In a previous home,
we had several varieties of berry bushes behind our house. There was a mulberry
bush that was so big it more resembled a tree, raspberry bushes and blackberry
bushes. Each berry bloomed at a different time throughout the summer. Beginning
in June the mulberries ripened and held up on the tree for the longest season
of the three. By July the raspberries were ripe and sweet. The blackberries did
not darken in color and deepen in sweetness until August. This provided us with
fresh fruit throughout the summer season.
The appearance and taste of each fruit was unique to the variety. Going through the progression from first bloom to ripe was also unique. When my Jonathan was 2 years old, he began to learn how to pick berries with us. As with any young child, more berries went in his mouth then in the bowl he was collecting with. He absolutely loved the raspberries and would run to the bush looking for the sweet, red berry each day.
There was an interim time between when the raspberries had all been picked and eaten and the blackberries became fully developed. During this time the blackberries turned bright red on their way to the deep dark, full color of the ripe berry. While bright red, blackberries are anything but sweet. One day Jonathan ran toward what appeared to be luscious, sweet berry. I attempted to stop him. I was too late and the look on his face when he bit into that sour berry told me exactly what he thought. He was not pleased that his expectations of sweetness were met by sourness instead. In fact tears began to stream down his face.
In Psalms, David expressed this sentiment. “May my meditation be sweet to Him; as for me, I will rejoice in the Lord.” (Psalm 104:34 AMP) So what does the Lord taste when He considers our meditation? Does He find praise, thanksgiving and affection in our minds? Are we focusing on the mighty deeds He has performed in our past? Are we considering His mercy and compassion? Or does He find something different in our thoughts? Are we focused on self pity, anger or unforgiveness? Do fear, doubt and bitterness flood our thoughts throughout the day? These are all tough questions that we must consider.
How can we keep our medications sweet? The opening words of the book of Psalms give us direction both on the content of our meditation and on when to do so. “Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.” (Psalm 1:1-2 AMP) Continually meditating on God’s word brings blessing.
The Scriptures is the best place to begin our meditation. In them we find many great things to contemplate. Here we find the words and thoughts of the Lord. “How precious and weighty also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” (Psalm 139:17 AMP) Considering the awesome attributes of God’s nature will keep our meditations sweet. “On the glorious splendor of Your majesty and on Your wondrous works I will meditate.” (Psalm 145:5 AMP) Thinking on the mighty things that God has done in our life is also beneficial. “I will [earnestly] recall the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will [earnestly] remember the wonders [You performed for our fathers] of old.” (Psalm 77:11 AMP)
We are also encouraged by the apostle Paul concerning our thoughts. “For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].” (Philippians 4:8 AMP) If we spend our time working through this list, there will be little time left for anything else that would not be pleasing to God.
After I ate that wasabi and Jonathan ate the not yet ripe berry by mistake, we put something sweet in our mouths to change the taste. When we slip and find ourselves thinking negative thoughts, we can change to thinking on the Word of God. “…we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)” (2 Corinthians 10:5b AMP) Then our meditations will no longer leave a bad taste in His mouth. This change will make our meditations sweet to Him.
Keep your mind on the goodness and words of God today and you will be a sweet taste in His mouth.
The appearance and taste of each fruit was unique to the variety. Going through the progression from first bloom to ripe was also unique. When my Jonathan was 2 years old, he began to learn how to pick berries with us. As with any young child, more berries went in his mouth then in the bowl he was collecting with. He absolutely loved the raspberries and would run to the bush looking for the sweet, red berry each day.
There was an interim time between when the raspberries had all been picked and eaten and the blackberries became fully developed. During this time the blackberries turned bright red on their way to the deep dark, full color of the ripe berry. While bright red, blackberries are anything but sweet. One day Jonathan ran toward what appeared to be luscious, sweet berry. I attempted to stop him. I was too late and the look on his face when he bit into that sour berry told me exactly what he thought. He was not pleased that his expectations of sweetness were met by sourness instead. In fact tears began to stream down his face.
In Psalms, David expressed this sentiment. “May my meditation be sweet to Him; as for me, I will rejoice in the Lord.” (Psalm 104:34 AMP) So what does the Lord taste when He considers our meditation? Does He find praise, thanksgiving and affection in our minds? Are we focusing on the mighty deeds He has performed in our past? Are we considering His mercy and compassion? Or does He find something different in our thoughts? Are we focused on self pity, anger or unforgiveness? Do fear, doubt and bitterness flood our thoughts throughout the day? These are all tough questions that we must consider.
How can we keep our medications sweet? The opening words of the book of Psalms give us direction both on the content of our meditation and on when to do so. “Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.” (Psalm 1:1-2 AMP) Continually meditating on God’s word brings blessing.
The Scriptures is the best place to begin our meditation. In them we find many great things to contemplate. Here we find the words and thoughts of the Lord. “How precious and weighty also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” (Psalm 139:17 AMP) Considering the awesome attributes of God’s nature will keep our meditations sweet. “On the glorious splendor of Your majesty and on Your wondrous works I will meditate.” (Psalm 145:5 AMP) Thinking on the mighty things that God has done in our life is also beneficial. “I will [earnestly] recall the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will [earnestly] remember the wonders [You performed for our fathers] of old.” (Psalm 77:11 AMP)
We are also encouraged by the apostle Paul concerning our thoughts. “For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].” (Philippians 4:8 AMP) If we spend our time working through this list, there will be little time left for anything else that would not be pleasing to God.
After I ate that wasabi and Jonathan ate the not yet ripe berry by mistake, we put something sweet in our mouths to change the taste. When we slip and find ourselves thinking negative thoughts, we can change to thinking on the Word of God. “…we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)” (2 Corinthians 10:5b AMP) Then our meditations will no longer leave a bad taste in His mouth. This change will make our meditations sweet to Him.
Keep your mind on the goodness and words of God today and you will be a sweet taste in His mouth.
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