meditates on God, the more he realizes he is in rebellion.  It is vital to our spiritual health and general well being however, that we don’t let the discomfort of giving up our pride get in the way of the gospel!

For this reason, old hymns are one of the most meaningful things in the world to me.  I often find myself in conflict with Christian musicians and artists today because I feel it is generally too shallow.  What I love about the hymns is the general progression they take:

identifying our sinful nature and the misery that we cling to so desperately

 a cry to God to make us more holy, and to forgive us of our sins

celebration of His works, praising His name

looking forward to the things to come and all of His glory

I think they, like the Psalms and Proverbs, are extremely beneficial to meditate upon and consider:

Come, Thou Fount

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;

Streams of mercy, never ceasing,

Call for songs of loudest praise.

Teach me some melodious sonnet,

Sung by flaming tongues above.

Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it,

Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Sorrowing I shall be in spirit,

Till released from flesh and sin,

Yet from what I do inherit,

Here Thy praises I'll begin;

Here I raise my Ebenezer;

Hither by Thy help I've come;

And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,

Safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,

Wandering from the fold of God;

He, to rescue me from danger,

Interposed His precious blood;

How His kindness yet pursues me

Mortal tongue can never tell,

Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me

I cannot proclaim it well.

O to grace how great a debtor,

Daily I'm constrained to be!

Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,

Bind my wandering heart to Thee.

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,

Prone to leave the God I love;

Here's my heart, O take and seal it,

Seal it for Thy courts above.

O that day when freed from sinning,

I shall see Thy lovely face;

Clothed then in blood washed linen

How I'll sing Thy sovereign grace;

Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,

Take my ransomed soul away;

Send thine angels now to carry

Me to realms of endless day.