How to Strengthen Your Christian Meditation

Last month I shared a word about learning how to plant a seed, forget about it and just trust God as he brings the increase.  Ultimately our conversation was directed toward a Christian discipline that many of us in the urban context have a hard time with: meditation. 

Among many of the self motivated, high powered, high energy leaders who are forged within the concrete crucible of our day, one thing we can say about ourselves is that we know how to hustle.  The other thing that we must admit is that we often don’t do the “be still” thing very well.  We live in a world that’s constantly on “go”, with our sense of margin eroding by the second. With our kids on full throttle and their families on high octane, our churches are on full blast; maybe the last thing we need is a ministry that resembles a bottle of “Red Bull” (cause any bull is still bull) but a ministry that resembles a refreshing cold cup of water (cleanses, revitalizes, quenches). 

In light of our economic collapse (which many of you just like me may be thinking, “what collapse, I’ve already been broke so this is nothing new”) I believe that we are at the foothills of a rough passage in the next 18 months and if we are to survive then we must adopt this ancient art and get in God’s presence till we can find stillness and strength. Remember Isaiah 30:15 admonishes us that our strength and confidence is found in quietness.

How can we lead students to the source of peace when we can’t stay in God’s presence for over 15 minutes? What do can you do for a whole fifteen minutes (in one place) that will not drive you to the edge of madness? 

When was the last time you found yourself off of the beaten path of your sermon notes and outline (video clips included) only to discover the wild openness of tracking with the Spirit and feeding your flock because you’ve prepared your heart rather than just your head? Many of these questions are answered only in one place.  That place is secret…it is quiet…but it is your source, and there is a way to find it: through meditation. 

In this second article on meditation we want to look at three practical ideas that can help strengthen you in the development of this discipline as well as a free resource that encourage Christian meditation. 

Tip #1: Build it up

Meditation is a discipline, so you must build it like a muscle. No one has an inherent expertise in the discipline of meditation; it would be like being born with six pack abs, it just doesn’t work that way. But just like everyone is born with the ‘capacity’ of getting to their peak physically, we also can attain incredible spiritual heights if we build the ‘muscles of meditation’.  Here are some ideas:
 
Start out light and build your way up
Practice meditating twice a week (put it in your schedule)
First week, just stick to eight minutes…master that and move to twelve minutes then eighteen minutes etc. 
Use favorite scripture passages as a focal point.
Meditate on favorite passage
Think it through slowly and fully
Journal anything that stands out to you

Tip #2: Start it and don’t stop!

Meditation gets better with time. It’s been said that if you take a penny and simply double it for 30 days, you would end up with 5 million dollars simply through the power of compounding.  The thing that most people overlook is that it’s in the last 5 days that you really see huge returns.  If you want to see meditation work for you then make a commitment to take this discipline with you for the long haul and let it compound for you.  That may mean that once you begin, instead of ‘chucking’ it out because you miss a day you fight to get back to it by picking up where you fell off.  Here are some ideas:

Make a 4 to 6 month commitment
Don’t look for immediate results
Journal during this time & periodically look back to mark your progress
Find a consistent place and time and stick to it as best that you can
Add alternative places and times so you can flex with the everyday surprises of life
Keep an arsenal of meditation styles to keep it interesting
Chanting scripture passages
Imagining being before God’s Throne
Walking with Jesus along a stream, listening to him speak
Getting still and discovering how many things you hear around you
Getting still and discovering how many things you ‘see’ around you

Tip #3: Go with the flow

As you develop this discipline, you will be pleased to discover how God’s Spirit will take over and lead you…go with it!  Remember that the word is near you even in your mouth and in your heart (Romans 10:8).  Listen to God and flow with him, this is the entire reason that we meditate. Here are some ideas:

Stop talking and listen
Adopt these ideas along with others and adapting them to
Stop looking here for ideas and seek him

Bottom line: when its time to move, we all move ‘wit’ the quickness.  God does make his ministers like a flaming fire; but when it’s time to be still don’t short change yourself! Much of your strength to do mighty things and keep up your stamina will come from getting in the secret place.  Use this gift and be blessed. Here is a cool link to a free downloadable chapter of a great book from some very good friends of mine Duffy & Maggie Robbins.  It’s called Enjoying the Silence. 

The address is: http://media.youthspecialties.com/store/samples/pdf/e/enjoy_silence_ch1.pdf
If you like the chapter, click on the provided link to buy the book.

Until next time…STAY REAL!

FREDDIE FREEBIE: This month for the Freddie Freebie, I’d like to invite you to go to my website and download 3 free interactive bible studies from my new book: The Script!  Just visit: www.peopleofthebook.ning.com

Sharing the gospel from ‘Street to Street’

Fred D. Lynch III
GodStyle Productions

Fred Lynch is the founder of GodStyle Productions. A ministry committed to changing youth culture. For more information on Fred, go to www.godstyle.com or check out his latest project The Script (the gospel of John translated into rap) at: www.gettheepic.com