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Teaching God's Word to God's People |
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Welcome to Church Focus Ministries
Equipping, Encouraging, and Educating
God’s People by Providing Resources that are Uncompromisingly True to God’s Word
Church Focus Ministries is your trusted source for biblically sound materials
June's Encouraging Word
The Missing Link in Bible Study:
From Knowledge to Transformation
by Dr. Mark Wash
If you’ve ever found yourself longing for something deeper in your Bible study—something that moves beyond collecting facts and actually changes your life—you’re not alone. This month, I want to share a step that’s often overlooked but absolutely essential: meditation. Not just the theoretical kind, but the practical, everyday practice that breathes life into Scripture and roots it in your soul.
Let’s start with a beautiful quote from a Puritan writer: “Knowledge brings us to the door of truth, but meditation brings us into the house and into all the rooms thereof.” Isn’t that vivid? Bible study brings us to the threshold, but meditation is what lets us actually move in and live there. It’s the difference between information and transformation.
When I was a kid, I had a small record player for my 45s. Occasionally the needle would slip and make a jarring noise—music lost to a scratchy racket. I’ve discovered that my mind does the same thing. When my thoughts wander, I feel tension and frustration. But biblical meditation is like gently setting the needle back in place: suddenly, the music comes back—the soundtrack of praise, peace, and Christ-centered joy.
Here’s how this process plays out for me (Note that I may paraphrase the verse because at the moment I am recalling what I remember as the Holy Spirit is using that verse in my life. I may do a concordance search at a later time and remember the verse word for word.)
Again and again, meditation anchors me, resetting my mind and restoring grace in the everyday chaos. However, we must always remember that true transformation comes from spending time with Scripture itself—letting it soak in, not just skimming for a quick fix. This is why we need to always be Bible students and study to show ourselves approved to God.
Meditation can happen
So yes, meditation is about carrying God’s Word with you, turning it over in your mind, and letting it shape your responses, attitudes, and habits. When you make meditation a habit, life begins to shift. You gain clarity, peace, and resilience—the kind described in Psalm 1:3 that says, " he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither . . ." The Bible calls that person: Blessed.
Let’s strive for more than knowledge—let’s meditate, and let God’s Word transform our lives from the inside out. Until next time, may you find your groove and let the music of Scripture play on!
Let’s start with a beautiful quote from a Puritan writer: “Knowledge brings us to the door of truth, but meditation brings us into the house and into all the rooms thereof.” Isn’t that vivid? Bible study brings us to the threshold, but meditation is what lets us actually move in and live there. It’s the difference between information and transformation.
When I was a kid, I had a small record player for my 45s. Occasionally the needle would slip and make a jarring noise—music lost to a scratchy racket. I’ve discovered that my mind does the same thing. When my thoughts wander, I feel tension and frustration. But biblical meditation is like gently setting the needle back in place: suddenly, the music comes back—the soundtrack of praise, peace, and Christ-centered joy.
Here’s how this process plays out for me (Note that I may paraphrase the verse because at the moment I am recalling what I remember as the Holy Spirit is using that verse in my life. I may do a concordance search at a later time and remember the verse word for word.)
- Patience: When helping my wife and feeling stretched thin, I whisper, 'Love is patient, love is kind…' (1 Corinthians 13).
- Contentment: When I’m tempted to spend unwisely, Hebrews 13:5 reminds me, 'Be content with what you have.'
- Anxiety: When worried for loved ones, I recall Jesus’ words: 'Do not let your hearts be troubled.' (John 14:1).
- Anger: When I feel frustration rising, Proverbs 29:11 steadies me: 'A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.'
- Comparison: When I’m tempted to compare, I hear Jesus’ words to Peter: 'What is that to you? You follow Me.'
- Worry about the future: When sleep is elusive, I return to the vision of a new heaven and earth in Revelation 21.
Again and again, meditation anchors me, resetting my mind and restoring grace in the everyday chaos. However, we must always remember that true transformation comes from spending time with Scripture itself—letting it soak in, not just skimming for a quick fix. This is why we need to always be Bible students and study to show ourselves approved to God.
Meditation can happen
- As you wake up, before the day crowds in
- During morning devotions
- On your commute or a walk
- Even in the restless hours of the night
So yes, meditation is about carrying God’s Word with you, turning it over in your mind, and letting it shape your responses, attitudes, and habits. When you make meditation a habit, life begins to shift. You gain clarity, peace, and resilience—the kind described in Psalm 1:3 that says, " he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither . . ." The Bible calls that person: Blessed.
Let’s strive for more than knowledge—let’s meditate, and let God’s Word transform our lives from the inside out. Until next time, may you find your groove and let the music of Scripture play on!
Current Events . . .
Restoring Joy After Tough News
Getting news that completely alters your life is one of the most confusing situations.
A challenging phone call. A diagnosis that hurts. a crisis in a relationship. unexpected loss. Life can feel quite different in an instant.
Our initial reaction when grief occurs is frequently to look for solutions. We want answers, justifications, and assurances that everything will be okay. However, there are moments when God's presence is more necessary than an explanation.
Psalm 145:18 serves as a reminder:
"The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth."
When we are in pain, God expects us to acknowledge it. He doesn't minimize our sorrow or push us past our suffering. Rather, He finds us in it. He consoles us in our perplexity, sits with us in our grief, and reassures us that we are never alone.
Even if we do not understand what God is doing right away, we can trust in His nature. He is the God of hope, redemption, and restoration. He will produce beauty from ashes and turn grief into joy one day.
We can rest in the consolation of His presence until then.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I thank You for being there for me when things get too much. You witness all of my tears, anxieties, and burdens this evening.
Remind me that I'm not alone when troubling news threatens to ruin my tranquility. Even when I don't comprehend what You're doing, keep me close and help me trust You.
Soothe my heart. bolster my faith. Please allow me to rest in Your presence and have faith that You are still at work, even here.
I am grateful that you are the God who sees me, loves me, and is always there for me.
In Jesus' name, Amen
A challenging phone call. A diagnosis that hurts. a crisis in a relationship. unexpected loss. Life can feel quite different in an instant.
Our initial reaction when grief occurs is frequently to look for solutions. We want answers, justifications, and assurances that everything will be okay. However, there are moments when God's presence is more necessary than an explanation.
Psalm 145:18 serves as a reminder:
"The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth."
When we are in pain, God expects us to acknowledge it. He doesn't minimize our sorrow or push us past our suffering. Rather, He finds us in it. He consoles us in our perplexity, sits with us in our grief, and reassures us that we are never alone.
Even if we do not understand what God is doing right away, we can trust in His nature. He is the God of hope, redemption, and restoration. He will produce beauty from ashes and turn grief into joy one day.
We can rest in the consolation of His presence until then.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I thank You for being there for me when things get too much. You witness all of my tears, anxieties, and burdens this evening.
Remind me that I'm not alone when troubling news threatens to ruin my tranquility. Even when I don't comprehend what You're doing, keep me close and help me trust You.
Soothe my heart. bolster my faith. Please allow me to rest in Your presence and have faith that You are still at work, even here.
I am grateful that you are the God who sees me, loves me, and is always there for me.
In Jesus' name, Amen
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"I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given me; for they are Thine." (John 17:9)
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