Practice Ambitious Meditation!

I suppose it must provide no little relief to consider that the Puritans lacked in some of the same areas as we do ourselves? One such area is meditation on God's Word. Thomas Manton, a perceptive English Puritan, put his finger on it when he said that it is generally easier for Christians to busy themselves battling false doctrine than it is for them to fortify themselves in the faith. 

Hear Manton:

It is the duty of Christians to sequester and set apart some time and place for solemn meditation, or the exercising their souls in heavenly and holy things. 
My purpose is to speak of meditation, a duty unaccustomed and unpracticed; both the practice and the knowledge of it are become strangers to us. The times are times of action and tumult, and we all think that we have so much to do with others, that few desire to converse with God and themselves. Our case is somewhat like theirs in Nehemiah’s time, Neh. 4:17, ‘With one hand they wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.’ We are forced to fight and quarrel for our religion, that we may rescue the innocent and holy principles of it from violation and scorn. I observe that many Christians use the sword, they spend the heat and strength of their spirits in controversies; but I doubt they do not use the trowel enough, and are not so serious in private retirements as they are earnest in public defenses.” (Manton on Genesis 24:63, Sermon 1, p. 5).

Indeed, "It is easier to stand against the enemies of Christ than it is to stand for Christ." This seems so true with regard to meditation on the Word. And I suspect that the chief reason is that it is usually easier for us to react objectively rather than to ponder things subjectively. The former keeps truth at arm's distance where we imagine we can handle it, whereas the later puts us in it's debt, forcing our compliance, or at least our reaction. But Christian growth is all about submission, yielding to God. Together, let this apparent weakness compel our repentance that we do not find more delight in loving Christ than in defending Him.