MEDITATION AS PREPARATION

BY PASTOR BRAD LIEBE

“YET, THE STRENGTH OF THOSE WHO WAIT WITH HOPE IN THE LORD WILL BE RENEWED. THEY WILL SOAR ON WINGS LIKE EAGLES. THEY WILL RUN AND WON’T BECOME WEARY. THEY WILL WALK AND WON’T GROW TIRED.”

ISAIAH 40:31 (GW)

There once was a moment when the disciples tried to cast a demon out of a young boy (Matt. 17). They could not do so, and Jesus said, “This type of demon could only be cast out through prayer and fasting.” When we look at that passage, it would be easy to assume that Jesus, as the Son of God, did not have to pray and fast to cast out a demon. His message was for the disciples, but if we skip back a few chapters, we will see a constant pattern in the life of Jesus.

In Matthew 14, Jesus heard about John the Baptist being beheaded, so He went to a solitary place to pray. The crowd followed Him, and Jesus had compassion on them, healing and teaching them, and then fed 5,000, not including women and children. After that, Jesus withdrew from the crowd and went to pray. Then He walked on water.

In Matthew 15, Jesus withdrew again after interacting with the Pharisees, healed the Canaanite woman, and fed 4,000, not including women and children. Then He went away from them on a boat.

In Matthew 16, Jesus went away after a conflict with the Pharisees and Sadducees. From there, He taught and rebuked His disciples and predicted His death. He then, in Matthew 17, took Peter, James, and John and had an incredible mountaintop experience that I would encourage you to read. It is the mount of transfiguration where God the Father again affirms that Jesus is His Son.

Do you notice the pattern? Before every significant miracle, Jesus had a quiet time of prayer and fasting with the Father. He repeatedly went away in meditation, a state of praying and listening. He was ready to cast out the demon because He was in a state of rhythmic fasting and meditation with the Father.

We often ask God to do great and mighty things through us, but how many of us are preparing for the answer? Those who meditate in the presence of the Lord will renew their strength (Isa. 40:31). If Jesus, the Son of God, placed a high priority on meditation with the Father, how much more should we? How much time in prayer do you spend listening? Perhaps the answer you have been waiting for is just a season of meditation, a time with God that includes prayer, fasting, and listening away.

Moving Forward

Your season of meditation doesn’t have to wait for the next year to begin; it can start today. Create a rhythmic time of fasting, praying, and listening to the Lord. What is He trying to say? Write it down!