Meditation

Why you could benefit from meditation

Pillars of Meditation

- Tim Keller

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

- Jesus there are countless verse of Jesus getting alone with God

o Luke 5:15-16

o Luke 6:12-13

o Matthew 14:13

o Matthew 14:23

What is meditation? | It is the growth of our faith in truth of who God is. Luke 8

- Hearing God’s voice

How this worked in the past…

- Moses would speak to God and then relay to the people of Israel

o Exodus 20:19 | the people feared death over intimacy with God.

- It’s essence is reading and reminding ourselves of the truths of God while dwelling in His Presence.

- Obey His words

o Fear not

o I am with you

Challenges of getting into meditation

- Business | “Adversary majors in three things: noise, hurry, and crowds.” (P.15)

- Lack of knowledge | the illusion that mediation is another religions practice but bad for us.

o Eastern forms of meditation stress the need to become detached from the world. There is an emphasis upon losing personhood and individuality and merging with the Cosmic Mind. There is a longing to be freed from the burdens and pains of this life and to be released into the impersonality of Nirvana. Personal identity is lost and, in fact, personality is seen as the ultimate illusion. There is an escaping from the miserable wheel of existence. There is no God to be attached to or to hear from. Detachment is the final goal of Eastern religion. (p.21)

o Difference we detach ourselves from the confusion all around us to attach ourselves to God.

- Its too complex

o Not at all, as natural as breathing

Keeping an alpha brain wave pattern

Nope we are not only physical...

What it offers

- A chance to see your shortcomings and struggles

-This may sound scary but our struggles are what can be holding us back from experiencing true connection with God (Think about Israel and Moses).

How do we do it:

- Supplies:

o Bible

o Solitary space

o Time

- To do:

o Reflect

§ On a passage, characteristic of God,

§ Or bring a challenging thing in your life...

o Pray

§ Your servant is listening…

o Worship

§ Listen to worship and reflect on the words

- What you should look for… Upper room experience

o Intimacy

o reverence

- When are you done?

o When ever you want

Let us give it a try…