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Spiritual Disciplines - Meditation
Sunday 7th December

Witness: Living a life of a witness for Christ and sharing the good news of Christ Prayer: Direct communication with God.

Fasting: Abstaining from food for spiritual purposes to cultivate self-restraint and focus on God. 

Study: Engaging with the Bible, for spiritual insight. 

Meditation: Quieting the mind for reflection and contemplation of spiritual truths. 

Confession: Acknowledging one's sins to foster a sense of accountability and purity. 

Service: Acts of compassion and support for others as a form of worship and discipline. 

Praise: Expressing reverence, praise, and adoration for God. 

Solitude: Intentionally spending time alone to reflect and listen to God. 

Simplicity: Living a life of less complexity, focusing on needs rather than excess, and reducing attachment to material things. 

Stewardship: Responsible management of resources and time. 

Generosity/Giving: Sharing resources and money for the benefit of others. 

Fellowship: Gathering with other believers for support and shared spiritual growth

This morning, our discussion begins with the idea of meditation and the valuable practice of taking a moment for quiet reflection. In the past, some Christian traditions saw meditation as mystical or just a trend from New Age beliefs. However, I believe that today’s Christians should reclaim this important idea. It can enrich our spiritual experiences and deepen our connection with the word of God.

**Meditation:** Quieting the mind for reflection and contemplation of spiritual truths.

In the Psalms, we often know the word selah (see la) The term appears 74 times in the Bible. Most of these occurrences, specifically 71, are found in the Book of Psalms, while the Book of Habakkuk contains it three times. Experts believe that this term may serve various purposes, such as indicating a musical direction, guiding worship, or suggesting a time for quiet reflection on God's message. It is possible that the author puts this in between verses for a musical interlude. Its meaning encourages us to take a moment to pause, rest, and think deeply, highlighting the importance of genuinely connecting with our spiritual beliefs.

In a world filled with noise, it’s essential to take a moment for reflection. We can hear the voice of God speaking to us in times of silence; it is the still, small voice that often gets drowned out by the distractions around us.

In the Bible, there’s a unique moment where God is described as speaking in a “still small voice.” This happened with Elijah after a big victory he had against the prophets of Baal. Following this triumph, Elijah learned that Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab, was out to kill him. Frightened, he fled into the wilderness, where he was so tired that he collapsed. 

God didn’t abandon him, though. Instead, He sent an angel to give Elijah food and water, encouraging him to rest. Later, God guided Elijah to Mount Horeb. While he was in a cave there, Elijah expressed his feelings of loneliness and despair, saying he felt like he was the only prophet left because Jezebel had killed all the others.

God then told Elijah to go stand on the mountain. He sent powerful forces like a mighty wind that shattered rocks, an earthquake, and then fire. But surprisingly, God’s voice wasn’t found in any of these dramatic events. Instead, it was in the quiet, gentle whisper that followed, showing that sometimes God speaks in the calmest ways when we least expect it. The word of the Lord comes to him telling him him is is not alone as there are 7000 who have not worshipped Baal, and instructions to anoint two kings and Elisha the prophet, who would follow Elijah. 

The key point is not just how God shares His messages with us, but how we choose to respond to them. Today, the most clear way God guides us is through the Bible. When we take time to read and reflect on His words, we gain a better understanding of His messages, which helps us recognise His voice in the busyness of our daily lives. By studying the Bible intentionally, and taking time to digest what God is saying to us, we not only become more aware of spiritual matters but also feel more motivated to act on what we learn. Committing to understanding these scriptures helps us respond better to the guidance that comes our way. The word to Elijah encouraged him in his time of despair when he felt lonely and afraid.

Hearing God’s voice involves engaging with the Word of God. These are moments in our lives that prompt us to pause and reflect on what God is saying to us. 

What scripture are we currently reading? It is helpful to follow a reading plan.

Do we truly value the Word of God and hold it in the highest regard? 

Here are some examples of scriptures.

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”

Psalms 19:14 NKJV

“My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”

Proverbs 4:20-23 NKJV

“How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”

Psalms 119:9-11 NKJV

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

Colossians 3:16 NKJV

When God speaks, we should treasure His words, keep them in our hearts, memorise them, ponder them, and reflect on the spiritual truths that can profoundly change our lives.

This practice isn’t about being bombarded with constant information; it’s about taking what we learn and holding it close to our hearts. 

As we approach Christmas, we reflect on the early life of Jesus—considering the miraculous conception, the faith of Mary, the trust of Joseph, the wonder of the shepherds, and the reverence of the wise men from the east.

This morning let us open our scriptures in Luke chapter 2 verse 19 actually let’s read the whole passage

“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marvelled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.”

Luke 2:8-20 NKJV

In verse 19, it's important to notice how Mary really took to heart the significant moments she experienced. This shows that she didn’t just let these events happen without thinking; instead, she held onto them deeply and with intention. 

Mary viewed these moments as valuable treasures, keeping them safe within her spirit. She spent time thinking about them, reflecting on what they meant and how they affected her life. By doing this, she developed a stronger understanding and connection to these important events.

There are times when I believe that Mary must have felt overwhelmed by everything happening around her. She just had a baby in the most extraordinary circumstances—events that no one would ever believe. Suddenly, a group of strange shepherds show up, and what’s that all about? Angels appearing and singing? 

What kind of burdens has Mary taken on in her life? What does the future hold for her? All of this is a lot to process. How does one cope with such extraordinary events?

What about us today? How do we handle the word of God right now? How do we guard what comes into our hearts? How to hold the word of God? How do we take on board what is said to us seriously?

Let’s do it this morning let’s open our scriptures and let’s take a moment and do so much of that meditation. Let’s pretend that nobody else is here as we open our scriptures if you’re trying this at home I recommend that it be helpful to find a quiet, comfortable spot where you can sit undisturbed. Look for a soft chair in a calm room that lets you focus. Once you’re settled in, pick a short section of text, like a verse from the Psalms, to think about during your meditation.

Start by reading the passage slowly—either out loud or quietly to yourself—several times. As you read, take a moment to think deeply about it. If a particular word or phrase stands out to you, pause and reflect on what it means. This is a great time to connect with God, whether you choose to praise Him, pray, or simply open your heart in love.

After you’ve had your conversation with God, go back to the scripture passage and read it again, allowing its messages to sink in even more. To wrap up your meditation, say a prayer, like the Lord's Prayer, or offer up a simple thank you, closing your reflection in a meaningful way.

The Word will transform our lives if we will but permit it to ‘dwell’ in us richly. The word dwell means ‘to feel at home.’ If we have experienced the grace and the peace of Christ, then the Word of Christ will feel at home in our hearts. We will discover how rich the Word is with spiritual treasures that give value to our lives.

God’s Word should be a big part of our lives. It should feel like a permanent home within us. This is possible because of the Holy Spirit, who helps us remember what Jesus said and did (John 14:26; 16:13). When we let Christ’s message fill us and are guided by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18–20), we can show others what Jesus is like through everything we say and do (see Colossians 3:17, 23; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Romans 8:11; 2 Corinthians 6:16). The life of a believer who fully trusts God and lets Christ live within them will last forever because it comes from God’s eternal and living word. This word is the Good News that was shared with you (1 Peter 1:23–25, NLT).