[Note: Jady was kind enough to pass along his PowerPoint slides, which contain more information than is in this outline. You can download them by clicking the link to the PowerPoint file in the “Resource files” list above. Thanks, Jady! -MRW]
Introduction
What is meditation?
- Psalms 77:6
- Psalms 77:12
- Isaiah 33:18; Psalms 73:16
- Contemplate
- Dwell on
- Consider
What does the Bible teach us?
- Genesis 24:63 – He was deliberate in going to a place to meditate.
- Joshua 1:8 – Meditation on God’s law would bring success.
- Job 15:4
- Psalms 1:2 – Meditating on God’s word shows we delight in it.
- Psalms 4:4
- Psalms 19:4
- Psalms 27:4 – Meditation should be a priority.
- Psalms 49:3
- Psalms 63:6
- Psalms 77:6, 12, 2
- Psalms 119
- Psalms 143:5
- Psalms 145:5
- Psalms 104:34 – This whole psalm was a meditation to God. All the psalms are meditations.
Summary
Who
- You
- Young, old, or depends on the day
- Book smart or practical
- Lover of routine or … squirrel!
- Just you
- There is time for others for study and edification, but we need time alone with God.
- Moses spoke to God 1-on-1, THEN he came and others saw the glory of God in his face (Exodus 34:29-35).
- God
- Listening to God’s words
- Thinking about God’s thoughts
- Speaking to God
What
- All the ways God has made himself known – print, people, planet
- All the ways your walk interacts with God
- Good times and bad
- Joys and sorrows
- Easy times and hard times
- In strength and in weakness
When
- Deuteronomy 6:6-9
- At the beginning of the day
- In the night watches
- All throughout the day
- Luke 1:29; 2:19, 51
- In the middle of a conversation
- When God does and declares wonderful, and maybe even perplexing things
Where
- Everywhere
- Noisy or quiet
- Alone or in a crowd
- On your bed
- On the road
- In the city
- In a desolate place
- By the “sea” – Matthew 13:1
- On the “mountain” – Matthew 15:29
- A secluded place – Mark 1:39
- Corner of a coffee shop, or McDonald’s, a park, library, your closet, porch, or portable isolation (headphones)
- On a mower or tractor
- In your car
- Instant meditation – turn off the radio!
How
- But I can’t focus!
- Maybe that’s okay
- Find purpose
- For others
- For yourself
- Techniques
- Start with meditating on meditating
- Find silence
- Whatever silence is most important to you – auditory, visual, mental, physical
- Visual reminders – cards, marker/chalkboard
- Phone reminders
- Buddy system – one or a group
- Tips from friends
- From David: Imagine yourself as the person being spoken to in scripture.
- Lessons from Andy Cantrell
- Tips from Jady
- Start in the morning
- Immerse in the text
- Ask questions
- Before leaving study, identify what you are going to think about.
- Make it small and focused, memorable
- Walk. At the right speed.
- Stare
- Stop doing
Why
- Deuteronomy 6:1-3, 12, 20-21, 25
- For yourself
- For your family
- That it may be well with you
- That you may prosper and multiple in your promised land
- Deuteronomy 8:2, 11, 14, 18, 19-20
- That you may remember
- Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God
- Then your heart will become proud, and you will forget the LORD your God
- But you shall remember the LORD your God
- It shall come about if you ever forget the LORD … you shall perish