Rev. Elijah Israel-Shaphat Chanak

Praying deeply for Chicago, and all affected regions. There shall be glory after this.

The one word that summarises my life, purpose, and existence: reformation.

I was once asked, “If you could give one major key to effective communication—particularly in preaching—what would it be?”

Without hesitation, my answer was simple:

Meditation.

Biblical meditation is the disciplined practice of filling one’s mind with the Word of God through careful contemplation, reflection, and continual rehearsal. While the term meditation has been redefined by many within contemporary spiritual-but-not-religious movements and attached to practices foreign to Christianity, meditation itself is deeply rooted in Scripture. It is not a New Age invention—it is a divine command.

The Lord instructed Joshua:

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)

Notice the progression: meditation produces obedience, and obedience produces fruitfulness. Before Joshua could lead Israel effectively, he first had to cultivate an inward life saturated by God’s Word.

Likewise, the Psalmist declares:

“His delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season…” (Psalm 1:2–3)

Fruitfulness is not accidental; it is the by-product of continual meditation.

Without meditation, communication becomes uncontrolled, shallow, random, and ultimately unfruitful. Words spoken without an inward reservoir of truth often lack substance because the mouth can only consistently give expression to what has first been cultivated in the heart.

Scripture reminds us:

“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)

For the preacher, guarding the heart includes the intentional stewardship of the mind. It requires aggressively protecting one’s thought life through Scripture, prayer, study, reflection, and continual spiritual formation.

Jesus Himself taught:

“Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34)

Our words are merely the overflow of our inward life. Before a preacher speaks publicly, they have already been preaching privately within the sanctuary of their own heart.

The thoughts of a preacher are shaped by what they continually consume. Whatever feeds your mind eventually fashions your message.

This is why shallow reading inevitably produces shallow preaching. A minister who refuses to invest in personal growth will eventually exhaust what they have to say. The preacher’s first ministry is not speaking—it is learning.

Paul exhorted Timothy:

“Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.” (1 Timothy 4:13)

And again:

“Be diligent to present yourself approved unto God, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)

Study is not merely an academic exercise; it is an act of worship and faithful stewardship. God deserves ministers who rightly divide His Word.

The Hebrew imagery behind preaching and prophecy is that of something bubbling up or flowing forth from within. The prophet does not manufacture the message externally; rather, what has been deposited deep within begins to overflow. This is reflected in Jeremiah’s testimony:

“His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not.” (Jeremiah 20:9)

The wellspring must first exist before there can be an overflow.

This is why preachers must cultivate depth through study. Meditation requires substance. Reflection presupposes that there is something worth reflecting upon.

Paul instructed Timothy:

“Meditate upon these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.” (1 Timothy 4:15, NKJV)

Notice that Timothy’s visible progress was directly connected to his hidden meditation.

Study fuels meditation, and meditation births revelation. As ideas, biblical truths, theological insight, and Spirit-inspired reflection are continually processed in the heart, they become messages capable of confronting culture, strengthening the Church, exposing error, comforting the broken, and proclaiming Christ faithfully.

Not everyone has the financial means to pursue formal theological education, and higher education is not accessible to every believer. However, in our generation there has never been greater access to quality resources for serious biblical study.

Subscription platforms such as Kindle Unlimited, Perlego, and Everand provide access to millions of books for a modest monthly fee. Likewise, Logos Bible Software remains one of the most comprehensive digital libraries available for biblical languages, theological research, historical resources, commentaries, dictionaries, and academic scholarship.

While these tools are no substitute for the illumination of the Holy Spirit, they are valuable instruments that aid faithful study. God often works through disciplined preparation as well as divine inspiration.

Therefore, the absence of a university degree should never become an excuse for intellectual or spiritual stagnation. Every preacher bears the responsibility of investing in their own growth.

The preacher must contend for their thought life.

Paul commands believers:

“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:2)

And elsewhere:

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2)

The battlefield of ministry is often the battlefield of the mind. A preacher who does not guard their thoughts will eventually lose control of their words.

Robust, disciplined, Scripture-saturated meditation produces Spirit-filled utterance. The Holy Spirit frequently breathes upon minds that have been faithfully prepared, causing hidden meditation to become public proclamation.

As David prayed:

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)

May this once again become the prayer of every preacher.

In an age that prizes speed over substance, information over wisdom, and performance over formation, the Church must recover what many have neglected.

Let us recover the lost art of biblical meditation.

Time management is crucial in this hour.

It’s so sad that Christian Doctrine is being made political. Those who hold to historic/orthodox Christian teaching are called “conservative”, and those who adapt Christian teaching to the cultural climate are called “Progressive/Liberal”. It’s so strange. Since when did holiness & righteousness become a right or left issue? We preach seperation of Church & State for everything but Christian Doctrine. A wayward society.

Jesus loves us.

The current order of the world can be summarised by this one text:

“There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves.” - Ecclesiastes‬ ‭10‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The spiritual, social, political, and economic order of the world can be summarised in this one text.

“Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule on the earth? “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that a flood of waters may cover you? Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go and say to you, ‘Here we are’?” - Job‬ ‭38‬:‭33‬-‭35‬ ‭ESV