"Finding a New Focus"

“and on his law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:2b

Remember the old 8 track tapes? If you were to play an 8 track and never turn the stereo off, it would play through until the end, then return to the first song repeating the cycle for an indefinite period of time or until the tape snapped. Often when a person suffers from depression, there mind functions like an 8 track tape, the same hurtful scenarios replay over and over and over again. Depression can easily absorb our complete mental focus, it consumes our thought process, until like the tape, we emotionally snap.

The second portion of verse 2 in our Psalm study, when applied, will break a person from that repetitive mental track which can perpetuate a state of sadness. The psalmist does not encourage us to ignore problems. However, he does exhort his readers to refocus, to look outside of self, to look towards something bigger, better, more hopeful, namely God’s Word.

Yesterday we discussed that “delight” or pleasure can be derived from knowing the Lord by embracing His Word. The second portion of verse 2 explains how that end can be accomplished. Meditating upon Scripture forces us to turn off the repetitive flow of self consuming thoughts, it stops the destructive mental cycle that binds our emotional and spiritual being. Instead of continually dwelling upon the same old hurts, feelings of inequity, fears, stressors, or arguments, meditating upon passages or verses from the Bible releases us to ponder godly thoughts. Its not just enough to stop thinking about your pain from the past. A new thought must replace the old; its like taking the 8 track tape out of the player and putting in another which will always endure. This time though, the new tape is God’s Word.

Take note of the final phrase in verse 2, “day and night.” In Hebrew, this phrase is called a merism, a figure of speech whereby to polar opposites illustrate a specific point. Because the Hebrew language does not have a word for “always” ancient writers employed a merism. “Day and night” can be interpreted, all of the time. To discover delight, strength, inspiration and hope from God’s Word one must learn to ponder it throughout the course of the entire day. Meditation upon His promises and plans enables us maintain a divine focus which in turn produces stronger faith in Him.

Today’s Prayer: Lord help me to break the continual negative thought cycle which plagues my mind. Please grant me the strength to turn my eyes off of the daily struggles so that I may focus my undivided attention upon your Word, wisdom, council, and faithfulness.

For Further Study: Read Hebrews 12

The Newport Baptist Church web site was created and copyrighted in November 2001. The Newport Baptist Church was created with Microsoft Note Pad. The Newport Baptist Church web site was created by Bob Minnie Web Servant. Thanks for visiting us on the web, and remember Jesus Loves You!!!