Meditation

[Chris]

In my life I have heard a few peoples variation on Christian meditation. The old story I was given was this reading the bible is meditation, prayer is talking. Lately I am starting to think differently maybe reading the bible is learning, prayer is asking and meditation is listening.

What I mean by this is after prayer lay still, maybe in bed at night and shut down a bit, let the thoughts stop and enjoy the feeling the holy spirit gives you from prayer, maybe dwell in it for half an hour or more. Sometimes I think I feel God speak to me in those times more.

What do you think Christian meditation is? If you have done it has it helped you?

 

[Fembot]

How have you heard God speak to you at those times?

I try to meditate but weird stuff happens so I don't anymore!

Meditation involves removing all thoughts. This is hard for most people-including me. But it feels great to listen and feel at peace. I haven't done it enough to know if it has helped me. However, when I've tried in the past, I see lights and weird stuff happens so I'm taking a break until I feel I'm ready for what may happen.

 

[Chris]

How have you heard God speak to you at those times?

I try to meditate but weird stuff happens so I don't anymore!

Meditation involves removing all thoughts. This is hard for most people-including me. But it feels great to listen and feel at peace. I haven't done it enough to know if it has helped me. However, when I've tried in the past, I see lights and weird stuff happens so I'm taking a break until I feel I'm ready for what may happen.

I found this by accident a few months ago. I never did any meditation ever I didnt know anything about it. I was really engaged in a sinful lifestyle even in April this year. I wanted my old faith back my closer walk. I didn’t understand my reluctance for giving up all sin was the division including the pirate software I cherished etc. I read a book and it encouraged me and restored a lot of my faith. I could once again join with god and feel the Holy Spirit. The nice warm feeling inside.

It had been so long since I felt it I wanted to enjoy it and stayed in longer prayer than normal enjoying the peace i hadn’t felt in a long time. The first few nights
I did the same and started to notice new things like you said. I also found it relaxed me for the next day. I think for me it gave me a better awareness of God. Rather than “lord how are you? Can you fix up that person who wronged me, can I have a new job and car" then roll over and go to sleep.

Hearing Gods voice or answer to prayer i guess for me is like a really nice inner feeling a positive one or a bad feeling negative answer. A couple of times I have had word thoughts that told me to give up things that god would hate me doing and they were exactly right. And know they were of God. I figure God is spirit maybe that's where he is. Jesus always seemed to get alone and pray. I guess this is an activity that is right for me. It seems to make me more peaceful or something.

 

[Alabaster]

I did a devotional touching on the meaning of meditation. Here is an excerpt:



Getting into the Word of God is food for the spirit! It’s communion with our Father! Just as a baby suckles at his mother’s breast and finds satisfaction and happiness, so shall we, when we feed hungrily on God’s Word! As the nursing mother receives much joy in nursing her infant, so God is joyous when His children are nourished by His goodness!

Meditating is an important aspect of devoting time to God. Daily we must continually ruminate on the words of scripture. To ruminate is to do what “ruminants†do: chew cud.

A cow has numerous stomachs, so that she can digest and redigest her food, and her body can squeeze every last bit of goodness out of her diet for optimum health.

Let’s chew on God’s Word for spiritual health. Memorize it, so that it becomes part of our very fabric, just as all the nutrition of the pasture grass becomes one with the body of a grazing animal.

 

[Chris]

I did a devotional touching on the meaning of meditation. Here is an excerpt:



Getting into the Word of God is food for the spirit! It’s communion with our Father! Just as a baby suckles at his mother’s breast and finds satisfaction and happiness, so shall we, when we feed hungrily on God’s Word! As the nursing mother receives much joy in nursing her infant, so God is joyous when His children are nourished by His goodness!

Meditating is an important aspect of devoting time to God. Daily we must continually ruminate on the words of scripture. To ruminate is to do what “ruminants” do: chew cud.

A cow has numerous stomachs, so that she can digest and redigest her food, and her body can squeeze every last bit of goodness out of her diet for optimum health.

Let’s chew on God’s Word for spiritual health. Memorize it, so that it becomes part of our very fabric, just as all the nutrition of the pasture grass becomes one with the body of a grazing animal.

This subject will probably mean a lot of different things to us all, and they are all right answers, however you find best communication with God is the right way for you. And you are so right learning scripture is so important.

 

[Fembot]

"A couple of times I have had word thoughts that told me to give up things that god would hate me doing and they were exactly right. And know they were of God"

Beautiful! Prayer does give me peace and a feeling of completeness. Without meditating I have felt the same-either a negative vibe or a positive one in response to my prayers. If life is too busy, stressful or full of tasks then it becomes more difficult to have these precious moments. So, I think meditating (as in sitting in silence not the other definitions) is beneficial to Christians.

As for reading the Bible. When I was born again I read the Bible and listened to an audio Bible for two weeks straight. Taking breaks for class or the restroom, driving places. But if I was not busy I was hearing His word. To me I was in a trance. Ultimately, when one reads the Bible, His word should be the main focus. All other thoughts are removed. I'd agree that reading the Bible is meditating.

People try to get really textbook with things and have solid definitions. I am not speaking about Hinduism, Buddhism or any other religion. It's clear that meditation is to train the mind to focus. Therefore, a focus on God is meditating. Simply put. When we pray we are using thoughts and words etc so it can't be meditating. But praying in tongues removes the thought process of finding words etc. I have tried praying in tongues and didn't understand much about it until the last year.

It's good to admit you don't know it all and that you are hungry to learn. Just this week I replied to someone on youtube who had said people shouldn't turn to the Bible for answers because it was written and changed by men. They also said that our instincts alone will tell us how to deal with issues. I told them that if they pray and have faith. God speaks. It's up to us to listen and THAT is where instincts come in (or we may say the Holy Spirit) but I don't think they would understand if I said it that way. Those thoughts and vibes I feel are from the Holy Spirit.


Hope I am making sense...

 

[farouk]

"A couple of times I have had word thoughts that told me to give up things that god would hate me doing and they were exactly right. And know they were of God"

Beautiful! Prayer does give me peace and a feeling of completeness. Without meditating I have felt the same-either a negative vibe or a positive one in response to my prayers. If life is too busy, stressful or full of tasks then it becomes more difficult to have these precious moments. So, I think meditating (as in sitting in silence not the other definitions) is beneficial to Christians.

As for reading the Bible. When I was born again I read the Bible and listened to an audio Bible for two weeks straight. Taking breaks for class or the restroom, driving places. But if I was not busy I was hearing His word. To me I was in a trance. Ultimately, when one reads the Bible, His word should be the main focus. All other thoughts are removed. I'd agree that reading the Bible is meditating.

People try to get really textbook with things and have solid definitions. I am not speaking about Hinduism, Buddhism or any other religion. It's clear that meditation is to train the mind to focus. Therefore, a focus on God is meditating. Simply put. When we pray we are using thoughts and words etc so it can't be meditating. But praying in tongues removes the thought process of finding words etc. I have tried praying in tongues and didn't understand much about it until the last year.

It's good to admit you don't know it all and that you are hungry to learn. Just this week I replied to someone on youtube who had said people shouldn't turn to the Bible for answers because it was written and changed by men. They also said that our instincts alone will tell us how to deal with issues. I told them that if they pray and have faith. God speaks. It's up to us to listen and THAT is where instincts come in (or we may say the Holy Spirit) but I don't think they would understand if I said it that way. Those thoughts and vibes I feel are from the Holy Spirit.


Hope I am making sense...

Fembot:

Hi. Meditation can be used in various ways as a word, but certainly the idea of meditating in the Word of God is really excellent.

The Psalmist said: "Be still, and know that I am God' (Psalm 46).

In this hugely busy 21st century, believers need to take the time to meditate in the Scriptures, of which Christ is the center.

 

[Chris]

"A couple of times I have had word thoughts that told me to give up things that god would hate me doing and they were exactly right. And know they were of God"

Beautiful! Prayer does give me peace and a feeling of completeness. Without meditating I have felt the same-either a negative vibe or a positive one in response to my prayers. If life is too busy, stressful or full of tasks then it becomes more difficult to have these precious moments. So, I think meditating (as in sitting in silence not the other definitions) is beneficial to Christians.

As for reading the Bible. When I was born again I read the Bible and listened to an audio Bible for two weeks straight. Taking breaks for class or the restroom, driving places. But if I was not busy I was hearing His word. To me I was in a trance. Ultimately, when one reads the Bible, His word should be the main focus. All other thoughts are removed. I'd agree that reading the Bible is meditating.

People try to get really textbook with things and have solid definitions. I am not speaking about Hinduism, Buddhism or any other religion. It's clear that meditation is to train the mind to focus. Therefore, a focus on God is meditating. Simply put. When we pray we are using thoughts and words etc so it can't be meditating. But praying in tongues removes the thought process of finding words etc. I have tried praying in tongues and didn't understand much about it until the last year.

It's good to admit you don't know it all and that you are hungry to learn. Just this week I replied to someone on youtube who had said people shouldn't turn to the Bible for answers because it was written and changed by men. They also said that our instincts alone will tell us how to deal with issues. I told them that if they pray and have faith. God speaks. It's up to us to listen and THAT is where instincts come in (or we may say the Holy Spirit) but I don't think they would understand if I said it that way. Those thoughts and vibes I feel are from the Holy Spirit.


Hope I am making sense...

perfectly i think we might think alike,praying in tongues helps probably a good place for it where no one else can hear it. After all it is between you and god. Its really cool if god speaks to you when it happens you want it more.

 

[Fembot]

and more and more....

 

[Strangelove]

perfectly i think we might think alike,praying in tongues helps probably a good place for it where no one else can hear it. After all it is between you and god. Its really cool if god speaks to you when it happens you want it more.

I think most people here have got the right idea about what meditation is. It's Christ / scripture centred.

Chris you seem to keep bringing it back to the mystical. Does God speak to you? Really? Does He sound like Morgan Freeman? Whats all this praying in tongues business?

Doc.

 

[Fembot]

Eastern Meditation Sneaks into the Church


Last paragraph very important. The lizard part is true.

 

[Strangelove]

Eastern Meditation Sneaks into the Church


Last paragraph very important. The lizard part is true.

Good one Fembot. Heres in interesting doco:

[video=youtube;eBpw2oQrvMM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBpw2oQrvMM[/video]

Look for the second installment online.

 

[Chris]

I think most people here have got the right idea about what meditation is. It's Christ / scripture centred.

Chris you seem to keep bringing it back to the mystical. Does God speak to you? Really? Does He sound like Morgan Freeman? Whats all this praying in tongues business?

Doc.

praying in tongues is a spiritual gift like a lot of the other ones but not as good it is a sort of spiritual language that comes out of people when they pray.
It usually occurs in people as a result of a baptism in the holy spirit. It is often referred to as praying in the spirit.

About sitting still and concentrating on god after prayer I don't care what anyone thinks, it is I'm going to do it anyway...don't care if other cultures/religions do something similar. it feels too good not to.

Re:hearing Gods voice. there is 2 ways there is the good/bad feeling inside or the voice that sounds like mine that tells me to give up the things i like doing.
The last voice like mine one, one of those told me to give up an online business thing i had making a small amount of weekly money because time wise it was taking time away from family and God. It was right too that voice i felt god say give it up its an idol and ill bless you other ways. in a way its been true.

Hearing gods voice audibly I never have- that could be serious. That could sound like this "Chris I have a job for you"

i never seem to be able to feel as though i get those messages in any form unless i pray and wait at night just thinking about god and putting outside thoughts out. it works for me that's all.

 

[Chris]

Good one Fembot. Heres in interesting doco:

[video=youtube;eBpw2oQrvMM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBpw2oQrvMM[/video]

Look for the second installment online.

dude if you watched that video and considered what the guy said its doom and gloom misrepresentations. apparently that kundulini awakening is something that occurs to practitioners of yoga after years of trying and aiming for it i just checked it out. the presenter was presenting his viewpoint that a touch on the head would give it yeah he will get the money he was after scaremongering Christians into believing it and buying the video. Sorry I'm not gullible, been bitten to many times by things like that . Seen it all before....thanks for trying but soon as i see things like that it turns me right of the authenticity of the presentation. I so love Google


LOl about being mystical- I'll tell you all about it after i go and light my incense. he he

 

[Strangelove]

praying in tongues is a spiritual gift like a lot of the other ones but not as good it is a sort of spiritual language that comes out of people when they pray.

It usually occurs in people as a result of a baptism in the holy spirit. It is often referred to as praying in the spirit.

Sort of spiritual language?

Can you expand on this? Is it gibberish?

 

[Strangelove]

dude if you watched that video and considered what the guy said its doom and gloom misrepresentations. apparently that kundulini awakening is something that occurs to practioners of yoga after years of trying and aiming for it i just checked it out. the presenter was presenting his viewpoint that a touch on the head would give it

What do you mean?

Theres no such thing as Kundalini awakening. Its a load of heathen claptrap. At best your gonna invoke a demon into you probably. You checked it out did you? What on a Kundalini website??

It's all satans way of taking you away from Christ. Like eastern meditation tequniques. Stay way from all of it is my advice. Stick to scripture.

 

[Chris]

Sort of spiritual language?

Can you expand on this? Is it gibberish?

sure mate its a language that could be a human language. it is foreign to your ear. do you remember in the book of acts? often the apostles first baptized with water then made sure people were baptized with the holy spirit. some people feel they get this at conversion others like myself receive it in an event it feels like you get filled with love til bursting point. its a filling of the holy spirit. a lot of pentecostal churches among many encourage Christians to experience it if they choose to. The gift of tongues for many comes along with this filling. it sounds a bit like babble i guess. for most it is a personal prayer thing a communication with god in another way. how to describe it. It feels much like say your in prayer and you feel really good inside then suddenly it comes out of you, and when it does it feels really nice. Its just i guess another way of know ing od isa living real god in spirit form

 

[Chris]

What do you mean?

Theres no such thing as Kundalini awakening. Its a load of heathen claptrap. At best your gonna invoke a demon into you probably. You checked it out did you? What on a Kundalini website??

It's all Satans way of taking you away from Christ. Like eastern meditation techniques. Stay way from all of it is my advice. Stick to scripture.

it was in your video. a wise man said in the bible test the spirits, a wise man also tests the authenticity of sources and knows Christians have misrepresented things in videos before doing that has stopped me from embarrassing myself passing on inaccurate information



at the beginning of this thread i suggested extended times of prayer and concentrating on god quietly are beneficial

so naturally it will be changed to I am practicing eastern religions If you are too scared to spend time alone in extended prayer with god you really aren't enjoying it. maybe Satan is in the christian video business too convincing Christians to shorten their prayer life.



there is more to christianity than sitting on a church pew singing the hymnal. its alive

 

[Strangelove]

sure mate its a language that could be a human language. it is foreign to your ear. do you remember in the book of acts? often the apostles first baptized with water then made sure people were baptized with the holy spirit. some people feel they get this at conversion others like myself receive it in an event it feels like you get filled with love til bursting point. its a filling of the holy spirit. a lot of pentecostal churches among many encourage Christians to experience it if they choose to. The gift of tongues for many comes along with this filling. it sounds a bit like babble i guess. for most it is a personal prayer thing a communication with god in another way. how to describe it. It feels much like say your in prayer and you feel really good inside then suddenly it comes out of you, and when it does it feels really nice. Its just i guess another way of know ing od isa living real god in spirit form

I dont understand. Is it an actual real foreign language like in Acts or is it gibberish babble?

Or can it be both?

 

[Strangelove]

it was in your video. a wise man saidin the bible test the spirits, a wise man also tests the authenticity of sources and knows Christians have misrepresented things in videos before doing that has stopped me from embarrassing myself passing on inaccurate information

at the beginning of this thread i suggested extended times of prayer and concentrating on god quietly are beneficial

so naturally it wil be changed to I am practicing eastern religions If ou are too scared to spend time alone in extended prayer with god you really arent enjoying it. maybe satan is in the christian video business too convincing christians to shorten thier prayer life.

there is more to christianity than sitting on a church pew singing the hymnal. its alive

Sure bud. If it's extended prayer and God centred then its all good.

Meditation is often used describing eastern tequniqes thass'all....and some of your previous posts seemed to be leaning towards that so thats why my red flags went up.

Theres nothing inacurate about the info I've passed on here as far as I know.If you wanna cite specific errors in the video then I'd be glad to debate. I'm completely open to being in error if you can show it on this issue.

Doc.