Why Meditation? New Event March 23
We are asking ourselves serious questions. Should I stay in this marriage or leave? Do I force my frail elderly parent into assisted living? How do I handle my rebellious teen refusing to follow the rules? Does God want me to keep taking this abuse from him/her? How do I manage this work crisis? Where is my boldness to share Christ with others? How do I get out of this mess? My child relapsed again, now what? How can I ever forgive this person? Where is my joy? How much more can I bear?
Ultimately, the answers are not in us. The strategies are not found in self-help. Mindfulness will not help. We need God. We need His power and intervention.
More of His wisdom. More of His counsel. More of His power. MORE. This is the reason I am holding meditative prayer sessions. With extended time in God’s presence He counsels, He comforts, He heals, He speaks, He gives divine strategy. This is the promise of meditation in God’s terms. Did you know that?
In the book of Joshua, chapter 1 verse 8, God tells Joshua to meditate on His law day and night, to be careful to do everything written in it, for then he will be prosperous and successful.
The word “meditate” is the Hebrew word #1897 “hagah”. It means to moan, mutter, growl, roar, utter, muse, mourn, study, devise, plot, speak with one self in a low voice.
Notice meditation is NOT silent. It says nothing of emptying yourself of all thought. It says nothing of focusing on the present, external moment. It says nothing of tapping power within. Instead, God’s definition reveals meditation is verbally expressive, mentally creative, active, earnest endeavor, strategic, an emotional outpouring. In meditation, with the Holy Spirit as guide, we devise, we plot, we mourn, we sing; we study God. This process leads to strategic insight. The Spirit delivers wisdom and spiritual understanding inaccessible via any other human method. True meditation is a divine tool only for God’s people or for those seeking God. You won’t read that in the NY Times or in Time magazine.
NY Times just posted an article about Mindfulness, the world’s new word for meditation based upon Buddhist roots. It’s a word that apparently has been stripped of Buddhist teachings like reincarnation and enlightenment. Now it’s about “paying attention in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.” This sounds lovely; but there is no access to a nature beyond the limits of my human ability. No problem solving happening here, no tuning into God’s thoughts and perspective for resolution. Just be more present for the task at hand… I will fail.
Instead, leave your current moment and go to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to transform you. Meditate on this one scripture. First read the scripture a couple of times.
Isaiah 31:4 says – For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, like as the lion and the young lion roaring H1897 on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.
Now, look at this picture for help with visualizing the stance of the lion. And notice upfront that the word roaring has the same Hebrew reference as meditate, H1897 in Joshua 1:8 above.
Connect with intensity of the hunger of the lion. See it being surrounded by a multitude of shepherds who will kill him, yet he is unafraid. He is intent on keeping his prey. His hunger speaks louder than their threats. He won’t be deterred. He is willing to lose his life to keep his prize. His roar reveals his need and stance.
This is the intent of meditation. Having the hunger of a lion; aggressively seeking God’s Word as food absolutely necessary to sustain our souls. Despite the surrounding noise; we like the lion would be willing to stand our ground, remain in God’s word, consume it and live (Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4). Do you have an intense hunger to consume it?
What other picture do you see in Isaiah 31:4? The LORD of Hosts. He comes down to fight. For who? For His people, the ones who reside on Mt Zion. Like the lion, He was willing to lose his life to keep his prey. To keep you. To keep me. To keep anyone who calls upon His name (Psalm 125:1).
We are in a wonderful season to meditate on the Holy One who gave His life for us. The WORD of God. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Join me on Wednesday, March 23rd for a meditation on the Lamb of God. I will hold 2 sessions, one at 4, one at 7. Invest an extended prayer time being led in a meditation on the sacrifice of Jesus. Seek His counsel and input and love to sustain your soul, for strength beyond your human limitations.
Love offerings only. Seating in this venue (Irondequoit Public library) is limited. (Update as of 3/15, sessions already half full). Sign up is on the calendar page- here.
