When I reached the magic age of 40 several years ago, my physical body decided to challenge me. One such challenge was the ability to read words in the distance that others seemed to read with ease. I would become frustrated during meetings when the PowerPoint presenter couldn't focus the projector, even after asking him or her to. And on top of that everyone else in the meetings would say it was fine. Then came my first experience with prescription glasses. WOW!
In my last blog entry we talked about training wiser to become holy as Jesus is holy. In this entry lets discuss training our spiritual eyes. Our daily focus is critical to walking courageously with God, but as we all experience there are many things that catch our attention. From the moment we wake up till we drift off to sleep, we choose what to look at, both physically and in our hearts.
Part of Ephesians 1 reads, "17I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe." Being 'enlightened' is like putting on a pair of glasses that correct our eyesight. We see with clarity and amazement what was once blurry and dull.
One type of training I find helpful for my spiritual eyesight is meditation. When I am still and quiet, letting my thoughts get in tune with the Holy Spirit, then God uses that time to speak clearly about His will for my life. Busyness does not equate to success of our efforts. Working out in a gym doesn't guarantee the health results that we may desire. Most successful athletes have very focused workout regimens to accomplish set goals. Business professionals are like that, also. There is much focused planning that goes into a major project before plans are implemented. They do not come up with an idea and just start doing.
Meditation for me can involve various moments such as prayer, reading the Bible, reading a good book, walking, or just sitting. But with any of these it requires quiet and stillness of mind. Too many times I try to fit my walk with God into my run through life. I pray on the go, complete an assigned reading and go, eat on the go, deal with an issue and go, go-go-go! If I don't allow myself to be quiet before God, then my life bears the results (the results I don't want). Jesus needed a solitary place where he could talk with his Father without interruption (Mark 1:35). I definitely need to imitate him.
So one aspect of my spiritual training to walk courageously with God involves meditation, a discipline of being quiet and still before my Father. What about you? How do you train spiritually? What are your thoughts about meditation? How do you get a spiritual eye checkup so that your focus stays on the hope to which he has called you? Post your insight and ideas so that we can all continue learning how to walk courageously with God.
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Thanks Tim,
ReplyDeleteThe aspect of meditation for spiritual training to walk courageously with God is a great discipline in my mind as well. Being quiet and still before our Father is very important. I am reminded of Psalm 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth" and also Exodus 14:14, "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still".
I can easily allow the business of life to distract me from the power and might of God and the fact that he is fighting for me through Jesus our Lord. I don't need to worry about the challenges of this life. I just need to stop and meditate on the power of the God who raised Jesus from the dead! Last week I found out that I will be losing my job in March, 2010. I find myself worrying and wondering what the future will hold for me. There are brothers in my ministries struggling spiritually and I find myself worrying and wondering what the future will hold for them. I just need be strong and courageous and meditate on our most powerful Father in heaven. Another way that I train spiritually is to meditate on scripture. Getting a spiritual eye checkup so that I can stay focused that hope to which he has called me. The more I read, the more I grow in my faith. And as Paul says in Ephesians 6 about the full armor of God, "take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one" (vs. 16b). Jesus used the word of God against satan and I need to also to keep those flaming arrows from hitting me. The more we read the word of Christ the more faith comes our way (Romans 10:17). The bigger our faith, the bigger our shield.
Thanks, John. Those are powerful thoughts and insights that help remind me to be quiet and still before God, no matter what is going on. Carrying our own burdens is too much. I look forward to courageously walking by your side with God through the difficult times we will encounter.
ReplyDeleteGood thoughts, Tim. Something to be called back to again and again.
ReplyDeleteTwo things that are helpful to me: (1) Going to a favorite spot where nature is showcased. Sun glimmering on water is especially good. (2) When I can't go out, just going in a dark room (like my bath that has no windows)and lighting a small candle, and reading and praying by its glow helps quiet me and allows focus.
Tom...I thought of you while writing this blog. You have always been a great example of being with God in nature, especially around water.
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