Today’s word is one that has had a major impact in my life. During a time when it seemed that everything was closing in on me, I discovered the benefits of meditating on God’s Word.

On the glorious splendor of Your majesty and on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.
~Psalm 145:5

I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.
~Psalm 77:12

In Hebrew, meditate is the word hagah and means to moan, growl, utter, muse, mutter, meditate, devise, plot, speak.*

Meditating on God’s Word is a process that can soothe our minds and calm our nerves. Meditating is much like marinating meat. I happen to love marinated meat.

The process is quite simple—mix up some juices and spices and place them, along with your meat, in a Ziploc bag. Then let it sit. After a little while, turn the bag over and let the other side absorb the flavors. Eventually, the meat is tenderized and “flavorized.” It’s not the same piece of meat.

In a similar way, when we meditate on God’s Word, we let it sit on our minds. We even turn it over in our minds as we ponder what it means and how it applies to our lives. After a time, we find that our minds have absorbed the Word and are changed by it. In fact, we could even say that our minds are tenderized and flavorized by the Word.

Let me show you how I applied this process during this hard time in my life when I found myself believing that God had abandoned me. One verse I meditated on was Isaiah 49:15-16:

Can a woman forget her nursing child, and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. Behold I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.

As I pondered this verse, I couldn’t help but think of my days nursing my children. I remember distinctly how my body would quickly remind me that I had a nursing baby if much time had passed between feedings. There was no denying that I had a nursing baby. In fact, my answer to the first question—Can a woman forget her nursing child?—is a resounding “No!” Trust me, pain and leaking milk will remind any forgetful mom!

The second question asks whether or not a woman can fail to have compassion on her son. Most women I know become like a mother bear when her cubs are threatened. Even the most hardened mothers have some level of compassion. Interestingly, though, God says that these may forget. As hard as it is to imagine, these may forget.

“But I will not forget you.”

He won’t forget us. He won’t forget us. He won’t forget us.

The verse goes on to say why He can’t forget us…because He has inscribed us on the palms of His hand. The scars from His crucifixion are a constant reminder of you and me. He can’t get away from us because we are always on His palm and always on His mind.

That February in 2006 was a time I will never forget. I learned to trust the Truth of who God was in spite of my circumstances and in spite of my feelings. In fact, meditating became a life preserver for me, as I carried a stack of verses that I read over and over again to let my mind marinate in the Truth.

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
~Joshua 1:8

 I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.
~Psalm 119:99

 My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises. ~Psalm 119:48

*”H1897 – hagah – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (NASB).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 24 Jun, 2016.