Sorry I haven't been posting much. Things have been busy and my Bible notes have been piling up, waiting to be posted on here. Spring break is around the corner and I'm hoping to find more time with you guys! I really hope this has been helping some of you guys. Even if one person is reading and they find something through this then it is worth everything! If you have any questions at all please feel free to PM me! I'd be happy to talk with you!
This one today is about meditation. I want to say that meditation is such an important thing because if we're not in constant focus and reflection on God then what are we to say that we have a relationship with God in the first place?
Meditation helps us in our quest to grow in Him. THus, we can "weigh" and study what God requires of us; then, by our attentiveness and determination, implement the application of what Christ has for us. Meditation subsequently allows us to become more humble-minded, relational, and active in God so we can be better able to lift our heart, will, thinking, and reasoning over to Him and then be better at reflecting and focusing on Him.
Meditation IS NOT focusing on our feelings, intuition, exercise, detachment, manipulation, or some breathing techniques to get what we want from God or a deeper sense of ourselves. Nor is it "emptying" ourselves, seeking some kind of mantra or a path to attain enlightment, because we want to "fill" ourselves with the Spirit and HIs precepts raher than "empty" ourselves! Nor is meditation some esoteric Nirvana to get a hidden message or go to a deeper level. God calls us to a deep level as we seek Him, placing Him first by what He has revealed, not seeking something He has not revealed. Emptying ourselves leaves room for the devil's ways and our will to take over. Rather, biblical meditation "fills" our mind and "attaches" us to Christ as in aligning us, focusing us upon our Lord as Lord over all we are and desire to be. Meditation is not difficult or complicated, nor is it for just pious "monoasticism;" rather, it is for any Christian desiring more of HIm and less of self (John 3:5)
What happens when we do not practice this discipline? We are choosing not to grow closer to our Lord. Or, perhaps we are using an excuse that because others have misused this practice and turned it into what it is not, we are totally abandon it. In biblical meditation, the foundation is the Lord, who equips us to meet the emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of one another. This discipline is not emptying our mind or evoking some eastern religious or cultist view, rather, it is drawing our attention to Christ - to whom He is and what He has done for us.
MEDITATION
Here are postive examples from Scripture
Psalm 19:14
Meditation pleases God and it should be the first thing we do. Whatever hard times we are going through, we shouldn't go to people first, we should be going to God. What is your escape? It should be God.
Psalm 39:3
Meditation stregthens our passion for God. It's after we meditate that it comes out. It's simple as that!
Psalm 63:6
Meditation is constant. This shows how much he (David) valued his relationship with God. When it says that he thought of him through "the watches of the night," watches back then were divded into three sections, usually four hours each. That's quite a long time! Our focus and meditation on God must be constant, not broken up here and there, maybe once a week, twice if we're really good. We must direct our peaceful time to God and focus on Him throughout the day as a daily reminder!
Psalm 104:34
Meditation is something God is pleased. When it says "as I rejoice in the Lord," it doesn't seem like a chore but it should be like joy and beauty of the Christian life. It shouldn't be a checklist or something we force ourselves into doing. We must want to do it because we want to know God more. Through daily meditation, we are able to do just that!
Here are some negative examples from Scripture
Hosea 4:1
This is Jesus talking to the Pharisees. They hold onto the lies, the imitations. If you spend time with God and the Word, it will be so easy to get rid of the distractions.
John 8:44
This is Jesus talking to the Jews. They did not acknowledge or think about God. However, Jesus wants us to have faith in God and acknolwedge Him. He scorns them for "not holding to the truth."
Romans 1:21-22
Thinking about God is a good thing but not applying it to our daily life is a bad thing. Meditation needs a requirement to know God. Knowing God = meditation so if we don't apply it to our lives, we can't achieve this and basically we're called fools.
Define Meditation...
1) Pleases God. He is our first escape (Psalm 19:14)
2) Strengthens and fuels our passion for God (Psalm 39:3)
3) Is contsant (Psalm 63:6)
4) To acknowledge and have faith, mentioning God throughout our life (Hosea 4:1)
5) Using Scripture and glorifying God (Romans 1:21-22)
6) Rejoicing in it - it should be joyful! (Psalm 104:34)
Reflection Questions
1) On what things do you meditate on?
2) What happens if we refuse to focus and meditate on Jesus? What is the cost of the kingdom of God when Christians refuse to think upon the Lord?
3) In what situations do you find it hard to meditate on the Lord?
4) How will meditation help you?
Shining Star Community Church
Falls Church, Virginia
In[2]Him Ministry
