Are You Stewing Or Meditating?
By Sandy Ditoro

Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. (Psalms 4:4)

When you lie awake at night, what do you think about? Are you thinking good thoughts or bad thoughts? Are you praying or fretting? Are you meditating or stewing?

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret--it only causes harm. (Proverbs 24:19)

Do you remember the last time you lie awake stewing? Did anything good come from it?

Stewing can become a bad habit. It is a sin, you know. Instead of stewing we should be praying. We should be thanking God! We should be trusting God. We should be meditating on God's Word.

Do you remember the last time you lie awake meditating and praying? Did anything good come from it?

On sleepless nights, David employed the meditating habit:

When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. (Psalms 63:6)

I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, And my spirit makes diligent search. (Psalms 77:6) (Have you ever called to remembrance your "song in the night"? Next time you are awake, try composing a song, instead of counting sheep!)

My eyes are awake through the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word. (Psalms 119:14)

Do you want to be in the Lord's Book of Remembrance? Then stop stewing and start meditating!

Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name. (Malachi 3:16)

 ISBS Ladies Daily Devotional
7/30/04