It’s an interesting thing to consider, but in many ways the western church has stripped our faith of it’s spirituality. What do I mean by that?
Certainly we understand that to place our faith in a God who is spirit (John 4:24), implies this walk of faith to be one of spiritual origin. But we have somehow limited our expression of this spirituality to the time when we gather as an assembly on Sunday mornings. In many ways, we have forgotten that our faith requires us to take this new spiritual lifestyle with us everywhere we go. We need to develop new spiritual disciplines in our lives that will draw us deeper into God and help us appreciate Him all the more (Psalm 145:5 ESV). Things like prayer and personal meditation, contemplating verses in the Bible (also known as Lectio Divina).
What about in your life? Do you spend time in meditation and contemplation of the One you worship? Do you let the Holy Spirit have that special time and place in your day to whisper that still small voice into your heart and give you fresh vision, inspiration and direction? Do you think of your faith as something that is mystical and spiritual or mechanical and ordinary?
These are good questions to ask in evaluating where you may be able to grow your faith over the next year. Look for opportunities to return to the fact that so much of the life that follows after Jesus is dependent upon receiving power and insight from the Holy Spirit. It screams that is is not material, but spiritual in nature. This means that I cannot do it without Him or apart from His Spirit (John 15:5 ESV)
I would encourage you all to spend daily time meditating on God and His Word. Contemplating His majesty and awe. Light candles, burn incense, whatever invokes that sense of reverence and wonder as you enter into communion with Him. Don’t let your faith become a stale religious routine. Keep it vibrant and fresh and remember that it is a spiritual journey that you’re on. PEACE!
4 responses so far ↓
cindyinsd // February 2, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Hey, Sean
Great post. You’re right–we’ll never grow in the Lord if we don’t spend time with Him. The candles, etc., are nice too, but I think it’s important not to make them a stale religious routine, nor to depend on such atmospherics to spend time with our Abba.
I can’t believe I haven’t stumbled across your blog before–will be adding it to my regular list. Thanks for an excellent insight and a needed message.
Grace and peace,
Cindy
Sean Nelson // February 2, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Hi Cindy, Thanks for dropping by. You make a great point. Just about any of the special things that we do can become “routine.” And we shouldn’t solely depend on such opportunities to spend time with God.
However, I am also aware that many people are very sensory oriented as created by God. When I read in the Old and New Testament about God’s temple and His heavenly throne room, I can’t avoid the candles and incense and “atmospherics” that He has employed. I guess I see these things as kind of like my “special date night” with my heavenly Father.
What I mean by that is, I can spend time with my wife in meaningful ways without having the romantic night out, but it sure is sweet and special when we get to have that romantic night out.
Likewise, when I have those moments with candlelight and incense, it just feels like a special, intimate moment with my God. But I also spend time with Him throughout the day without such things.
Thanks again for stopping by, I hope to hear more from you. Grace and peace to you too!
cindyinsd // February 3, 2009 at 11:40 am
I see what you mean, Sean. And I don’t object to any of the things you’re talking about. Preaching to myself, as much as anything, really. I like to have my comfy chair and my little table with my bible and my journal and my cuppa. Sometimes I get into the mode of “This is where I meet God” and nothing else will do. E-e-e-e-e-p. Wrong.
Of course, in the reality of family life, it’s hard to concentrate unless you can at least get away from the television and possibly the radio as well, and if you can manage to light a few candles, Hooray for you!
I’m sorry–I didn’t mean to nit-pick. It’s just that I so easily settle into these little routines and I have to watch myself.
I think one reason a lot of Christians don’t spend time listening to God is that we haven’t learned how to hear His voice. I remember agonizing over John 10 where Jesus says, “My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me. They won’t follow a stranger because they don’t know the voice of strangers.” But I didn’t know what His voice sounded like. I wanted to, but I had no idea of how to go about it. So for years, I had a really difficult time even making myself have a quiet time.
So I really like your post about setting up a special time and all. Maybe it would be helpful if you would elaborate a little more on just how you meditate on scripture–how you hear from God? I think I might do that, too. It would be interesting and probably helpful to see how different people go about this–probably as diverse as our individual personalities.
Anyway, thanks for your great post!
God bless, Cindy
Sean Nelson // February 3, 2009 at 10:35 pm
I didn’t think you were picking at all. You brought a lot of really good points up.
I settle into routines too. For me that happens when my heart disconnects from what I’m doing. How do I keep my heart engaged? That is a question I will have to ponder longer.
I think I’ll take you up on your idea to consider the “how-to” of meditation. No doubt, there will be many variations. Should be fun!