If you paraphrase Joshua 1:8, it tells you to "meditate on the word of God day and night so that you will be careful to do what is written. Then you will be prosperous and successful." The word "meditate" is the English translation of the Hebrew "hagah".
According to the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, the definition of meditate is "to murmur, to have a deep tone, to sign, moan". Isaiah 31:4 uses this phrase: "As a lion growls, a great lion over his prey... ." The word "hagah" is translated "growls". Isaiah 59:11 uses this phrase: "we moan like doves." The word "hagah" is translated "moan".
So, meditation is not a silent thing. It involves some expelling of air. Moving your mouth to say the words, even if you whisper it, helps your mind to stay involved with what you are doing.
Meditation can become prayer
Elsewhere in this website are the 31 Bible verses I mediate upon every day. Often I will change a verse into a prayer. "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." This can turn into a prayer such as "Oh, Lord, You know that I absolutely delight in Your presence...." I will then talk about some of the desires of my heart.
Or, I might quote something such as "if you love me, you will do what I command." This could be followed by something such as, "Lord, you know I love you. What would you like me to do today?"
Beyond the intellect
Those who try to enter union with God solely through their intellect will never make it; union with God is a heart thing.
We are told to "trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." (Prov. 3:5) If we do that using wisdom and learning how to hear the voice of God, we can walk through life with more certainty that one who uses no more than his fallible intellect.
And how do we get wisdom and learn how to hear the voice of God? By meditating on the word of God day and night and being careful to do what is written.
The voice of God
One more point about learning to hear the voice of God: It takes time. It will eventually happen if daily you mediate on the word of God so that you will be careful to do what is written.
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