I found it hard to meditate on JUST verse 5 without verse 6 joining us in my thoughts.
Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
A strategy my husband recommended for my meditation is to take time to think about the verse while emphasizing a different word in the sentence each time.  In this case, it really struck me when I emphasized "own."

Here I am trying to learn how to love the Lord with all my mind, and I'm reading to NOT lean on my understanding?  How does that work?  It all comes down to that word OWN. The first part, "Trust the Lord with all your heart..." that makes sense to us.  We get what it means to trust.  Here, we are trusting with our hearts...our emotions. The second part isn't as obvious, or at least, it wasn't to me.  "...lean not on your own understanding." This could be restated, Trust the Lord with all your mind.

Think of the trust games we've done at camps or in team building exercises.  You are expected to trust the other person to catch you as you do what? Oh, yeah, LEAN back...  When I think of it that way it makes perfect sense.  Lean fully on God's understanding.  Lean fully on Him.  Trust Him. Heart and Mind.

True fellowship is such an integral  part of our walk, of our lives as Christians.  Unfortunately, it is an element that is frequently overlooked or misunderstood.

Fellowship involves relating with and caring for the whole of another person; emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually.  Too often, the church world equates simply having a meal together and talking as fellowship.

As we are reading Life Together (Bonhoeffer), I am starting to learn a little more about true fellowship; not only what it is, but also the value it carries.  On Friday evening, my husband and I were privileged to get together with our small group of friends and experience a time of fellowship. We have all been reading the same text, so we spent the bulk of the time discussing our insights and questions related to that (intellectual and spiritual).  We also spent a length of time sharing prayer requests (emotional and spiritual) before calling the kids into the room as well and praying as a group of believers (spiritual).

I am grateful for this time.  My heart, soul, and mind long for it. I am excited to see the fruit that will be borne from our times spent in true fellowship with one another.

On Thursday evenings, we participate in a wonderful home Bible study.  I think our teacher is just the greatest ever (it's my husband). This year, we are studying Mark. Last night, we discussed the story of Jairus' daughter and the woman who was healed in chapter 5.  My husband pointed out how these two miracles are actually one story; or a story within a story.  Jairus certainly went seeking Jesus because he had faith, complete faith, that Jesus could heal his daughter.  Along the way back to his house, Jesus felt power leave him as his garment was touched.  He stopped to address the woman who had been afflicted for twelve years and was now instantly healed.  He asked her to share her testimony (a truthful accounting of events) with the very large crowd, including Jairus.  Her faith had healed her.

Just after she finished her accounting, Jairus' friends caught up with them, only to tell Jairus that his twelve year old daughter had died.  They said, "Don't bother the Teacher anymore." Basically, it's no use, she's already dead.  But Jesus responded, "Keep on believing."  He had just demonstrated once again His power of restoration, and he asked Jairus to still have faith.
And he did.

When they reached the house, they found wailing and mourning in full progress.  Jesus, however, went in to where the little girl was laid and called to her saying, "Arise."
And she did.

Faith, complete faith, allows us to receive His power.

While at our study, I noticed a new plaque on the wall (pictured in this post).  I was directed to next week's meditation verse: Proverbs 3:5.

I am so happy to be reaping the benefits of consistently being in His Word. Last night I found myself becoming more and more anxious about work related worries. I was able to pause and focus on my meditation to refocus. Then, as what felt like an added reward, I read these words in Daily Light this morning. (This is ESV, mine is NKJV)
Ps. 48:14; Isa. 25:1; Ps. 16:5; Ps. 23:3, 4; Ps. 73:23-26; Ps. 33:21; Ps. 138:8
This is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.—The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.—You hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.—For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.—The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

I was able to enter my day in a state of praise and peace. Now, my day started with me leaving the house at 5am...I just returned at 9pm. It was a VERY long day, but I did not feel anxious in the least. Tonight, my evening Daily Light, will support my sweet, peaceful dreams.

Ps. 94:19; Ps. 61:2; Isa. 38:14; Ps. 55:22; 1 Kings 3:7; Jas. 1:5; 2 Cor. 2:16; Rom. 7:18; 2 Cor. 12:9; Matt. 9:2, 22; Ps. 63:5, 6
When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.When my heart is faint… lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

O Lord, I am oppressed; be my pledge of safety!—Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you.

“I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in.”—If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God… and it will be given him.

Who is sufficient for these things?—For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.—“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

“Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven…. Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.”

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food… when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night.


I love that I am instructed here to meditate at night. I'm off to do just that.

Psalm 1:2-3(NKJV)

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
    Planted by the rivers of water,
    That brings forth its fruit in its season,
    Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.


I learned today that at Dietrich Bonhoeffer's seminary, he required that students meditate on a single verse for an entire week for 30 minutes each day.  They were not allowed to visit the original language or any other translation as they meditated.  They were to listen to the words as though given directly to them from God.  Many of the students found this to be a difficult task.  Some of Bonhoeffer's contemporaries frowned on the practice as well, claiming the students needed more to learn to preach rather than to 'just pray and meditate.'

Deciding to spend a half hour each day alone with the Lord and a verse seems like an awfully big commitment.  However, it more comes down to which of the many useless things needs to be put aside to allow this to happen.  I do want to be that firmly planted tree.  What better way to direct my mind to stay on Him? What better way to allow my mind to love Him fully? 

Yes, I'm putting in writing that I'm going to accept Bonhoeffer's challenge.  I'll begin this week with the verse I claim to be my "favorite;" Psalm 37, verse 4.  I'm not sure what next week's will be, but as I write this, I have become confident that it will become evident.

Join me?  First challenge, learn what it means to meditate...

Acts 17:11 (KJV)

11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.


My husband shared this verse with me when I began writing two weeks ago.  It had occurred to him to share it specifically because of the phrase "with all readiness of mind."  This particular wording is found in the King James Version, and also in my Latin Vulgate (which was my wonderful birthday present from him this year).  In other translations, the phrase can be read as (great, all) eagerness, or just readiness (without the words "of mind").  I wrote down the reference and I've revisited it a few times over these two weeks.

How much more can we be encouraged to search the Scriptures daily, to use our minds for discerning His truth?  Wouldn't you like to be included in the portion considered "more noble?" I would.  My brother was going to give my nephew the middle name, Noble, because of the strength of that word.  I cannot think of anything negative associated with the word noble. Everything about it is good.  I would certainly want to be considered noble, if given the chance. (Incidentally, my nephew was born on my maternal grandfather's birthday, so he earned Grandpa's surname as his middle name instead.  This, I think, was a noble decision on the part of my brother and sister-in-law.)

So, we are to receive the Word.  Accept, take in as a gift, partake. And we are to do so with all readiness of mind.  This isn't a venture that we are to go into lightly, it requires preparation.  I would suggest that praying for a receptive heart and mind would be part of this preparation.  We are also exhorted to search, many translations say examine, the Scriptures to validate that the words we hear are true.  AND we are to do so daily.

One little sentence with so much weight.  My interpretation: Prepare your mind, then read and study God's Word every day.  Compare what others say or preach to what you have learned in His Word. 

Colossians 3:2 (ESV)

2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

This isn't a passive statement, but rather one the requires a positive action. It is an imperative, a command. Set your mind. Do this. To me, this is powerful because it is a direction, something I can do. Often when I think about keeping my mind on The Lord, it is more like the second part of the verse, the don't do.

Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)

3 You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.


In order to benefit from "feeling" God's perfect peace, rather than my imperfect anxiousness, I must keep God in my mind, in my thoughts, at all times. 
I had intended to use my lap swimming time for prayer and praise. I'm not sure if it was because it was 5:30 in the morning or because I was counting laps, or just because I'm distractible, but I couldn't stay focused. Instead I started singing songs in my head. I was able to do this with a slight bit more focus. I had read Isaiah 26:3 just before heading to the pool and I was actually pondering it. I was thinking in particular about that word, stayed.  I think that will be the focus of my thoughts this week:  what does it mean to have my mind stayed? 

I don't know why I continue to be amazed at how God arranges just the right words for me to hear or read.  I do enjoy the feeling of amazement, though.  It is remarkable to me that He cares right down to the details.

This is the King James Version of the verses that I read last night in the Daily Light after returning from a much needed evening of delightful fellowship.  I'll note that one of the elements we talked about during fellowship was the need to increase the amount of time spent in praise.  That is, to right the ratio of praise to petition in our prayers.

One thing is needful. Luke 10:42

There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. Psa. 4:6, 7

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God. Psa. 42:1, 2

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is. Psa. 63:1

I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. Lord, evermore give us this bread. John 6:35, 34

Mary . . . sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. Luke 10:39

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. Psa. 27:4

(I read this in New King James, but even in King James English I hope you can see the correlation to my last post recounting what I gained from last night's fellowship.)