Friday, May 28, 2010

Made Time to Meditate

When I was growing up I was always told I needed to have a quiet time and that I needed to meditate on God's Word, but no one ever taught me or led me through how to do it. And for someone who is ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive) meditating on anything was a challenge. So, I figured if anyone reads this blog it will be an adult who knows or has the ability to focus, and I wanted to take this opportunity to lead you through how I meditate and spend time with God. You will need to be alone in the quiet for a period of time which is a precious gift I know, but I promise you this has blessed me and benefited me immensely. Let's begin:

Take deep breaths in and out slowly. Focus on the words you read. If you get distracted, refocus yourself to concentrate on your Father. Breathe in and out slowly 3 or 4 good times before beginning.

BEING STILL:

    Psalms 46:9-11

"He makes the wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire." – (Whatever stressful thing, whatever you are fighting, whatever is your burden – He can make it stop.)

10. "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." (When we still our minds and focus on Him, we can feel His presence without distraction. Keep breathing.)

11. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

MEDITATION: (Pay special attention to the words in italics, and read them slowly. Sometimes I have personalized the verses by using "me," "my" or "I.")

Ps 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Ps 27:7-9 Hear my voice when I call, O Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, Lord, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, O God my Savior.

Ps 77:11-13 I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds. Your ways, O God, are holy.

Col 3:15-17 Let the peace of Christ rule in your (my) hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And (I will) be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you (me) richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Ps 18 :16- 18 He reached down from on high and took hold of me (Picture this in your mind. He is reaching down and taking hold of you, His daughter); he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. (There is air to breathe in the spacious place. There is peace, and He did it because He delights in you.)

Ps 17:8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings." (You are the apple of His eye.)

Psalms 18:30- 32 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.

Meditate on what are the names of God and thank Him for why He is each of those names. Examples are:

    Alpha, Omega, Redeemer, Savior, Lord, Messiah, Friend,    Father, Lover of your soul

ASKING GOD TO SPEAK TO YOU:

Psalms 102:1-3 "Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry for help come to you. Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly. For my days like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers."

PREPARING FOR REPENTENCE:

Psalms 139:23 "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24. "See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

Psalms 25:16-18 Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish. Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.

Psalms 103:13-14 As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.


 

REPENTENCE:

    Dt 30:19-20

This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Mt 5:23-24 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

Acts 3:19 "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." (Who could use some refreshing?)


 

LISTENING:

YOU LISTEN:

James 4:13-15 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."

Ezekial 3:26-27 I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, though they are a rebellious house. But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, "This is what the Sovereing Lord says." Whoever will listen let him listen, and whoever will refuse let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house.

Psalms 16:7-8 I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."

Romans 8:26 "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express."

HE LISTENS:

Ps 17:6-8 I will call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer. Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.

Psalms 10:17,18 You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more."

Sit quietly, continue to breathe deeply and meditate on these questions. Do not be in a rush to answer them. When the Spirit lays a word on your heart that is the only word you should say out loud. You may finish the sentence, but DO NOT SAY ANYTHING MORE. Continue to breathe deeply focusing on God.

    "Lord, I thank you for _________."

    "Father God, you are so ________________."

    "Jesus, I'm sorry I ________________________________."

    "Lord, I lay down my ____________________________."

    "I trust You to _________________________________."

    "When I think of Your dying on the cross, I _________________________."

When you think of the cross, what one word comes to your mind: ____________.

Finish this sentence: "When I think of Your love for me, I feel _________________."

    "You are my _________________."

    "I need You/Your _____________________."

    "I am so thankful ____________________________."

PRAISE HIM:

Dt 6:5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Personalized – I love you Lord, my God with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my strength.)

Psalms 48:10 Like your name, O God, your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with righteousness.

1 Chronicles 16:25 For (You are) great Lord and most worthy of praise; (You) are to be feared above all gods.

Psalms 47:2 How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth!

Ps 48:1 Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain.

Ps 86:10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God.

Psalms 104:1-3 Praise the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. (What an awesome God we serve!)

Psalms 108:3-5 I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens.

Psalms 145:3 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.

Psalms 147:5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.

Amen.


 

It's my prayer that you have had a personal experience with your Creator, the Lover of your soul and that you have drawn near to Him.

1 comment:

  1. Amen! I was just talking to my little boy this evening telling how God is our "Jehovah Jirah" - God our Provider, "Jehovah Nissi" - God our Victory/Banner, "Jehovah Shalom" - God our Peace, "Jehovah Rapha" - God our Healer"

    Your blog was a great reminder of praising, listening, meditating.... taking it all in.

    Blessings to you,
    Amy

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