July 2026 Reflections from Dave's Corner of The World

The following is a quote from George Muller, a Godly man of faith in the Lord from whom I have learned a lot through biographies about him.  He was the founder of five orphan homes in Bristol, England, in the 1800’s that served over 10,000 children over the years.  It is inspiring to study his life, as he was a man of strong faith and a close relationship with the Lord.  The following is a quote on meditation.

“It often now astonishes me that I did not sooner see this. In no book did I ever read about it. No public ministry ever brought the matter before me. No private communion with a brother stirred me up to this matter. And yet now, since God has taught me this point, it is as plain to me as anything, that the first thing the child of God has to do morning by morning is to obtain food for his inner man. As the outward man is not fit for work for any length of time except we take food, and as this is one of the first things we do in the morning, so it should be with the inner man. We should take food for that, as everyone must allow. Now what is the food for the inner man?—not prayer but the Word of God; and here again not the simple reading of the Word of God so that it only passes through our minds, just as water runs through a pipe, but considering what we read, pondering over it, and applying it to our hearts.

When we pray we speak to God. Now prayer, in order to be continued for any length of time in any other than a formal manner, requires, generally speaking, a measure of strength or godly desire. And the season, therefore, when this exercise of the soul can be most effectually performed, is after the inner man has been nourished by meditation on the Word of God, where we find our Father speaking to us, to encourage us, comfort us, instruct us, humble us, reprove us. We may therefore profitably meditate with God’s blessing, though we are ever so weak spiritually; nay, the weaker we are, the more we need meditation for the strengthening of our inner man. There is thus far less to be feared from wandering of mind, than if we give ourselves to prayer without having had previously time for meditation.

       I dwell so particularly on this point because of the immense spiritual profit and refreshment I am conscious of having derived from it myself, and I affectionately and solemnly beseech all my fellow believers to ponder this matter. By the blessing of God I ascribe to this mode the help and strength that I have had from God to pass in peace through deeper trials in various ways than I had ever had before; and after having now above forty years tried this way, I can most fully, in the fear of God, commend it. How different when the soul is refreshed and made happy early in the morning, from what it is when, without spiritual preparation, the service, the trials, and the temptations of the day come upon one!”

(Bold and underline emphasis added.)

Like Goerge Muller, I too stumbled upon meditation of God’s Word years ago.  My favorite, most well invested time of the day is early morning before anyone awakes, and I meet with the Lord alone.  I study and meditate on God’s Word, and seek after His heart.  In Matthew 15:18 the Lord says that “those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart”, so as we study His Word, our focus is not on gaining information, but in seeking out and discovering our Father’s very heart.  Meditation moves us into a deeper understanding of God and beyond the veil into His very presence.  God honors and rewards the child who values this investment of time. 

Proverbs 4:7, says;  “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”  I believe the bridge from wisdom to understanding is meditation and obedience.  Meditation brings us to a deeper understanding of God, and Scripture is more fully understood after obeyed.  As God’s ways and thoughts are beyond ours, we must realize that meeting Him and discovering His ways begins at the end of ourselves in His presence and on His terms.  This takes time and dedicated focus.  It is a discipline that needs to be practiced and developed.  Psalm 27:4, says;  “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.”   This is no happenstance occurrence, it is a deliberate desire and seeking of the Lord on a deeper more intimate level.  This is where we find the beauty and intimacy of the Lord, where we may enquire of the King!  This pleases Him and He rewards this.  This is available to all of us who desire that intimacy.

This is an amazing gift of God, and what greater gift than His willingness to let us fellowship, discover and dwell with Him.  For Him to not only share His wisdom and understanding to navigate our lives, but to also move His hand in power and blessing on our behalf.  It tends to work contrary to our fleshly nature to sit and meditate or ponder the invisible God, when we could be working to advance our natural kingdom or schedule.  I encounter so many who are struggling with poor decisions and actions, and yet often, even after sharing God’s wisdom, little or nothing changes.  We’ll waste time fretting and worrying, but we won’t take the time to get alone with the Lord and meditate on His wisdom for our needs.  He has always been faithful to speak to me in my need.  Always!  If there is a problem, it lies with me.  Will I stop and seek the Lord as my first resort or my last?

Vision with Discipline brings Hope.  But Vision without Discipline brings frustration.  We need to see, but we must also respond.  Meditation enhances our Vision and inspires Discipline which brings Hope.  As we see God more clearly through our time in meditation, we are inspired to change.  Being in God’s presence is an inspiration and an assurance! Luke11:9-10 says;  “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”  Believe this!  Meditation brings us face to face with this promise.  We must ask, seek and knock for His glory and not our own desire, but do ask, seek and knock, believing! 

It’s interesting how we lack faith in God when we don’t see Him, but it takes faith to see Him.  As we exercise that faith, He becomes very visible and beautiful.   I struggle with this, there are times I need wisdom and I don’t believe enough to sit with the Lord and seek His wisdom.  I’ll be thinking it through in the natural sense.  But if I believe and seek Him, I’ll see Him.  Is that not what meditation is?  To believe, to seek and to see.  Seeing comes after the faith of pursuit.  As we get a greater taste and vision of God, we want more, and that’s a good thing.

With that, I will repeat Psalm 27:4;  “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.”  

I want to encourage you to meditate on this message this month.  Read it repeatedly, meditate on it and soak it in, engraft it upon your heart.  Search cross references that expand these thoughts.  Sit in silence and listen to God confirm His Truth. Consider it, ponder it, apply it and live it.  Then share it.  Prioritize Jesus and His way, make Him and His heart large in your life, and I assure you, He’ll make your heart large and your problems smaller in the process.  The Lord and His Truth are that powerful, and loving, so pursue Him vigorously!

Amen?  Amen!  Dave.