Ever wonder about Meditation?

I've been meaning to write a post about this latest chapter in Celebration of Discipline for a couple of days. . and, after a great discussion on it last night. .I think I'm ready!

The topic? Meditation

What does that word conjure up in your mind? This is one of the first things we needed to explore. Obviously, this is something the scriptures talk about frequently, saying, "I meditate on your law" (throughout Ps 119), speaking of Biblical men and women, "Going away to meditate on His precepts" and even Jesus taking time out of his ministry to meditate. . .and yet. . . .

Today the word Meditae conjurs up images of "ommmmmmm" with new age music in the background and a mellow voice saying, "empty your mind and center your being". ok. . um. no! This is the opposite of what God's word talks about. Not emptying your mind, but filling it. . filling it with HIS WORD and HIS TRUTH. Chewing on His words so they may satiate your being. And not just thinking. . but DOING! Taking the time to allow Him to speak to you, then obeying Him and putting those words into daily practice!

Here are just a few of the quotes (get ready to chew on these. . this is good meat!)

"Christian meditation is the ability to hear God's voice and obey His word". . simple!

The purpose of meditation is creating intimacy with Jesus. . then, he goes on to state that this isn't buddy, buddy, but the combination of "both intense intimacy and awful reverence". . oh how we as a society can't do that. . it just stands in opposition to what we understand. If we are intimate, we are on the same level. How then, can we be reverent? And, on the other hand, if we revere, how can we be intimately acquainted? I LOVE that Jesus fractures all of those guidelines and does exactly both! The one we revere (or should!) choose absolute intimacy with us!

In speaking of the detachment of common meditation. . .in the Christian world of meditation, the focus is on attachment. "The detachment from the confusion all around us in orer to have a richer attachment to God. Christian meditation leads us to the inner wholeness necessary to give ourselves to God freely." Bascially, he explains mediation as taking the time out to listen. . to stop, if even for a few moments and listen to our ever present God who is always desiring conversation with us. . who has something to say about our hearts and our circumstances in the every day.

Taking to time to gain HIS perspective. . that's what it's really all about!

He talks about meditation not being some otherwordly, super spiritual thing. . but that "Meditation has no point and no reality unless it is firmly rooted in LIFE". His perspective on our present! Listening and obeying. . .

He goes on to challenge that throughout history we, as a people, have avoided this. The Isrealites begged for a ruler. We look to our pastor, priest or even husband, friend or mentor for direction from God. Why? Becuase it is threatenting and scary. . .to mediate on His world and ask for His perspective means to "boldly enter into the living presence of Gof for ourselves. It tells us that God is speaking in the continuous present and wants to address us.". . . .sometimes that's scary, because are we ready and willing to listen?

Oh, what a challenging chapter and discussion. . especially in the busyness of our world. Am I stopping? Stopping to seek, to chew, to listen to His voice and His Words, to be changed by them. . .

Richard Foster quotes William Penn as saying, "True godliness does not turn men out of the world, but enables them to live better in it and excites their endeavors to mend it."