Would my earthly Father look upon my behavior with approval?  Would my Mom have more love for me when she reviews my actions?  Will my Brothers and Sisters come to some cooperative agreement that recognizes the good I have done?  Will perhaps my wife feel closer to me when she sees my works?  Will I get promoted because my boss has seen my authentic love for the people in our office?  Are my neighbors thinking themselves lucky to have such a wonderful person living next to them?  Have I reached worldly renown, or critical acclaim having my character marketed before me so that everyone holds me in close regard?  Selah.  What do you mean, selah?  Why should I meditate upon these ideas?  And by the way isn’t meditation an Eastern or Pagan ideal?

I have failed them all.  It is entirely possible that these people look upon me with approval and good thoughts.  Have I blinded myself to the things of this world to a point where my only thoughts are of pleasing God?  I really wish people liked me, but when they don’t or require that I change my Christian behavior so that they in fact, can like me, what then have I become in order to gain that approval?  Worldly, of course.  And regarding meditation, that is something that King David preached to everyone, meditating upon the Word of God.  When was David King in Israel?  That was circa 1000 BC.  Hundreds of years before Buddhism was formed in the 6th century BC.  What, you mean meditation is a Jewish thing and therefore something consistent with my Christian faith?  Yes, but there are some inherent differences between worldly thinking/meditation and Christian meditation.  We, meaning Christians and Jews meditate upon the Word of God such that it is the thing which occupies and fills our minds.  Worldly practices requires an emptying of our minds so that they may be filled with whatever the “world” or “universe” offers.  Do you see the inherent danger with worldly thinking?

I might have the approval of everyone around me and fail God.  Though it is nice to be liked, wouldn’t the opposite of that ideal be considered success as a Christian?  I must be willing to let go of all desire to gain worldly approval in order to do the work of Christ. Concurrently, I must never go into the world, that is currently under the authority of the devil with an empty head, thinking that goodness and mercy will prevail my thoughts.  I must fill my thoughts with the power and authority of God’s Holy Word to armor myself against the deceptions of the devil, selah.  I don’t need any epiphanies that the universe would offer me because we can be assured that the prince of the power of the air rules here now, he is going to utilize those revelatory means for evil and disregard for God.  Thankfully, I do get validation from Christian Brothers and Sisters, and I cherish their approval of my behavior as a Christian Brother, but their opinions do not replace God’s commentary upon my life for that only comes from His Word and the Holy Spirit.  I also see the protective quality of constant meditation upon God’s Word for in the presence of His Word the devil must flee.

So learn to meditate upon heavenly things, letting go of the dim things in this world.  Get your approval from Almighty God, knowing confidently that you are doing those things that He has first commanded of you.  Find solace in the validation that God loves you and wants nothing more that to walk with you in the cool of the day.  Be cautious when attempting any practice that is designed to create enlightenment within worldly man, for the devil may appear as an angel of light utilizing deception to make us believe we are following the righteous path.  Be ready, meditate continually on the Word of God and let go of what the world thinks of you, for you belong to Him.