Francis Quarles, a 16th Century poet said, "Meditation is the life of the soul: Action, the soul of meditation, and honor the reward of action."
Diana Robinson said, "Prayer is when you talk to God; meditation is when you listen to God."
Swami Sivananda, an author of yoga, said, "Practice meditation regularly. Meditation leads to eternal bliss. Therefore meditate, meditate."
The spiritual discipline of meditation is design to focus our thoughts on God and to reflect on the Scriptures so that we can place our mind back on God and His purpose for our life.
Spiritual meditation is not about feelings, exercises or some type of breathing technique, but rather, it's an opportunity to empty oneself of the worldly thoughts and set the mind on the spiritual things of life.
Throughout the bible, there are several different meanings used for meditation. In the Old Testament, Meditation is described as: to ponder, imagine, mourn, musing, pray, complaint, reflection, devotion and commune. In the New Testament, meditation is described as: Revolve in the mind or to take care of.
Reasons to meditate:
To praise God: Psalm 63:6, David's meditation was about appreciation toward God for taking care of all his needs. "When I remember you on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches."
To please God: Psalm 19:14, David's meditation was about his words and thoughts. David viewed his life as a sacrifice to God and wanted his words and thoughts to please God. "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you...."
To deal with bad feelings toward God: Psalm 39:3, David's meditation was about dealing with God's discipline for a sin he had committed. David struggled and was complaining. In his meditation, he dealt with his feelings toward God's discipline. "My heart grew hot within me, and as I meditated, the fire burned...."
To study God's Word: Psalm 119:15, The Psalmist found strength and comfort in meditating on God's Word. Out of the 176 verses, the writer references God's Word in some type of form in all but 5 verses. "I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways." Meditating on God's Word will enable us to deepen our relationship with God, Jesus, and Spirit.
The idea of meditation from the Christian perspective is not to detach, as the Eastern Religions will teach, but rather, to connect with God.
The Meditation found in Scripture isn't based on concentrating on an earthly object, nor is it to create a mantra where we repeat words over and over again, but rather, to focus our attention on God's Word so that our minds will remain spiritually focused on God and on prayer, where we keep the doors of communication open with God
What meditation will do:
#1. It will spiritually cleanse us: Meditation will detox the mind in order to prepare it for the transformation. Richard Foster in his book, Celebration of Discipline says: "In the discipline of meditation we are not so much acting as we are opening ourselves to be acted upon. We invite the Holy Spirit to come and work within us – cleansing [us]."
#2. It will transform our minds: Our mind gets filled with negative and godless clutter that takes our attention away from godly living. The spiritual cleansing will get our minds cleaned up, but the transformed mind will get the mind back into focus. Paul said in Romans 12:2, "Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think."
Meditation will help transform thinking and behavior and enhance the spiritual life.
Remember, Be God Controlled!
Brian
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Live to Live Free
We live in tough times. It seems the affordability of everyday needs are a struggle to purchase. Filling up the gas tank takes most of a hundred dollar bill. The coffee shop chatter focuses on the economy. War. Healthcare. And/or politics.
We want solutions!
Solutions? To what?: Gas prices? War? Healthcare?
Gas prices may never get back to the prices of the 70’s, wars may never cease, and healthcare may continue to rise in cost. We may hire and fire Presidents every four years in order to find the one that will BEST serve our needs and wants.
No matter how tough life gets, God wants his children to behave in a way that demonstrates our relationship with Him. God is always working out the details and setting into motion what is best for us. We have the responsibility to trust him through it and allow him to do what he is supposed to do.
Our earthy life is temporary. We must make the best of our situation so that we can stay focused on the next stage of our life, the eternal one. It is hard to stay focused when there is so much turmoil. It is hard to be focused when the bills aren’t getting paid, no gas to get to work, daughter is serving her country in a war zone, or a spouse is battling an illness.
In our tough times, it is important how we keep ourselves focused. Life is not about cheaper gas prices, lower healthcare cost or a warless world, but rather, keeping focused on the most important event in life; Jesus’ return.
Jesus’ return will make way for relief. Burden’s lifted. Health restored. Wars stopped. In our earthly life, we live for the moment to live free.
Jesus said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” (John 8:1&3)
God knows you by name. He hears you loud and clear! He is working on all the details to make a better life for you. When it’s all completed, you will get a comfortable, stress-free, disease-free, war-free, financially-free place to live for all eternity.
Trust!
Remember, Be God Controlled!
Brian
We want solutions!
Solutions? To what?: Gas prices? War? Healthcare?
Gas prices may never get back to the prices of the 70’s, wars may never cease, and healthcare may continue to rise in cost. We may hire and fire Presidents every four years in order to find the one that will BEST serve our needs and wants.
No matter how tough life gets, God wants his children to behave in a way that demonstrates our relationship with Him. God is always working out the details and setting into motion what is best for us. We have the responsibility to trust him through it and allow him to do what he is supposed to do.
Our earthy life is temporary. We must make the best of our situation so that we can stay focused on the next stage of our life, the eternal one. It is hard to stay focused when there is so much turmoil. It is hard to be focused when the bills aren’t getting paid, no gas to get to work, daughter is serving her country in a war zone, or a spouse is battling an illness.
In our tough times, it is important how we keep ourselves focused. Life is not about cheaper gas prices, lower healthcare cost or a warless world, but rather, keeping focused on the most important event in life; Jesus’ return.
Jesus’ return will make way for relief. Burden’s lifted. Health restored. Wars stopped. In our earthly life, we live for the moment to live free.
Jesus said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” (John 8:1&3)
God knows you by name. He hears you loud and clear! He is working on all the details to make a better life for you. When it’s all completed, you will get a comfortable, stress-free, disease-free, war-free, financially-free place to live for all eternity.
Trust!
Remember, Be God Controlled!
Brian
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