Post by Eli Brayley on Sept 21, 2010 21:41:27 GMT -7
Christian Living, Meditation
by Jim Wilson
Reading, studying, memorizing, and hearing the Word are primarily mental activities. Meditation is not primarily mental; it is only partly mental. It is something that can be done day and night. It is soaking in a spiritual osmosis and absorbing the truths. It happens through prayer and thanksgiving. "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5) "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." (James 3:17) "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:4-7)
Asking for wisdom and thanking God results in wisdom from above, that is, things that are in the heart, pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, good fruit, impartial and sincere, and the Peace of God that passes all understanding guarding our hearts in Christ Jesus. The scriptures are to be meditated on. They are too much for, and are not meant for, understanding alone. In the next several months, the scriptures I give will be in three major sections:
1. Things as they are for a Christian.
2. Promises of God for the present and the future.
3. Commands of heart obedience to God and means to obey these commands.
Earlier I mentioned that meditation is not studying or memorizing. It is important also to know that it is not imagination or interpretation or day-dreaming about what the text says. It starts with the plain sense of the sentence. From that plain sense, we consider how “out of reach” that plain meaning is. Then we thank God from our heart over and over again for that impossible, wonderful truth. We soak in that wonder. Since most of these sentences have a direct connection with God, we find ourselves worshiping God because of that sentence. I have picked many such sentences for our meditation. They are not negotiable.
by Jim Wilson
Reading, studying, memorizing, and hearing the Word are primarily mental activities. Meditation is not primarily mental; it is only partly mental. It is something that can be done day and night. It is soaking in a spiritual osmosis and absorbing the truths. It happens through prayer and thanksgiving. "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5) "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." (James 3:17) "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:4-7)
Asking for wisdom and thanking God results in wisdom from above, that is, things that are in the heart, pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, good fruit, impartial and sincere, and the Peace of God that passes all understanding guarding our hearts in Christ Jesus. The scriptures are to be meditated on. They are too much for, and are not meant for, understanding alone. In the next several months, the scriptures I give will be in three major sections:
1. Things as they are for a Christian.
2. Promises of God for the present and the future.
3. Commands of heart obedience to God and means to obey these commands.
Earlier I mentioned that meditation is not studying or memorizing. It is important also to know that it is not imagination or interpretation or day-dreaming about what the text says. It starts with the plain sense of the sentence. From that plain sense, we consider how “out of reach” that plain meaning is. Then we thank God from our heart over and over again for that impossible, wonderful truth. We soak in that wonder. Since most of these sentences have a direct connection with God, we find ourselves worshiping God because of that sentence. I have picked many such sentences for our meditation. They are not negotiable.