40 Days of Prayer – Renew

The word of God, the deeds of God, the love of God, the works of God – these are things on which the Bible admonishes us to meditate.  Meditation is a dimension of prayer.  How do we do it, though?  We already know.

Day 33 – Where is your mind?

We are quite familiar with a form–a negative form–of meditation.  It’s called worry.  Consider: Worry focuses our mind on every contour of the object of our anxiety.  We call to mind all conceivable scenarios of further loss, failure, and trauma.  Dread expands in our minds until it crowds out all other thoughts and feelings.  This is exactly how the mechanics of meditation work.  Therefore, to “be transformed by the renewing of [the] mind”, we take these mechanics and put them to work as we pray and contemplate God’s goodness: We focus our mind on every contour of whatever is good.  We call to mind all conceivable scenarios of all that is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy.  And God’s glory expands in our minds until it crowds out all other thoughts and feelings.  We can do this.

Re: Verse reading – Luke 10:25-37 (day three)

Author: Bryan Richardson

Bryan Richardson is the Associate Pastor for Counseling and Pastoral Ministries at FBCSA.

0 thoughts on “40 Days of Prayer – Renew”

  1. Thank you, Bryan. I have thinking about meditation for a number of weeks now. How does Christian meditation work? I understand the emptiness of Eastern mysticism and meditation and know that is not of God. How to do it right? You answered my questions so succinctly. Thank you. Thank you. A wonderful gift on Christmas Day.

  2. I am a little confused. I do not understand why a Christian would want or need to “meditate.” Non-Christians meditate in order to become happier, more peaceful, healthier, balance emotions, increase being “in the moment”, and ability to love, etc.

    My heart is truly not to judge, but just to give testimony that all of these can be found in (and only truly in) our LORD. I had a Jewish very wealthy female ask me one day if I meditate. I love how the Lord gave me words to witness to her in that moment. She was looking for peace. I can tell you for all her intelligence, human goodness, discipline, time to devote to it, etc. it was not benefiting her. Of course it would not. It is only in our God that these things are found. Actually most of these are listed in our Bible as fruit of the Spirit and we are encouraged to pray TO GOD. Meditation is IMO basically just a way around God. Another futile attempt to satiate that part of us that was made for Him alone by some human effort.

    No matter what you call it. Please, please make sure whatever you do always leads you into GOD. We (true Christians) are not without GOD in this world. Jesus came to restore us to that relationship. Anything that does not have Him as the center/goal is empty at best and can be absolutely devastating at worst. My heart is truly to bless anyone who reads this. May God Bless you abundantly and keep you in His perfect Peace. Amen.

    (Yes… I am aware of the scripture that says “think on these things.” However, I believe thinking on these things helps because every Good and perfect gift comes from the Father. Once again, this thinking is to lead us to Him…. to wonder at His works… to have a heart full of thankfulness toward Him, to desire to know Him, etc.)

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