When we first started putting Bibles on our phones, I had several apps with different translations. Finally, I consolidated all my translations in one app: Olive Tree. My go-to translation for study is the ESV Strong version which couples the ESV with Strong’s Concordance – a built-in Hebrew and Greek dictionary. Olive Tree is all I use on my phone and iPad. (FYI, for those who are interested.)

A few weeks ago, I was ecstatic when Olive Tree offered The Living Bible for only $9.99! Do you remember The Living Bible? It started as Living Letters, Ken Taylor’s paraphrase of New Testament epistles, first published in 1962. I remember well when it came out. Then Living Prophecies – “So that’s what Isaiah was trying to say!”

The Living Bible’s rendition of Psalm 1.2 remains my favorite definition of meditation: I use it often when I teach. Here it is in the ESV:

His delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Why do I like The Living Bible’s version? See for yourself:

They delight in doing everything God wants them to, and day and night are always meditating on his laws and thinking about ways to follow him more closely.

What is meditation? “Thinking about ways to follow him more closely.” That will preach, and you can do that no matter what translation or paraphrase you use.