Faithful on Fridays Blog

Discipline to Delight: Part Two

There are many ways to experience Jesus through intimate prayer and one of those tried and true methods is contemplation or meditation of His Word. Last week the method I presented was reading a passage silently and aloud asking the Holy Spirit to focus your mind on certain words; contemplation is different. This method is about your thoughts.

Henri Nouwen offers this approach:

1. Choose a passage and read it over several times, bring it from your mind into your heart. 

2. See Christ in the passage; imagine Him speaking to you.

3. Carry the passage with you this week, He is the Word of God, and let Him affect not only your reflective thoughts, but your daydreams as well.

End your time with silence, listening for God’s response. 

Try focusing on passages regarding humility. This always involves repentance followed by receiving His forgiveness; intimacy with God begins in a low place,

The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged. For the Lord hears the cries of the needy; He does not despise His imprisoned people. Psalms 69:30-33

For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. Isaiah 57:15 

Palms Down/Palms Up is an effective way to intentionally bring a personal concern to God. This method incorporates your body with your soul as the Spirit identifies an area of your life you need to lay down.

1. Begin by placing your palms down as a symbolic indication of your desire to turn over any concerns you may have to God. Inwardly you may pray, “Lord, I give to you this situation in my life. I release my emotions that have separated me from you, any frustrations, fear, anxiety, unforgiveness, …. and all that weigh heavily on my mind. I lay this down at Your feet.” Wait for a few moments as you surrender to Him. 
2. Place your palms up as a picture of your desire to receive from the Lord. You may want to pray, “Lord, I receive your divine love and forgiveness in this situation (or for this person), and receive your peace and joy in place of the negative emotions I’ve been dealing with. With palms up it’s a perfect posture for worship and praise to  the Holy Spirit for His guidance.

Lastly, never forget the gift of your imagination. As you read the accounts of Jesus with people and visualize yourself being there; these stories paint powerful pictures that encourage us to identify with a character. Try imagining yourself as the soldier at the cross, a disciple watching Jesus feed 5,000, or the one listening to a parable. Stretch yourself this week by giving contemplation and meditation a try. You may be surprised!