“Christian meditation, very simply, is the ability to hear God’s voice and obey his word. It is that simple.” Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline, page 17.
It really is that simple, I guess. Since beginning my practice of meditation last spring, I have made a few discoveries – about meditation and about myself.
My problem is that left to myself I do meditate, but on the wrong things. I somewhat obsessively ruminate on thoughts that are not helpful or healthy. I all too often fail to take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ as exhorted to do in 2 Corinthians 10:5 Instead, I hear my own (or the enemy’s) voice swirling around in my head, drowning out the still small voice of the One who gives life and health to my soul.
Through the summer, I’ve been reminded of my desperate need to make time to meditate on God’s voice speaking through Scripture and on His voice speaking to my spirit. The problem is the how…how do I sit down somewhere and meditate on the things of God without all the other thoughts elbowing their way in?
In my discouragement and frustration I made a discovery. The truth is I’ve actually practiced the discipline of mediation for a long time. I write. I am a writer. I journal. God, in His infinite patience, reminded me that writing focuses my thoughts and prayers. Through journaling, I’ve mulled over Scripture, poured out my heart and then listened to Gods’ small still voice. My journals are full of mediations on paper. I’ve long known that journaling is indispensable to the practice my faith. I just didn’t consider it an actual spiritual discipline. I do now.
I guess the lesson is this: the discipline of meditation is not practiced in a pre-defined way. Some may sit and contemplate, others may walk, others may write music, and still others like me will write. In whatever manner we can successfully set aside our own thoughts for God’s we must practice it, keeping in mind our goal:
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing
in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14, NIV)
It really is that simple, I guess. Since beginning my practice of meditation last spring, I have made a few discoveries – about meditation and about myself.
My problem is that left to myself I do meditate, but on the wrong things. I somewhat obsessively ruminate on thoughts that are not helpful or healthy. I all too often fail to take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ as exhorted to do in 2 Corinthians 10:5 Instead, I hear my own (or the enemy’s) voice swirling around in my head, drowning out the still small voice of the One who gives life and health to my soul.
Through the summer, I’ve been reminded of my desperate need to make time to meditate on God’s voice speaking through Scripture and on His voice speaking to my spirit. The problem is the how…how do I sit down somewhere and meditate on the things of God without all the other thoughts elbowing their way in?
In my discouragement and frustration I made a discovery. The truth is I’ve actually practiced the discipline of mediation for a long time. I write. I am a writer. I journal. God, in His infinite patience, reminded me that writing focuses my thoughts and prayers. Through journaling, I’ve mulled over Scripture, poured out my heart and then listened to Gods’ small still voice. My journals are full of mediations on paper. I’ve long known that journaling is indispensable to the practice my faith. I just didn’t consider it an actual spiritual discipline. I do now.
I guess the lesson is this: the discipline of meditation is not practiced in a pre-defined way. Some may sit and contemplate, others may walk, others may write music, and still others like me will write. In whatever manner we can successfully set aside our own thoughts for God’s we must practice it, keeping in mind our goal:
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing
in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14, NIV)
Coming in September - the discipline of prayer
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