Strong spirits: what are you thinking about?
For the Christian. meditation is the business of looking and listening.
How much time do you give yourself to ponder? To pay attention? To notice? To consider? Do you ever sit still to process what is going on in your life? Do you ever reflect on what God might be trying to say to you?
The business of meditation in a Christian context is the business of thoughtful consideration of words and works of God while being aware of his presence. It is the business of looking and listening. It is offering God our attention so that he can show us or tell us what it is that he wants us to see or hear.
"Blessed is the one...who meditates on God's word day and night." King David (Psalm 1:1,2)
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the works of his hands..." David again (Psalm 19:1)
"Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long." David again (Psalm 119:97)
Many of us think of God, if we think of him at all, as being far off, and unapproachable. The Bible makes it clear that God is near and wants to be known. And he has multiple ways of doing that: his word, his creation, his presence, other people, and circumstances. We need only be still and pay attention. the question is, will we?
I encourage you this week to take some time to be still and consider what God might be saying to you. You might be surprised!
Gary Schwerin serves as pastor at Caledonia Congregational Church. He is also the Spiritual Development Minister for the YMCA of the Rock River Valley and Executive Director of Bridge Ministries of Rockford. Prior to launching Bridge Ministries, Gary spent many years in leadership with Young Life. His columns appear here every Sunday - to see them all, subscribe to our daily email.
