A Christian Meditation with Psalm 46

People today are discovering all kinds of benefits of meditation. That’s a good thing. And the Bible’s been here all along. But biblical meditation is more than simply a form of mindfulness. It’s not less than that, because it is a form of learning to focus and discipline our minds in a way that blocks out the typical chatter in our brains. This voice in our head that is constantly wandering into the past or the future in ways that typically either ruminate on past conflicts or hurts, or worry about future conflicts or troubles (this is using the power of our imagination in anxiety-building ways). And as the teachings of Jesus and the rest of the Bible repeatedly emphasize, these kinds of wandering thoughts and imaginations usually do more harm than good. They make us embittered victims and put us in a disposition of hostility and anxiety. This puts even more stress and anxiety in our bodies as well. In biblical meditation, you’re intentionally focusing your inner voice and thoughts on God's presence and promises in your life. When you try to meditate, you’ll discover that this is hard to do. Your mind will wander into other imaginations. Other stories. This is normal. Don’t get frustrated with yourself when it happens. Just pick right back up with where you are in your meditation. This is where this podcast is helpful. Try to focus your mind on what’s being said as best as you can. In this podcast episode, we’re carving out a quiet time to be alone with God. Using meditation to recalibrate your mind and heart and even your body with the vertical reality of God’s presence and God’s promises. Using your biblically guided imagination to experience God’s presence and promises to you in a way that replaces tension and stress and anxiety and worry with God’s peace and joy and assurances. This is something God’s people have been doing for thousands of years, just as we read in Psalm 119:148. Psalms 119:148 (ESV) My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise. Let’s take the time to do something like that now. (But first, if your podcast app is set to skip silent sections, disable that now.) To begin… Lie flat on your back …or sit comfortably in a chair. You might want to close your eyes so you can focus your mind better. Try to be in a place without a lot of lights and loud sounds. Jesus says in Matthew 6:6 NIV “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.” It’s just you and God alone together. Jesus says he is unseen, but with you even behind closed doors alone in your room. The I AM is always infinitely present with you. Imagine you are alone with the I AM who created the entire universe! This is God’s promise to you everywhere in Scripture. Even in his very name — I AM. God’s presence is always in the present tense — always present with you fully. Let’s meditate on Psalm 46… V.1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Focus your mind on imagining this promise. Let’s meditate on v. 7… The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Let’s meditate on one more verse, v. 10… He says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on Twitter https://twitter.com/davecover (@davecover) Follow A Bigger Life on Twitter https://twitter.com/abiggerlifepod (@ABiggerLifePod) This podcast is a ministry of https://www.thecrossingchurch.com/ (The Crossing), a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located.