Cottonwood III by Georgia O’Keeffe
Is it just me, or can motherhood at times feel like a desert—all of life sucked dry, perhaps for many reasons, but most seemingly because of the constant pouring out that we do for our families? The perpetual needs and demands can leave us mamas feeling so depleted inside.
One means the Bible suggests for avoiding burn-out is meditating on scripture. To some of us, the word meditation makes us think of some esoteric new-age practice, but meditation is actually a Biblical concept—and has been practiced in both Christian and Jewish traditions. Unlike Eastern meditation where the goal is detachment and emptying the mind, our goal in meditation as Christians is attachment and communion with God. Thomas Merton said “True contemplation is not a psychological trick but a theological grace.” Contemplating God’s Word, communing with Him, is grace and is what brings true refreshment to the weary soul.
Psalm 1:1-3 says
“Blessed is the one …
whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree
planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.”
So what does it mean to meditate on God’s word? [Read more...]
