When I reached a point where it no longer seemed enough to search the scriptures, pray morning and night, and meditate sporadically, I set aside a time before retiring at night to meditate on the things of God. Aren’t the scriptures full of examples of such meditation? “My soul yearns for you in the night; at daybreak my spirit within me seeks after you” (Isaiah 26:9); “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands” (Psalms 143:5); “My soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard” (2 Nephi 4:16).
Don’t we have examples of the heavens opening at such times of meditation? “As I sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord” (1 Nephi 11:1); “While we meditated upon these things, the Lord touched the eyes of our understandings and they were opened, and the glory of the Lord shone round about” (Doctrine & Covenants 76:19); “As I pondered over these things which are written, the eyes of my understanding were opened, and the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me” (Doctrine & Covenants 138:11). Nephi the son of Helaman was translated at a time he was “pondering” (Helaman 10:3–5).
The effect of devoting a special time to meditating on the things of God was immediate. When I didn’t know what to focus on, I simply started addressing God and letting his Holy Spirit lead. It became a time to “remember” Christ, as we recite in the sacrament prayer, to consider his actions in my life that day and in days past. It became a time to “make peace” with God, to renew “being one” with him in Christ, and to receive revelation about my current course in life. It presented a chance to feel and express gratitude for the healing effects of his grace and for the ministering of his holy angels to me from beyond the veil.
Most of all, it enhanced my spiritual life to where I felt I was much more than God’s servant, one who could congenially relate to him as his son, anticipating this promise: “If your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things. Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will” (Doctrine & Covenants 88:67–68).
