We have all seen comedy movies where the lead character is someone who is a hyper-emotional individual. The character zooms through highs and lows on every emotional whim, creating more rollercoasters for themselves. We all laugh as there are parts of the comedy we can relate to. Our lives mimic some of those highs and lows. In real life sometimes they are funny, but most times they are not. Instead of perpetuating the chaos we can walk through life emotionally unaffected by outside influences. The spiritual warfare that we find ourselves in the middle of, is mostly due to our reactions to those spiritual attacks. If every time we are poked at by our spiritual enemies we react emotionally, then we are just like a comedy movie. We have solutions to spiritual warfare with prayer, curses, and armor, but what we lack is emotional stability. The Bible notes our kidneys as our emotional center. David is very specific about his kidneys. We also know that our heart has thoughts and intents, but our kidneys and adrenals are our emotional center. How do we stabilize our emotions so that we can be steady and calm in the face of spiritual battles? How do we align our heart, mind, and emotions? David, Asaph, and Paul tell us. Let’s explore.
David wrote that Yahweh examines the hearts and kidneys. We know that the heart has a mind with thoughts and intents. We also know that the brain has thoughts, but the heart is the thought center of the soul. Located just above the kidneys are the adrenal glands. The adrenals produce hormones that help control heart rate and blood pressure, as well as stress reactions. In a time of great fear one may lose the contents of one’s bladder or bowels. Anxiety as well as fatigue are adrenal reactions, both of which produce hormones that affect our emotions. If we understand that, we can see what Yahweh was telling us. The process of an event creates emotions which can either fester, be discarded, or escalate. Yahweh examines the kidneys, which is a very close look inside. Why? To determine what is going on, what emotions are there, are they correct emotions or incorrect emotions.
Psalm 7:9G4931Finish off entirely G1211indeed G4189the wickedness G268of sinners!G2532 AndG2720you shall straighten G1342the just, G2082.1examining G2588hearts G2532and G3510kidneys, G3588O G2316God, G1346justly
2588LSJ Gloss: καρδία the heart
Dodson: καρδία the heart, inner life, intention lit: the heart; mind, character, inner self, will, intention, center.
Strong's: καρδία the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle
Derivation: prolonged from a primary κάρ (Latin cor, "heart"); KJV Usage: (+ broken-)heart(-ed).
Thayer:
1) the heart
1a) that organ in the animal body which is the centre of the circulation of the blood, and hence was regarded as the seat of physical life
1b) denotes the centre of all physical and spiritual life
2a) the vigour and sense of physical life
2b) the centre and seat of spiritual life
2b1) the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavours
2b2) of the understanding, the faculty and seat of the intelligence
2b3) of the will and character
2b4) of the soul so far as it is affected and stirred in a bad way or good, or of the soul as the seat of the sensibilities, affections, emotions, desires, appetites, passions
1c) of the middle or central or inmost part of anything, even though inanimate
καρδία kardia kar-dee'-ah Prolonged from a primary κάρ kar (Latin cor , “heart”); the heart, that is, (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle KJV Usage: (+ broken-) heart (-ed).
3510 LSJ Gloss: νεφρόςthe kidneys
Dodson: νεφρός a kidney as a general emotional center a kidney (as a general emotional center), the reins.
Strong's: νεφρός a kidney (plural), i.e. (figuratively) the inmost mind Derivation: of uncertain affinity; KJV Usage: reins.
Thayer:
1) a kidney
2) kidneys, loins
2a) used of the inmost thoughts, feelings, purposes, of the soul
νεφρός nephros nef-ros' Of uncertain affinity; a kidney (plural), that is, (figuratively) the inmost mind KJV Usage: reins.
We have a mind of the heart and a mind of the brain, but kidneys are the emotional center. We have thoughts and intents in our heart and thoughts in our brain, but we have sentiments in our kidneys, including our adrenals. Moses wrote about the kidneys as part of ritual sacrifice of animals. In fact the Torah uses the word kidneys for animal sacrifice only. Translators wanted to differentiate between kidneys in animal sacrifice and kidneys as the center of human emotion. They decided to use the word reins. Reins means “kidneys”; the seat of the feelings or passions (Merriam Webster). The ancient writers knew the center of emotions as the kidneys, but years later the brain became a more popular organ so translators used kidneys as mind. We have probably never thought of the kidneys as anything more than two little filters, but the ancients’ believed that sickness and disease of the kidneys, and kidney stones were due to bad emotions.
David writes about his reins/kidneys correcting or humbling him.
Psalm 16:7G2127I will bless G3588the G2962lord, G3588the G4907.3one bringing understanding to G1473me; G2089but still G1161 G2532also G2193until G3571night G3811[2corrected G14733me G3588 G35101my kidneys].G1473
Psalm 16:7 I will bless the Lord who has instructed me; my reins too have chastened me even till night. 8 I foresaw the Lord always before my face; for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart rejoiced an my tongue exulted; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 10 because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 11 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou wilt fill me with joy with thy countenance: at thy right hand there are delights for ever.
David gained understanding and his emotional center corrected him as he saw Yahweh. David’s deep feelings connected with Yahweh and that brought David the realization that Yahweh was always with him. David asks for Yahweh to set his kidneys on fire.
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2016/11/our-emotional-center-examining-our.html
Yahweh examines our heart and our kidneys. If our heart has thoughts and intents, and our kidneys are our emotional center influencing decision making, we can see that if we are always making life decisions based on our emotions, we are not in control of our emotional center. And probably so, as we have not understood that our kidneys are the drivers of our emotions, not our heart. We might have a “feeling” in our heart, but the seat of emotions, good feelings, bad feelings, anxiety, fear, and the like, are directed by our kidneys. If we are fearful or anxious, we are charged by emotions that affect our heart and the thoughts and intents of our heart. The mind of our heart is directed by the emotional response we have over something. Likewise in spiritual battles, we are targeted to react emotionally so that we tie up the mind of our heart and make poor decisions that the brain cannot override.
We have to learn the balance of our three decision making centers, the brain, the heart, and the kidneys. An example would be Mr. Spock, who is the emotionless logical brain. There is Dr. McCoy who is the overemotional kidneys. Then there is Captain Kirk, the balanced heart who takes into consideration both Mr. Spock and Dr. McCoy and finds a balanced answer to problems. If we always make decisions based on the way we feel we will endeavor to cause ourselves the least amount of pain or inconvenience. If we make decisions by the way that our logical brain decides we will have no exuberance or creativity in our world. If we make decisions with our heart and we confer with both the brain and the kidneys, we will have a balanced plan to live by.
Here are some studies on the heart.
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2023/05/christian-cognition-in-organized.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2015/10/mind-of-heart-ignorance-calloused.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2016/12/think-with-heart-perfect-heart-willing.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2016/12/change-of-heart-countenance-opprobrious.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2016/12/change-of-heart-countenance-opprobrious.html
To be successful in the spiritual battle that goes on within us, we have to lead every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Every thought is a big mandate. Our thoughts run wild most of the time, and in times of spiritual stress they can spin out of control. There is always a chance for demonic influence when we are talking about our own thoughts. We have to be able to discern between our thoughts, due to the warring brain (Mr. Spock) and kidneys (Dr. McCoy) and the tug of war over our heart (Captain Kirk). If we slow our thinking way down, we can compare our thoughts to the word of the Elohim. How do we take control of our thoughts? Paul helps us here.
2 Corinthians 10: 3 G1722 [3in G4561 4 the flesh G1063 1for G4043 2walking G3756 6not G2596 7according to G4561 8 the flesh G4754 5we soldier],
Even though we conduct our lives in the flesh, we don’t necessarily battle, fight, and war, in the flesh. Yes, professional soldiers do war in the flesh. However everyone must also war downward in the spirit. We fight from heaven down to earth. Normally we do not punch someone in the face who disagrees with us, but the thoughts in our own mind that suggest we punch someone in the face for disagreeing with us is what we war against. If we stop our thoughts that do not align with Jesus’ commands, then we can stop our reaction to those thoughts. We also need to stop feeding the emotional response to those thoughts as well. Stop being emotional about the past, memories don’t need emotions to be rekindled. Be like Mr. Spock and not like Dr. McCoy.
2 Corinthians 10:4 G3588 (for the G1063 G3696 weapons G3588 G4752 of our army G1473 G3756 are not G4559 fleshly, G235 but G1415 mighty G3588 G2316 with God G4314 to G2506 the demolition G3794 of fortresses),
The tools, instruments, and weapons, in our military campaign are not carnal or earthly. However, they are dunatos, powerful, mighty, and strong, from the Elohim, to the destroying and razing of strong defenses. We only get these tools if we are in Christ. Think about it, the enemy builds a stronghold in our mind, it was not raised in a day. Over time, a little brick here, a little mortar there, we have a wall. We live with the assault of thoughts hitting us everyday. Once the fortress is built then we have to tear it down. We can set a stick of dynamite under Satanas’ fortress, but it will be rebuilt if we do not start at the bottom and destroy every brick and every bit of mortar.
Start at the bottom. What was the thought that led to fear? What was the suggestion that led to the incorrect thinking that causes us to deny Jesus’ words regarding the commands? We can start with why we hate our neighbor, but was it something that started before that time? We can start with why we are afraid to get sick, but it is something that started before the point of wearing masks and hiding at home. Whatever prompted that fear, maybe a personal illness or the illness of someone else, there are root thoughts and ideas that started the wall or stronghold. Then, take the emotion out of the thoughts. Make thoughts emotionless. Examine the thoughts logically. Think about all aspects of the subject, and think about other people’s reaction. Do those emotionless thoughts motivate us to react apart form Jesus’ commands in a poor manner? Do those emotionless thoughts cause us to have to plan or calculate a work-around to Jesus’ commands? Now that the thoughts are emotionless, can we see where they are coming from? We are the solider guarding our own mind, we have every right to interrogate each thought.
2 Corinthians 10:5 G3053 [2devices G2507 1demolishing] G2532 and G3956 every G5313 height G1869 being lifted up G2596 against G3588 the G1108 knowledge G3588 G2316 of God, G2532 and G163 captivating G3956 every G3540 thought G1519 into G3588 the G5218 obedience G3588 of the G5547 Christ;
“Take down/destroy calculation and all presumptions/elevated structures risen up and set on downwards the knowledge the Elohim and take captive all thoughts into the obedience/compliance the Christ.”
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2022/01/thoughts-and-ideas-at-ready-demolish.html
All thoughts should be subject to scrutiny. All thoughts should have to pass a test of alignment to the word of the Elohim. Now that we know we are to capture every thought, we have to understand how to align our thoughts in our mind, and heart, and our emotions. Spiritual attacks are prolonged when we constantly react emotionally. The remedy is simple but takes time, literally. We want to be like a tree planted by a river, where we never run out of water, and we always can bear good fruit.
Psalms 1:1 G3107 Blessed G435 is a man G3739 who G3756 went not G4198 G1722 in G1012 counsel G765 of impious ones, G2532 and G1722 [2in G3598 3 the way G268 4of sinners G3756 1stood not], G2476 G2532 and G1909 [2upon G2515 3a chair G3061 4of mischievous ones G3756 1sat not]. G2523
2 G237.1 But G1722 [2 is in G3588 3the G3551 4law G2962 5 of the lord G3588 G2307 1his will]; G1473 G2532 and G1722 in G3588 G3551 his law G1473 G3191 he shall meditate G2250 day G2532 and G3571 night.
3191 LSJ Gloss:μελετάωto care for, attend to
Dodson:μελετάω I devise, plan
I devise, plan; practice, exercise myself in, study, ponder.
TBESG:μελετάω to meditate/plot
G:V
μελετάω, -ῶ
(< μελέτη, care), [in LXX chiefly for הָגָה m ;]
__1. with genitive, to care for (Hes.).
__2. C. accusative to attend to, practise: 1Ti.4:15 (RV, be diligent in; cf. Souter in Exp., VIII, vi, 429, but see infr.).
__3. to study, ponder: Act.4:25 (LXX) 1Ti.4:15 (AV, meditate on; cf. CGT, in l, but see supr.; cf. προ-μελετάω).†
(AS)
Thayer:
1) to care for, attend to carefully, practise
2) to meditate i.e. to devise, contrive
2a) used of the Greeks of the meditative pondering and the practice of orators and rhetoricians
μελετάω
meletaō mel-et-ah'-o From a presumed derivative of G3199; to take care of, that is, (by implication) revolve in the mind KJV Usage: imagine, (pre-) meditate.
Our first suggestion for being blessed is to have our will in the law of Yahweh. The word translated will is thelēma, meaning “determination, choice, inclination, desire, or pleasure”. The word translated law is nomos, and in context refers to Mosaic law, but in other contexts refers to the precepts of Christianity. It technically refers to parceling out, such as food or land for grazing animals. David is suggesting to meditate on the parceling out of Mosaic law. If a persons will is to do the things of Yahweh, we will meditate on Christian precepts and prophecy.
To meditate on something is to exercise our mind and our heart, so that the thoughts of our heart and our emotions will come into alignment. This is where time comes into play. We have to make time to exercise our mind in the words that the Holy Spirit had written to us. We have to ruminate in the prophecies the Holy Spirit encouraged people into speaking. We have to contemplate in the old covenant. We have to consider the new covenant every day. If we do then we will be like a tree planted by a river and full of good fruit.
Psalms 1:3 G2532 And G1510.8.3 he will be G5613 as G3588 the G3586 tree G3588 G5452 being planted G3844 by G3588 the G1327 outlet G3588 of the G5204 waters, G3739 which G3588 G2590 [2his fruit G1473 G1325 1gives] G1722 in G2540 his season, G1473 G2532 and G3588 G5444 his leaf G1473 G3756 shall not G640.1 drop down; G2532 and G3956 all G3745 as much as G302 he should G4160 do G2720.1 will greatly prosper.
If we take into consideration the time period that David is writing, they did not carry a Bible with them wherever they went. They didn’t carry a scroll of the Mosaic Laws. They did not have a recording of the prophesies of the prophets. They had their memory. They recalled what they heard read, recited, and prophesied. For us, at any given moment we can pull up one hundred bible versions of any scripture on our phone, and not rely on our memory. Those past generations were much better at memorizing than we are.
To understand meditation we could say that it is a download from heaven to us. The Holy Spirit, our paraklētos, is our advocate, intercessor, and comforter. It is the job of the Holy Spirit to teach us. When we meditate we have an intercessor, the Holy Spirit, who downloads into us from heaven to earth. A spiritual download in meditation is how we connect our three processing centers, our brain, our heart, and our kidneys.
This brings us to an interesting word. The word kata in paleo Hebrew is denoted by an eye meaning “see, watch, and know”, and a shepherds staff meaning “teach, yoke authority, or bind”. It is a preposition that literally means downward. It is used as a prefix and a suffix with many words. Some translators did not know what to do with this word kata, “downward”, and obscured its meaning by translating it “against”. If we change the word back to downward, with the understanding we are speaking “from heaven downward to earth”, we see new comprehension and perception everywhere it is used. The Holy Spirit teaches us with spiritual downloads.
One interesting word is katara, meaning “curse or imprecation”. It denotes the motion of an imprecation coming from heaven down to earth which explains that when we use imprecations or imprecatory psalms, we are doing so with a call down from heaven onto the earth. In other words we have no power to imprecate from within ourselves out to someone or some thing else. The power flows from heaven in the curse to our enemies and the traps they set for us.
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2020/10/kata-seeing-shepherd-from-heaven-to.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2021/10/katara-kingly-priests-bringing-lawsuit.html
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2020/05/wind-of-spirit-aether-parakletos.html
The understanding of spiritual downloads and meditation is the way that we balance our decision making process so that we can overcome spiritual battles, and become victorious in spiritual warfare. We see David using meditation centered on Yahweh.
Psalms 35:27 G21 Exult G2532 and G2165 be glad, G3588 O ones G2309 wanting G3588 G1343 righteousness G1473 for me! G2532 And G2036 let say G1275 always, G3170 [3be magnified G3588 1The G2962 2 lord]! G3588 by the ones G2309 wanting G3588 the G1515 peace G3588 G1401 of his servant. G1473
28 G2532 And G3588 G1100 my tongue G1473 G3191 shall meditate upon G3588 G1343 your righteousness; G1473 G3650 the entire G3588 G2250 day G3588 G1868 on your high praise. G1473
David says to "jump for joy”. This is an active time of praise, which is one way we meditate on the Lord. We sing His praises. David says that his tongue will meditate on Yahweh’s righteousness. We can take one subject and praise, worship, and meditate on Yahweh.
Memorizing scripture is a good start. Whether it may be one verse or several verses, the more we can memorize the better. Once we have memorized something we can meditate on it. Ask the Holy Spirit to help make the scripture come alive. We want more spiritual perception, and more spiritual awareness. We can praise our meditation, we can spend an entire day on one subject.
Psalms 37:29 G1342 But the just G1161 G2816 shall inherit G1093 the earth, G2532 and G2681 encamp G1519 into G165 the eon G165 of the eon G1909 upon G1473 it.
30 G4750 The mouth G1342 of the just G3191 shall meditate upon G4678 wisdom, G2532 and G3588 G1100 his tongue G1473 G2980 shall speak G2920 equity.
31 G3588 The G3551 law G3588 G2316 of his God G1473 G1722 is in G2588 his heart; G1473 G2532 and G3756 [2shall not G5286.3 3be tripped up G3588 G1226.1 1his footsteps]. G1473
Or mouth meditates. This tells us that vocalizing our meditation is something we should do. Speak it out loud. Whenever we try to find some quiet time, chaos ensues. Everything that can distract us, does distract us. Even if we hid in a coset, we would be nagged by our own thoughts, wondering what was going on outside the closet. This is the spiritual fight we are in. The way we circumvent the spiritual battle between our ears is speaking out loud. We can pray out loud. Pray in our prayer language out loud. Sing out loud. Worship out loud. It does two things for us. One is we hear the meditation which is reinforcement. Two, it drives demons crazy. Enough praise and worship will make them flee.
Psalms 63:5 G5613 As G1537 of G4720.1 fat G2532 and G4096 fatness G1705 may [2be filled G3588 G5590 1my soul]; G1473 G2532 and G5491 with lips G20 of exultation G134 [2shall praise G3588 G4750 1my mouth]. G1473
6 G1487 Forasmuch as G3421 I remembered G1473 you G1909 upon G3588 G4765.7 my strewn bed; G1473 G1722 at G3588 the G3722 dawns G3191 I meditated G1519 on G1473 you.
7 G3754 For G1096 you are G998 my helper, G1473 G2532 and G1722 in G3588 the G4629.2 protection G3588 G4420 of your wings G1473 G21 I shall exult.
8 G2853 [2shall cleave G3588 G5590 1My soul] G1473 G3694 after G1473 you; G1473 [4of me G1161 1but G482 3took hold G3588 G1188 2your right hand]. G1473
David is speaking extreme joy, exceeding joy while in his bed. As dawn approaches he is focused on Yahweh. Yahweh is his helper. David says he will jump for joy in the protection of Yahweh’s wings. When we first wake up in the morning we should try and turn our thoughts to Yahweh. It is a quiet time for meditation.
Asaph had some ideas on meditation as well.
Psalms 77:5 G1260 I reasoned G2250 [2days G744 1about ancient]; G2532 and G2094 [3years G166 2everlasting G3403 1I remembered].
6 G2532 And G3191 I meditated; G3571 [2by night G3326 3with G3588 G2588 4my heart G1473 G96.1 1I conversed], G2532 and G4623.3 [2tilled G3588 G4151 1my spirit]. G1473
The first word διελογισαμην means “reasoned”. Reasoning is more like considering, while meditating implies a longer time of thought and processing. While those words are similar they are not the same. If we meditate long enough we will find the balanced life. If we are reasoning about something we are using our logical brain.
The word translated here as “I conversed” is the word ηδολέσχουν it is used five times and oddly translated. The word ἠδολέσχουν means “worked or labored” not conversed. Some translators relied on the later Masoretic text which altered these words. The AP breaks the sentences differently than other versions.
Psalms 77:5-6 LXX W-H 5 G1260 V-AMI-1S [76:6] διελογισαμην G2250 N-GSF ημερας G744 A-GSF αρχαιας G2532 CONJ και G2094 N-APN ετη G166 A-APN αιωνια G3403 V-API-1S εμνησθην G2532 CONJ και G3191 V-AAI-1S εμελετησα 6 G3571 N-GSF [76:7] νυκτος G3326 PREP μετα G3588 T-GSF της G2588 N-GSF καρδιας G1473 P-GS μου V-IAI-3P ηδολεσχουν G2532 CONJ και V-AAI-3S εσκαλλεν G3588 T-NSN το G4151 N-NSN πνευμα G1473 P-GS μου
Psalms 77:5-6 Brenton Greek 5 Διελογισάμην ἡμέρας ἀρχαίας, καὶ ἔτη αἰώνια ἐμνήσθην, καὶ ἐμελέτησα· 6 νυκτὸς μετὰ τῆς καρδίας μου ἠδολέσχουν, καὶ ἔσκαλλον τὸ πνεῦμά μου
https://studybible.info/Brenton_Greek/Psalms%2077
Psalms 77:5-6 Breton Greek Translation I reasoned on ancient days, and eternal years were remembered, and I studied/meditated nights after my heart they labor, and climb my spirit.
The idea here Asaph is conveying is that he contemplated the creation and eternity. He meditated or studied in the night and his heart worked on these things and as he did his spirit soared or ascended. This is the point in which we can start to get our brain, heart, and mind, in sync with the logos. When we start to really get it, our spirit is elevated from the spiritual download.
Asaph is meditating at night. This is another quiet time for most people. We wake up and it’s quiet, we go to sleep and its quiet. These are two great ideas for our time of meditation.
Psalms 77:11 G3403 I remembered G3588 the G2041 works G2962 of the lord . G3754 For G3403 I shall remember G575 [2from G3588 3the G746 4beginning G3588 G2297 1your wonders], G1473
12 G2532 and G3191 I shall meditate G1722 on G3956 all G3588 G2041 your works; G1473 G2532 even G1722 in G3588 G2006.1 your practices G1473 G96.1 I will meditate.
Asaph spends time remembering the works of Yahweh. Asaph did not have a pocket old testament, so he remembered the things that Yahweh had done. Yahweh was doing a lot of miracles for David and the kingdom at that time. Asaph meditated on all those things that Yahweh did for David and the kingdom of Judah. David was tasked with slaying giants so the kingdom could live in peace. Asaph was intimately aware of all the blessings that Yahweh bestowed on them.
77:12 G2532 CONJ [76:13] και G3191 V-FAI-1S μελετησω G1722 PREP εν G3956 A-DPM πασιν G3588 T-DPN τοις G2041 N-DPN εργοις G4771 P-GS σου G2532 CONJ και G1722 PREP εν G3588 T-DPN τοις N-DPN επιτηδευμασιν G4771 P-GS σου V-FAI-1S αδολεσχησω
Psalms 77:12 Brenton Greek καὶ μελετήσω ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἔργοις σου, καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἐπιτηδεύμασί σου ἀδολεσχήσω.
https://studybible.info/Brenton_Greek/Psalms%2077
Psalms 77:12 Brenton Greek Translation - and I will study in all your works, and in your pursuits I will not miss
The word αδολεσχήσω is translated as “meditate” six times but it means “miss". This is another scriptural alteration. Asaph is going to follow after Yahweh’s works and will pursue Him to completion and fulfillment. He will not stop, he will not miss the precepts of Yahweh.
A full study of Psalms 77 is here:
https://musingsofawinsomeheart.blogspot.com/2022/11/administration-of-completion-in-messiah.html
Paul has something else that we should meditate on. Prophecies.
1 Timothy 4:14 G3361 Do not G272 neglect G3588 the G1722 [2in G1473 3you G5486 1favor]! G3739 which G1325 was given G1473 to you G1223 through G4394 prophecy, G3326 with G1936 laying on G3588 of the G5495 hands G3588 of the G4244 council of elders.
15 G3778 These things G3191 meditate upon! G1722 [2in G3778 3these things G1510.5 1Be], G2443 that G1473 your G3588 G4297 progression G5318 should be apparent G1510.3 G1722 to G3956 all!
Meditating on prophecies is important for our own growth. In our Christian culture today we may not understand the laying on of hands in prophecy, but this was a regular gift of the spirit. Old covenant prophets prophesied over others all the time. In the Church age we should be prophesying over people. Paul is saying that Timothy was prophesied over by the elders and he is to meditate on that prophecy for his own advancement or progress. If a prophecy is something to meditate on then we have a lot written down for us by the Holy Spirit, even if someone hasn’t prophesied over us.
Jesus tells us something interesting about what meditation we should not do. Knowing that his disciples would be hauled off to the priests, religious leaders, and the governments, Jesus told them not to be anxious.
Mark 11:11 G3752 And whenever G1161 G71 they should lead G1473 you G3860 being delivered up, G3361 do not G4305 be anxious beforehand G5100 what G2980 you should speak, G3366 nor G3191 meditate upon! G235 But G3739 what G1437 ever G1325 should be given G1473 to you G1722 in G1565 that G3588 G5610 hour, G3778 this G2980 speak! G3756 [4not G1063 1for G1510.2.5 3are G1473 2you] G3588 the ones G2980 speaking, G235 but G3588 the G4151 [2spirit G3588 G39 1holy].
If we think that constantly going over a bad situation in our mind is going to help us, it is not. It is not the kind of meditation we should be doing. This is called obsessing. Being anxious about something is fear, which is our kidneys (Dr. McCoy). Therefore do not meditate on negative emotions. Do not spin around in circles trying to figure something out, even if you are on the way to prison for being a Christian. Simply start to worship and praise out loud, so you can hear it and elevate your heart. Do not think about what you have to do in the morning, just sing and recite scriptures and think on those things. Spiritual warfare requires us to react, but the way we react should be the opposite of what our logical brain (Mr. Spock) would say.
We cannot come at spiritual enemies with physical swords and physical weapons. Our weapons are not carnal but spiritual. By reacting the correct way, our enemies will give up sooner. If they try to rattle us and we do not move, but instead sing, pray, and meditate on Gods goodness, they are only driving us to God, not away from him. Their goal is to distract us and pull us further and further away form our Lord and Savior. Do the opposite of what they are trying to get us to do. Instead of becoming a negative emotional wreck, become an enlightened spiritual powerhouse.
Meditating and learning the practice of aligning our thought processing centers, our brain, our heart, and our kidneys, will help us when we come under spiritual attack and spiritual pressure. The carnal reaction is not Yahweh’s way. The spiritual reaction of reaching out for a spiritual download from the Holy Spirit, from heaven to earth, is the way that we combat spiritual wickedness. We can use the downward curse, we can, ruminate on Yahweh’s righteousness, we can sing, we can pray, we can jump for joy. Use time in the morning and evening for meditation. If we make this a daily practice then we will learn to tame our emotions, our kidneys (Dr. McCoy) and reign in our logical thoughts, our brain, (Mr. Spock), and find a balanced heart, with thoughts and intents (Captain James T Kirk). The Holy Spirit wants to regularly give us a download from heaven to earth. Time to meditate.
