Meditation

The Spiritual Discipline of Meditation

Meditation is a way to practice being in the presence of God. It is not at all the only way to be able to hear God, but it is a way to step back slightly and refocus on God and what He has placed before us. It's like our vision. When we focus in one object in our line of vision, our entire periphery gets blurry. That is like meditating. We focus in our God and all the sudden, everything else fades out. The practice of meditation is like taking a break from culture and it's normalcy, and realizing that all the sudden our entire perspective changes. Meditation can be as simple as leaving all the technology in your room, grabbing the Bible, and heading out to a bench outside. It looks different for all of us, but in general it is a quiet time that is dedicated fully to God while forsaking the things that typically distract us. This break from culture causes a sort of shift, and now we can see God more clearly.We are focused on Him. Meditation is a brief break in the process of life that allows us to continue on in a way that is wholly focused on God. 

One thing that I love about meditation is how it brings to light my assumptions about God. I believe in an omnipresent God, who is there all the time. Meditation often gets this rap for being a summoning of a spirit or like a chanting that calls the gods to us, and sitting with them for a time. But that is not true of Christians. I don't have to beg God to meet me when I'm ready to meditate. I don't have to worry that God is not available when I finally have time to meditate. I don't have to hope that God will show up. Because He is present all the time, everywhere. I just have to go meet Him. I have to show up. God has to beg me. I have to carve out time. My belief in this transcendent God only encourages me to meditate all the more. It is how I drawer closer to Him. He wants desperately to speak to us and have our attention. Meditation is an obedient act showing Him that we are listening. It proves that we also want to be in presence. He, and only He, has our undivided attention. 

I thought that this sounded beautiful, and I was geeked to try it. I was particularly attracted to the idea of using nature as a way to be in the presence of God. Another assumption I have as a Reformed Christian, is that creation glorifies God. I am wholly able to find God's beauty in the created Earth. So, I decided that because it is fall and this campus is gorgeous in fall, I was going to meditate in the woods. I went out one morning this week at some ungodly hour, and planned to read parts of Psalm 119. I read, walked, listened, and observed. It was a really reverent time, but nothing shattering. I was hoping maybe God would reveal tremendous answers about my future, but that is not how God spoke. I do believe God was whispering to me through the wind in the leaves. Was it a revelation? No. Was it Him promising He was near? Yes. And that is all I needed. That experience has encouraged me to continue practicing meditation. I think I will try it several different ways, several different times. I believe that eventually, it will become a norm for me. And as a God-loving woman, I clearly desire that a norm of my life is being in God's presence. This discipline has taught me the importance of being obedient to God's omnipresence. It also taught me not to discount one of the practices that doesn't rock my world right away. Things don't always need to go as I have planned...

Nonetheless, meditation is an important discipline in our walk with Christ. It is key to keeping Him at the center of our time on earth. A part of celebrating our salvation, is being with the One who made it possible for us. Of course being saved makes me want to celebrate! And of course I want to do it with the One who loves me enough to make it possible! In the long run, it is going to help me continue to glorify Him. I don't get to do anything without Him, so I had better start learning to sense His presence. Wow. Praise God for that.

Blessings, 

Alyssa

Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart—

³ 

they do no wrong, but follow his ways.

Psalm 119:2-3