Spiritual Discipline #3: MEDITATION
What Is The Discipline Of Meditation?
In previous months, we have looked at the spiritual disciplines of solitude and silence. Through them, we address our tendency to surround ourselves with noise and crowds, both of which can often keep us from truly hearing God. One other feature that stands in the way of hearing God is the hurry and rush of our lives, something that can become evident even in those spiritual pursuits that we do engage in. Because we want things to happen quickly, we seldom take time to slowly ponder and reflect on God, His work in creation, and what He is saying to us through His Word. This is where the discipline of meditation enters the picture. It is the practice of taking time, best done in moments of silence and solitude, to simply think on Truth, allowing God to speak to our minds and hearts in the process. The goal of this is not more knowledge, but to see more clearly what we already know, and to allow God to take us into greater paths of life change and obedience.
In the next couple months, we will be looking at some different aspects of Christian meditation, offering you some suggestions and guidelines in its practice.
Meditating on Scripture
Book reviewer Larry Thiessen writes, "The Scriptures can, and should be read slowly, contemplatively, musing over a passage for days, weeks, years if necessary, not simply as a means of gaining knowledge, but as a means of struggling with praising, pondering, dialoguing, and even arguing with God. It can be a means of conversation that continues on for extended periods of time, touching upon more and more issues that it relates to."
| • Some possible passages: Slowly read through Psalm 1 two or three times at a sitting, pondering and thinking about each phrase. |
| • Slowly read through Mark 5 once. Go back and focus on Vs. 1-20. Another time, focus on Vs. 24-34. Another time, Vs. 21-24, 35-43. |
| • For one month, or longer if you need, read through I John, each time reading a small portion, thinking about the words, asking questions - Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? |
| HINT: Buy a notebook and jot down your thoughts and questions and insights that you gain. And don't ignore the things that bother you, or create some discomfort. |
Further Forms Of Meditation
There are two other forms of meditation that one might consider in addition to meditating on Scripture. Depending on your personality, you will probably gravitate to one over the other, but in the beginning, try to experiment with both.
Meditation Upon Creation
"The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of His hands."(Ps. 19:1)
In recognition of this fact, Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote:
Earths crammed with heaven and every common bush afire with God.
But only he who sees takes of his shoes;
The rest sit around it and pick blackberries.
With this in mind, Richard Foster writes: "So give your attention to the created order. Look at the trees, really look at them. Take a flower and allow its beauty and symmetry to sink deep into your mind and heart. Listen to the birds - they are the messengers of God. Watch the little creatures that creep upon the earth. these are humble acts, to be sure, but sometimes God reaches us profoundly in these simple ways if we will quiet ourselves to listen."(The Celebration of Discipline, p. 31)
Meditation Upon Current Events
Throughout the scriptures, God often called people to meditate upon what was taking place in the world around them, and to listen to what God might be saying through those events. As we engage in this form of meditaiton - prayerfully, and with the scriptures open before us - we can gain what Richard Foster calls a "prophetic perspective", one that opens our ears to what God is calling us to do in light of those events, and so be salt and light in our world.
Spiritual Discipline #1: SOLITUDE
> more info
Spiritual Discipline #2: SILENCE
> more info
Spiritual Discipline #4: FASTING
> more info
Pastor's Blogs
Solitude
• Monday, Nov 10, 2008
• Thursday, Oct 23, 2008
Suggested Reading for Understanding Spiritual Disciplines
1. “The Celebration of Discipline”, by Richard Foster
2. “The Spirit of the Disciplines”, by Dallas Willard
Either one of the above books is highly recommended for anyone wanting to both understand and practice the various spiritual disciplines that will be featured on this website. Ray Cobb (Community Life Pastor) has copies of each book available to purchase for $15 each.
Suggested Reading for the Discipline of Meditation:
"Answering God: The Psalms as Tools for Prayer", by Eugene Peterson
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