Meditating: The Key to Success and Prosperity

Key Verse to Read and Treasure

Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them…This Book of Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you will meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful 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. (Joshua 1:5-6, 8, ESV)

For Insight

Maybe God saw a copy of “The 10 Traits of a Godly Leader,” or, “How to Succeed in Leadership Without Really Trying” sitting on Joshua’s beside table and had a conversation with Joshua, telling him to be strong and courageous.

Who hasn’t, from time to time, in our roles as parents, church leaders, business owners or executives thought about what it takes to be successful or prosperous in that role or endeavor. No one wants or sets out to be a failure. Joshua certainly didn’t want to fail at leading God’s people. He didn’t want to let God down nor his predecessor, Moses.

In God’s wisdom he gave Joshua the key to success and prosperity in leadership. God told Joshua to learn to meditate on his Law and by meditating on that Word Joshua would experience success and prosperity.

Joshua would need to be strong and courageous, but it was not his strength nor courage that would result in success, it would be his ability and willingness to meditate on what he learned from God’s Law. God knows meditating on his Word brings obedience and response to what we’ve planted deeply in our heart and mind.  

The definition of meditate is, “To keep thinking about.” “To choose to think about it, letting it influence your goals and guiding one’s course of action.” God knew as Joshua thought about and continued to think about God’s Law it would penetrate his heart muscle and activate his actions to become obedient. What he meditated on would determine his course of action.  

The purpose of meditation has not changed. If meditating on God’s Word would lead to success and prosperity for Joshua it will do the same for us. God knows how our minds work. He knows we are already good at meditating. Just not on the right subjects. We are prone to meditating on the issues of life. Meditating on the troubles or challenges we are facing. Meditating on painful memories we have, or the relationships issues we are going through, or something painful or hurtful that was said or done to us, or the unpaid bills we just viewed in our bill ledger…the things that roll through our brain, turn over and over in our mind a million times a day, meditating on the negative untruths the devil plants in our minds. But that’s not the meditation that will result in success and prosperity, only lead to dread and fear and faithlessness.        

In Philippians 4:8 Paul writes,    

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just,   whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Paul is saying we are already good at meditating but by changing our subject and focus we can experience the desired peace of God and as God told Joshua, we will experience success and prosperity. Paul provides examples of what we should meditate on: loveliness, pure things, truth, honorable things, things that are commendable and excellent.

Abiding in Christ steadfastly leads to healthy and holy meditation. Abiding in Christ, we learn to meditate on God himself and receive the fruit of the Spirit. That kind of meditation leads to success and prosperity.

Lord, I abide in Christ I will meditate on your Word and be able to enjoy success and prosperity your way. Amen

For Application

Check your meditation subject!     

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