I am currently reading through Kenneth Boa's Conformed to His Image. It is a wonderful work by an exceptional author. One of the specific thing that I recently read was on the aspect of devotional spirituality called "Contemplative Prayer." I love the way he describes this ancient practice: "Contemplative prayer seeks to apprehend God through love and faith in such a way that theology is not merely speculative but lived." In other words, contemplating and meditating on God through prayer is a way for us to not only have a theology in our minds, but to experience who God is, thus verifying and correcting our theology through experience. It is a deep, thoughtful interaction with God in which we surrender ourselves to God and His Spirit in prayer.
I have practiced this before and I have heard many others talk about it. I hope not to offend anyone when I say this, but I have been pretty freaked out by people who talk about contemplative prayer because they make it seem like some mystical, magical practice in which everything is over-spiritualized. However, one point that Boa makes about contemplative prayer is that it is not for the new believers. New believers need to grow in their knowledge of Scripture first because (his second point) contemplative prayer must coincide with the truth of the Word. This point is so very necessary to make. If we do not have a foundation, then the house will not stand, right?
Contemplation and meditation on who God is and who I am in Him is a way to take the truths of Scripture and make them so real. They become completely grounded in our hearts and souls when we meditate on them in this way. Unfortunately, many take this time to become spiritually influenced by every new age mystical thought. Though we may believe we are focusing on God, we begin making god up in our own minds through this experience, which can easily lead us away from the truth of who He is, which is found grounded in His Word.
Boa goes on to talk about times of drought in our prayer lives, in which we feel spiritually dry. These are necessary times for us because they remind us that God is good even when we feel He is far from us. This is something we must learn to trust. Contemplation helps us to see that even when that emotional experience with him is not "spectacular," God is still there, and He is still good. May we learn to trust Him as we slow down to be with Him and experience who He is in our prayer lives. Blessings to you as you meditate on God and His Word.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Devotional Lifestyle
As you may have noticed in the last few months, I am one who gives the utmost importance to studying the Word of God. I believe that there are depths of the Word that must be mined in order for us to grasp the extremely important biblical principles that must be our guides for life. I know that I will always be one who shares this importance with others, even though many people would argue that they can leave that to their ministers. Today, however, I want to turn that thought around a bit and express the importance of the devotional life. It seems that something our culture has discounted quite a bit is the devotional worship of God. We are in too much of a hurry, needing to get something done, learn something, or talk to someone about something. We rarely take the time to slow down and revel in who God is.
God reveals himself to us in many different ways. His Word is an important revelation, but He also reveals Himself in nature, the way He relates to us, and the things He does. When was the last time you stopped to smell the roses? Literally, when was the last time you spent some time in nature, glorifying God for the majesty of His creation? Meditating on the world He created is one way we can live out this devotional lifestyle. It allows us to contemplate the unbelievable depths of who he is and what He is capable of doing. Landscapes, livestock, bugs, flowers, and even birds and fish can capture a curiosity in us that should always point us back to God. Such created things are merely that, creations. We should never become so enamored in the creation that we worship it, but it should always point us to the Creator.
As you reflect on your life, you should always remember the ways God has related to you throughout your life. When has He answered your prayers? How has He given you peace? In what ways has your should been blessed beyond belief? How about a simple life-change? Focusing on these things from time to time allows us to remember God's greatness and give him our worship and adoration. As we seek to grow closer to Him, it always helps to remember His loving-kindness.
It is also very good to reflect on the things God has done. Whether there have been miracles in your own life or if you just take the time to reflect on the works God did throughout the Bible, you should definitely spend time thinking about these things. The works God does reflect who He is. As you read through the Psalms, you will see over and over recollections of God's works. Paul wrote in his letters about the things God did, is doing, and will do. The more we reflect on these things, the more in love with God we will become.
Obviously God's Word is a self-revelation, but how often do you read His Word for formation rather than information? In other words, rather than studying the Word to mine its meaning, how often do you allow his word to mine your heart to form your soul to be more like Christ's? It means slowing down and taking in the Scriptures. Take a Psalm and break it down verse by verse reflecting on each word and trying to allow it to slice through any veneer you are putting up. This is a devotional style that can really change our walk with God.
All of these things are excellent ways to see God more. They will help us to grasp His revelation more clearly in order to get a clearer image of who God is and what He is doing. why is this important? Knowing who He is will drive our life as we seek to become more like Him. Yes, I stand by the fact that we must study the Bible to determine its meaning, but I also believe we must allow the Word of God to explore our hearts and mold us to become aware of who God truly is and where we are not like Him. So take the time daily to revel in God's creation or His ways, maybe His Word and His works. Allow The Holy Spirit to form your soul more and more into the image of Christ. It will also change your perspective on our own existence. Slow down and reflect more!
God reveals himself to us in many different ways. His Word is an important revelation, but He also reveals Himself in nature, the way He relates to us, and the things He does. When was the last time you stopped to smell the roses? Literally, when was the last time you spent some time in nature, glorifying God for the majesty of His creation? Meditating on the world He created is one way we can live out this devotional lifestyle. It allows us to contemplate the unbelievable depths of who he is and what He is capable of doing. Landscapes, livestock, bugs, flowers, and even birds and fish can capture a curiosity in us that should always point us back to God. Such created things are merely that, creations. We should never become so enamored in the creation that we worship it, but it should always point us to the Creator.
As you reflect on your life, you should always remember the ways God has related to you throughout your life. When has He answered your prayers? How has He given you peace? In what ways has your should been blessed beyond belief? How about a simple life-change? Focusing on these things from time to time allows us to remember God's greatness and give him our worship and adoration. As we seek to grow closer to Him, it always helps to remember His loving-kindness.
It is also very good to reflect on the things God has done. Whether there have been miracles in your own life or if you just take the time to reflect on the works God did throughout the Bible, you should definitely spend time thinking about these things. The works God does reflect who He is. As you read through the Psalms, you will see over and over recollections of God's works. Paul wrote in his letters about the things God did, is doing, and will do. The more we reflect on these things, the more in love with God we will become.
Obviously God's Word is a self-revelation, but how often do you read His Word for formation rather than information? In other words, rather than studying the Word to mine its meaning, how often do you allow his word to mine your heart to form your soul to be more like Christ's? It means slowing down and taking in the Scriptures. Take a Psalm and break it down verse by verse reflecting on each word and trying to allow it to slice through any veneer you are putting up. This is a devotional style that can really change our walk with God.
All of these things are excellent ways to see God more. They will help us to grasp His revelation more clearly in order to get a clearer image of who God is and what He is doing. why is this important? Knowing who He is will drive our life as we seek to become more like Him. Yes, I stand by the fact that we must study the Bible to determine its meaning, but I also believe we must allow the Word of God to explore our hearts and mold us to become aware of who God truly is and where we are not like Him. So take the time daily to revel in God's creation or His ways, maybe His Word and His works. Allow The Holy Spirit to form your soul more and more into the image of Christ. It will also change your perspective on our own existence. Slow down and reflect more!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Motivation
What motivates us to follow Jesus? What is it that drives us toward Christ-likeness? What is it that compels us to love God? Excellent and poignant questions, if I do say so myself. So what would you say is your main motivation? Is it the reward of heaven or the avoidance of hell? Are you looking for purpose and hope in this world? Maybe you are just thankful for God's love. Whatever your motivators are, they should become a driving force that moves us to follow Jesus more and more. It is a spiritual growth-stimulator.
There are several valid motivators, which would be considered biblical, but perhaps the central-most of these is simply our longing for God. We are all looking to for something to fill this deep-seated need in our lives. The problem for most of us is that we cannot identify what that need is, so we try all kinds of things to fill it. Have you ever played with one of those "shape-o" toys? It's this plastic ball with several different holes around it, and each hole is a different shape. Then you have several little blocks that are each a different shape that corresponds to one of the holes in the ball. In other words, there is only one hole that each shape will fit into. I know it is hard to understand. After all, it is a kid's toy. :) That is how I would describe this deep-seated longing we each have. It is a God-shaped hole and only God can fill it. Every one of us is longing for God. This is not simply a non-believer longing. Christians long for God as well. Have you ever spent time in nature, observed a beautiful sunset, or even listened to a piece of music that just created a longing feeling? These times occur, and in those times the creation is calling us toward the Creator.
What about simply realizing our identity in Christ? Did you know that one of the key elements of Paul's epistles is the way what we do flows out of who we are in Him. Talk about a motivating factor. You want to know who you are in Christ? Read Ephesians 1. Read Romans 8. Those passages will give you such a sense of identity that you should not look to the world for anything else. Why would we try to identify ourselves with our work? Why would we identify ourselves with a sports team or a musical group? We are a part of the body of Christ. We are co-heirs with him, adopted into God's family through him. When you begin to grasp your identity as God's child, there is nothing else that really matters. Becoming more and more like him is all that you want to do. Thus, what you do flows out of who you are.
What else motivates us to follow Jesus? Is it God's love for you? That is definitely a motivating factor. We only love Him because He first loved us. His love causes us to exhibit extreme levels of gratitude and thanksgiving. When you stop and think about what you deserve and what is being offered to you, you cannot help but respond with love and gratitude. These are the things that motivate us to grow, to walk with Jesus, to become like him. If they motivate us so much, then why do we have such a difficult time persevering? Why do we get so distracted?
Perhaps you allow things that are not godly to become your motivations for living. Money, power, and various other temptations become motivating forces when we are not in communion with God. When we take our eyes off the true prize, it is easy to get hooked on the fake, the counterfeit prize. There is absolutely no substitute for a daily relationship with God. It is a must. Funny how this is so cyclical, isn't it? We need to be in relationship with God to keep our focus right, and we need to keep our motivations right to stay in relationship with Him.
My challenge to you is to be introspective. Here are a couple of questions I took from Kenneth Boa's Conformed to His Image, and I think it would do you some good to think honestly on these for a few minutes. (1) Do you love God more for himself than for his gifts and benefits? (2) Are you more motivated to seek his glory and honor than you are to seek your own?
If you cannot answer yes, then it's time to recenter your focus on Jesus. Take the time every day to be with God. Pursue Him! Spend time in His Word and in prayer with Him. There is nothing more necessary than this. Then your motivating forces will be the ones Jesus talks about in the Scriptures. He is GOD! And we can have a relationship with Him. Why would we blow Him off?
There are several valid motivators, which would be considered biblical, but perhaps the central-most of these is simply our longing for God. We are all looking to for something to fill this deep-seated need in our lives. The problem for most of us is that we cannot identify what that need is, so we try all kinds of things to fill it. Have you ever played with one of those "shape-o" toys? It's this plastic ball with several different holes around it, and each hole is a different shape. Then you have several little blocks that are each a different shape that corresponds to one of the holes in the ball. In other words, there is only one hole that each shape will fit into. I know it is hard to understand. After all, it is a kid's toy. :) That is how I would describe this deep-seated longing we each have. It is a God-shaped hole and only God can fill it. Every one of us is longing for God. This is not simply a non-believer longing. Christians long for God as well. Have you ever spent time in nature, observed a beautiful sunset, or even listened to a piece of music that just created a longing feeling? These times occur, and in those times the creation is calling us toward the Creator.
What about simply realizing our identity in Christ? Did you know that one of the key elements of Paul's epistles is the way what we do flows out of who we are in Him. Talk about a motivating factor. You want to know who you are in Christ? Read Ephesians 1. Read Romans 8. Those passages will give you such a sense of identity that you should not look to the world for anything else. Why would we try to identify ourselves with our work? Why would we identify ourselves with a sports team or a musical group? We are a part of the body of Christ. We are co-heirs with him, adopted into God's family through him. When you begin to grasp your identity as God's child, there is nothing else that really matters. Becoming more and more like him is all that you want to do. Thus, what you do flows out of who you are.
What else motivates us to follow Jesus? Is it God's love for you? That is definitely a motivating factor. We only love Him because He first loved us. His love causes us to exhibit extreme levels of gratitude and thanksgiving. When you stop and think about what you deserve and what is being offered to you, you cannot help but respond with love and gratitude. These are the things that motivate us to grow, to walk with Jesus, to become like him. If they motivate us so much, then why do we have such a difficult time persevering? Why do we get so distracted?
Perhaps you allow things that are not godly to become your motivations for living. Money, power, and various other temptations become motivating forces when we are not in communion with God. When we take our eyes off the true prize, it is easy to get hooked on the fake, the counterfeit prize. There is absolutely no substitute for a daily relationship with God. It is a must. Funny how this is so cyclical, isn't it? We need to be in relationship with God to keep our focus right, and we need to keep our motivations right to stay in relationship with Him.
My challenge to you is to be introspective. Here are a couple of questions I took from Kenneth Boa's Conformed to His Image, and I think it would do you some good to think honestly on these for a few minutes. (1) Do you love God more for himself than for his gifts and benefits? (2) Are you more motivated to seek his glory and honor than you are to seek your own?
If you cannot answer yes, then it's time to recenter your focus on Jesus. Take the time every day to be with God. Pursue Him! Spend time in His Word and in prayer with Him. There is nothing more necessary than this. Then your motivating forces will be the ones Jesus talks about in the Scriptures. He is GOD! And we can have a relationship with Him. Why would we blow Him off?
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