If you were to be honest with yourself, which I would highly suggest on a continuous basis, how much time do you spend thinking about Scripture based Spiritual items? It needs to be phrased that way I believe because at times we will hear, “How much time do you spend in prayer” or “in the Scriptures,” but generally not much more than those two.
I have had opportunities when individuals have asked me where I go to church, and when I respond with “What are you studying in the Scriptures at home at the moment,” I usually get a blank stare, and then an excuse, so to ask the question of you, how much time during the day are you contemplating the Spiritual, is not one that we usually hear. If we “Pray without ceasing,” (1 Thess. 5:17) then the answer would be every waking moment, if “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11), then again, there would not be breaks in our fellowship with the Lord, so to speak.
One must practice the presence of God, it is not built into us to do so, not even after we are saved, notwithstanding the mind that wanders, which nearly all of ours do on a very regular basis, to attempt to meditate continuously on these matters takes practice, and a great deal of submission to the Holy Spirit. What we are attempting to do goes against everything in our old nature, the nature that revolves around self, wants, desires, everything that is not Christ. “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.” (1 Tim. 4:15) “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2)
The Scriptures are full of verses where the Lord says that we are to have one continuous, throughout the entirety of our lives thought process, His glory. Of course, the charismatic movement came in and threw emotions ahead of that, religions have for centuries made works the prime objective, many have even taken a side path along with that, and have determined that the fruit is more important than the obedient faith behind those fruits.
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3) Why? “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18) So simple, as if the Word of God was written for men who desired to serve the Most High, whose sole purpose is to glorify Him, who by faith go and do what they have been instructed to do in the Scriptures, to study to show ourselves approved. (2 Tim. 2:15)
The cares of the world are more than willing to draw us away from the Lord, especially in these days, for most would call them uncertain days indeed, yet why would we concern ourselves with them, are they not plainly written down for us to see. We have not been told to worry about them, but to “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thess. 4:18) Those who contemplate the Word of God will find the path that they are to be on in the Word of God, those who contemplate not only the Scriptures but God Himself, will find more. “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (Col. 1:17) So the analogy is self-evident, if you want everything, all you need is Christ.
Many in the world are going to attempt to pull you back into the world, resist them. The world itself will offer you all it has, if you will just leave Christ and your pursuit of Him, your family and friends will threaten to leave you on your own if you do not stop your search for Christ, pray for them, and then walk out the door. I do not believe, and I speak here only as a man, that there is anything more precious to the Lord than an obedient child of His who not daily, but every moment, is searching for Him, His mind is stayed on the Lord God, for His glory, for the glory of the Lamb. Christ is our righteousness, (Phil. 3:9) thirst and hunger for Him continuously.
