Into God’s Presence (Part 2)
Last month we looked at three different ways to spend time in God’s presence. We looked at meditative scripture with deep breathing, using the name of Jesus, meditating on the verse “Be still and know that I am God” thinking about Jesus and what He has done for us and a form of relaxation, leaving worries and anxieties at the cross. Later we will look at a number of Biblical stories and quietness to take us into God’s presence.
But first I would like to look at “why” it is important to meditate on scripture. The Old Testament refers to meditation fifty-eight times, and many of the Psalms almost sing with the word. The word meditate first appears in Genesis – when Isaac is described as going “out to the field one evening to meditate” (Genesis 24:63). Then in the book of Joshua, God commands Joshua to meditate on his Word. “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8).
This commandment to meditate on God’s Word is still relevant to us today. As Paul says in Collossians:” Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God” (3:16).
Or to quote the Reverend Dr John Stott – a leading English theologian and writer – “God’s people grow mainly by the Word of God. As Jesus said, quoting from Deuteronomy, “human beings do not live by bread only, but by every word from the mouth of God”. It is the Word of God that matures the people of God.
The purpose of the Word of God is to help us know the God of the Word. (Repeat). Meditation helps me to “know” God, and that “knowing” leads to greater intimacy with him. My favourite Scripture on meditation is found at the very beginning of the Psalms. Psalm 1 succinctly sums up the benefits of meditation:
Blessed is the man…
(whose) delight is in the law of the Lord,
And on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3)
I love that image of the tree. When I meditate it’s as though I am sending my roots down deeper into the rich soil of God’s love, and it is there that I meet with him and am deeply fed and nourished. It’s from this place of intimacy and deep refreshment that I gain inner strength, stability and clarity of vision. Meditation also protects my health and well being, ensuring that I have the resources I need to serve God. As Proverbs says: “Don’t lose sight of my words. Let them penetrate deep within your heart, for they bring life and radiant health to anyone who discovers their meaning” (Proverbs 4:21-22 NLT).
Ten reasons people give for not meditating
• It’s not biblical
• I don’t have time
• I’d fall asleep
• It would take too long to learn how to meditate
• It’s for monks and mystics isn’t it, not for people like me?
• God never speaks to me
• I wouldn’t know how or where to start.
• I’m not very good at using my imagination
• It’s not concrete enough
• I can’t concentrate.
Reasons to meditate:
There are many great reasons to meditate. Consider these others, for instance:
• Meditating on God’s Word helps to know God and his truth, and to apply that truth to our lives. It also helps us to know the character of Christ so that we can become more Christlike. Paul said that it was his determined purpose to know Christ and that is our purpose too. “All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him to life” (Philippians 3:10).
• Meditating on God’s Word feeds and strengthens us… “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3).
• As we continue to meditate on God’s Word it helps us to understand it as well as memorise it. “The entrance of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130).
• When we meditate, the “eyes of our heart” are opened so that we can be led by God. Just like Elijah in the wilderness, we become sensitive to that “still small voice” directing our path. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105).
• Meditation helps us to know that our true identity is in Christ. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).
• As we meditate on God’s Word we are cleansed and purified. “You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you (the teachings I have discussed with you” (John 15:3 AMP).
• When we meditate on god’s Word our faith is built up. “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).
• Meditating on God’s Word is healing. God can heal us directly through his Word as Psalm 107 reminds us. “He sent forth his word and healed them” (Psalm107:20).
• Meditating on God’s Word helps us to resist the devil and stand firm because the Word has become part of our spiritual armour. “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6; 17). When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert his weapon was the Word. Jesus said “It is written: “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”” (Matthew 4:4)
Ten more great reasons to Meditate
Still not convinced? Then let me add ten more reasons to meditate:
• It helps to focus on God rather than ourselves
• It increases our awareness and appreciation of everything around us.
• It gives our lives a deeper sense of meaning and purpose.
• It encourages greater intimacy with God and others.
• It reduces anxiety, tension and stress.
• It leads to greater emotional stability.
• It relaxes the body and calms the mind.
• It helps us to accept ourselves.
• It’s quick
• It’s fun.
Getting to know God through His Word
As you’ve seen from the reasons listed above, meditation goes hand in hand with reading the Bible, for clearly, the best way to know God intimately is to read his book. But research shows that there is a general decline in Bible-reading, so perhaps this represents an opportunity for us to discover exciting new ways to engage with the Bible – ways that are more relevant to today’s sound-bite technological culture. If we can find time to read and send emails, text each other, surf the web or glance at a newspaper, then we can also choose to find time to connect with God through his most sacred text – his Word.
Our busyness can lead to fatigue that causes us to lose perspective and a sense of balance in our lives. Prayer and quite times get squeezed out as other people’s needs and demands crowd in.
Jesus could have healed many more people and been far busier during his relatively short period of ministry, but he chose to listen to his Father and do what he said. He regularly took quality time out to pray, which is effective time management. He frequently withdrew up a mountain or across a lake in order to get away from the crowds. In fact, when you next read through the Gospels, it’s an interesting exercise to observe just how frequently Jesus took time out. His ministry is punctuated by withdrawal. When we become too busy to take time out with God, we lose intimacy with him. When we lose intimacy with God we lose touch with ourselves and humanity. We are then more likely to operate out of our own strength rather than God’s and our work or ministry may become less effective and more exhausting. If we take time to withdraw as Jesus did, our activities are more likely to be God led rather than self driven.
How do we meditate?
Like any discipline, meditation takes practice. So don’t try for an Olympic style meditation once a month. Little and often will result in your learning and integrating this form of prayer into the routine of your life. Initially just aim for a couple of minutes a day. You could begin by focusing on a word like Jesus (like we did last month) and co-ordinate it with your breathing; or you could focus on a short line of Scripture, such as “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. (Mark 6:31). In time meditation will become a natural part of your life and you will be enjoying the presence of God without even realising it.
Preparation
Before starting, take into account these three preliminaries: comfort, posture and atmosphere. Once you have these in place, you are ready to begin.
Comfort
Warmth – If it’s too warm you may fall asleep, but if it’s too cold you won’t be able to concentrate. When you meditate, your body temperature decreases so you’re likely to need layers of clothing.
Space – You might want to choose a particular room or corner of a room to meditate and pray. In time it will become a sacred space so that each time you return to it, you will find it easier to switch off and tune into God.
Clothes - Choose clothes that are comfortable and warm, with socks or slipper socks in winter. If you wear layers of clothes, it is easier to adjust your body temperature accordingly.
Posture
Sit, lie, kneel or stand? Some people like to meditate using bean bags and floor cushions, or even lying on a bed. Experiment and see what works for you. Lying on floors can be draughty, so you need to take this into account. If lying on the floor hurts your back, try bending your knees to create more support for your back. Alternatively, you might want to use a comfortable high backed chair. A small pillow to support your neck is helpful whether sitting or lying down. Don’t worry if you fall asleep, many people do. Try propping yourself or sitting. Some people invest in wooden prayer stools (which are rather like church kneelers); these allow you to kneel for a longer period of time because the weight is taken off your knees as you sit back on the stool.
Open posture – An open posture, with the palms of your hands facing upwards signals a readiness it tends to inhibit the flow of blood around the body.
Atmosphere
Noise - Complete silence is difficult to achieve and some noise is inevitable. In time, however, you will learn how to ignore or integrate noises so that you don’t notice them. Choose a quiet part of the day to meditate, so that you are less likely to be disturbed – and remember to switch phones off.
Light – Subdued lighting is more relaxing. Use blinds to screen strong sunlight. Candles can provide a gentle light and visual focus.
Visuals – Some people find pictures, scripture cards, flowers, natural objects, candles, etc., helpful to focus their attention, and to create a more relaxing environment.
Prayer – There is nothing like prayer to change the atmosphere of a room. So have a special place to pray and meditate even if it is only the corner of a room or a special chair. I go to my bed as the bedroom is a quiet place away from the family, I love the light in the room and of course it is comfortable. Every time I lie on it, it prompts me to pray. In time your place of prayer and meditation will become as inviting as stepping into a warm bath.
Music – Many people find music relaxing. It also provides an appropriate focus and help cover up distracting noises.
Practice
With those preliminaries in place, you are ready to begin your meditation:
So find your comfortable position
Becoming still
Breathing
But first I would like to look at “why” it is important to meditate on scripture. The Old Testament refers to meditation fifty-eight times, and many of the Psalms almost sing with the word. The word meditate first appears in Genesis – when Isaac is described as going “out to the field one evening to meditate” (Genesis 24:63). Then in the book of Joshua, God commands Joshua to meditate on his Word. “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8).
This commandment to meditate on God’s Word is still relevant to us today. As Paul says in Collossians:” Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God” (3:16).
Or to quote the Reverend Dr John Stott – a leading English theologian and writer – “God’s people grow mainly by the Word of God. As Jesus said, quoting from Deuteronomy, “human beings do not live by bread only, but by every word from the mouth of God”. It is the Word of God that matures the people of God.
The purpose of the Word of God is to help us know the God of the Word. (Repeat). Meditation helps me to “know” God, and that “knowing” leads to greater intimacy with him. My favourite Scripture on meditation is found at the very beginning of the Psalms. Psalm 1 succinctly sums up the benefits of meditation:
Blessed is the man…
(whose) delight is in the law of the Lord,
And on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3)
I love that image of the tree. When I meditate it’s as though I am sending my roots down deeper into the rich soil of God’s love, and it is there that I meet with him and am deeply fed and nourished. It’s from this place of intimacy and deep refreshment that I gain inner strength, stability and clarity of vision. Meditation also protects my health and well being, ensuring that I have the resources I need to serve God. As Proverbs says: “Don’t lose sight of my words. Let them penetrate deep within your heart, for they bring life and radiant health to anyone who discovers their meaning” (Proverbs 4:21-22 NLT).
Ten reasons people give for not meditating
• It’s not biblical
• I don’t have time
• I’d fall asleep
• It would take too long to learn how to meditate
• It’s for monks and mystics isn’t it, not for people like me?
• God never speaks to me
• I wouldn’t know how or where to start.
• I’m not very good at using my imagination
• It’s not concrete enough
• I can’t concentrate.
Reasons to meditate:
There are many great reasons to meditate. Consider these others, for instance:
• Meditating on God’s Word helps to know God and his truth, and to apply that truth to our lives. It also helps us to know the character of Christ so that we can become more Christlike. Paul said that it was his determined purpose to know Christ and that is our purpose too. “All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him to life” (Philippians 3:10).
• Meditating on God’s Word feeds and strengthens us… “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3).
• As we continue to meditate on God’s Word it helps us to understand it as well as memorise it. “The entrance of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130).
• When we meditate, the “eyes of our heart” are opened so that we can be led by God. Just like Elijah in the wilderness, we become sensitive to that “still small voice” directing our path. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105).
• Meditation helps us to know that our true identity is in Christ. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).
• As we meditate on God’s Word we are cleansed and purified. “You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you (the teachings I have discussed with you” (John 15:3 AMP).
• When we meditate on god’s Word our faith is built up. “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).
• Meditating on God’s Word is healing. God can heal us directly through his Word as Psalm 107 reminds us. “He sent forth his word and healed them” (Psalm107:20).
• Meditating on God’s Word helps us to resist the devil and stand firm because the Word has become part of our spiritual armour. “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6; 17). When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert his weapon was the Word. Jesus said “It is written: “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”” (Matthew 4:4)
Ten more great reasons to Meditate
Still not convinced? Then let me add ten more reasons to meditate:
• It helps to focus on God rather than ourselves
• It increases our awareness and appreciation of everything around us.
• It gives our lives a deeper sense of meaning and purpose.
• It encourages greater intimacy with God and others.
• It reduces anxiety, tension and stress.
• It leads to greater emotional stability.
• It relaxes the body and calms the mind.
• It helps us to accept ourselves.
• It’s quick
• It’s fun.
Getting to know God through His Word
As you’ve seen from the reasons listed above, meditation goes hand in hand with reading the Bible, for clearly, the best way to know God intimately is to read his book. But research shows that there is a general decline in Bible-reading, so perhaps this represents an opportunity for us to discover exciting new ways to engage with the Bible – ways that are more relevant to today’s sound-bite technological culture. If we can find time to read and send emails, text each other, surf the web or glance at a newspaper, then we can also choose to find time to connect with God through his most sacred text – his Word.
Our busyness can lead to fatigue that causes us to lose perspective and a sense of balance in our lives. Prayer and quite times get squeezed out as other people’s needs and demands crowd in.
Jesus could have healed many more people and been far busier during his relatively short period of ministry, but he chose to listen to his Father and do what he said. He regularly took quality time out to pray, which is effective time management. He frequently withdrew up a mountain or across a lake in order to get away from the crowds. In fact, when you next read through the Gospels, it’s an interesting exercise to observe just how frequently Jesus took time out. His ministry is punctuated by withdrawal. When we become too busy to take time out with God, we lose intimacy with him. When we lose intimacy with God we lose touch with ourselves and humanity. We are then more likely to operate out of our own strength rather than God’s and our work or ministry may become less effective and more exhausting. If we take time to withdraw as Jesus did, our activities are more likely to be God led rather than self driven.
How do we meditate?
Like any discipline, meditation takes practice. So don’t try for an Olympic style meditation once a month. Little and often will result in your learning and integrating this form of prayer into the routine of your life. Initially just aim for a couple of minutes a day. You could begin by focusing on a word like Jesus (like we did last month) and co-ordinate it with your breathing; or you could focus on a short line of Scripture, such as “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest. (Mark 6:31). In time meditation will become a natural part of your life and you will be enjoying the presence of God without even realising it.
Preparation
Before starting, take into account these three preliminaries: comfort, posture and atmosphere. Once you have these in place, you are ready to begin.
Comfort
Warmth – If it’s too warm you may fall asleep, but if it’s too cold you won’t be able to concentrate. When you meditate, your body temperature decreases so you’re likely to need layers of clothing.
Space – You might want to choose a particular room or corner of a room to meditate and pray. In time it will become a sacred space so that each time you return to it, you will find it easier to switch off and tune into God.
Clothes - Choose clothes that are comfortable and warm, with socks or slipper socks in winter. If you wear layers of clothes, it is easier to adjust your body temperature accordingly.
Posture
Sit, lie, kneel or stand? Some people like to meditate using bean bags and floor cushions, or even lying on a bed. Experiment and see what works for you. Lying on floors can be draughty, so you need to take this into account. If lying on the floor hurts your back, try bending your knees to create more support for your back. Alternatively, you might want to use a comfortable high backed chair. A small pillow to support your neck is helpful whether sitting or lying down. Don’t worry if you fall asleep, many people do. Try propping yourself or sitting. Some people invest in wooden prayer stools (which are rather like church kneelers); these allow you to kneel for a longer period of time because the weight is taken off your knees as you sit back on the stool.
Open posture – An open posture, with the palms of your hands facing upwards signals a readiness it tends to inhibit the flow of blood around the body.
Atmosphere
Noise - Complete silence is difficult to achieve and some noise is inevitable. In time, however, you will learn how to ignore or integrate noises so that you don’t notice them. Choose a quiet part of the day to meditate, so that you are less likely to be disturbed – and remember to switch phones off.
Light – Subdued lighting is more relaxing. Use blinds to screen strong sunlight. Candles can provide a gentle light and visual focus.
Visuals – Some people find pictures, scripture cards, flowers, natural objects, candles, etc., helpful to focus their attention, and to create a more relaxing environment.
Prayer – There is nothing like prayer to change the atmosphere of a room. So have a special place to pray and meditate even if it is only the corner of a room or a special chair. I go to my bed as the bedroom is a quiet place away from the family, I love the light in the room and of course it is comfortable. Every time I lie on it, it prompts me to pray. In time your place of prayer and meditation will become as inviting as stepping into a warm bath.
Music – Many people find music relaxing. It also provides an appropriate focus and help cover up distracting noises.
Practice
With those preliminaries in place, you are ready to begin your meditation:
So find your comfortable position
Becoming still
Breathing