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Dec 31, 2017

***Due to a family emergency I will do more of a New Years theme in the next weeks.

This meditation is focused on the power of God. It may be aesthetically pleasing to feel relaxation but the reason we do it here is to put our minds right to remove distraction. So as you sit now allow your breathing to slow. Feel the air come in and go out slowly. Allow your mind to slow. Now is the moment to allow your mind to calm in preparation to receiving God’s word. Allow the worries of this world to fade away. The only thing that you have to do right now is breathe. Everything else is optional.

You can feel your body relaxing as you take slow and intentional breaths. You feel your muscles relax. Your brain begins to reset and send out all kinds of signals to your body that you are safe in this moment. Take in that feeling for a moment. Allow this calmness to sink into you. Let it be part of you. As you prepare to receive this message continue to allow this feeling of peace to develop.

 

Bible verse for meditation:

Matthew 9:2-8

2 And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.”

3 At that, some of the scribes* said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.”4 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why do you harbor evil thoughts?

5 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?

6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic, “Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”

7 He rose and went home.

8 When the crowds saw this they were struck with awe and glorified God who had given such authority to human beings.

 

KJV

2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
7 And he arose, and departed to his house.
8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

 

What does this scripture mean?

What message materialized as you listened to this scripture?

How does this scripture make you feel?

 

Meditation on scripture / bible verse meditation:

In this reflection I do not want to derail your thoughts which may be inherantly more applicable than what I will say but I like to add a thought that perhaps you can carry.

 

Today my wife and kids were driving home from visiting family over Christmas. On the drive they got in a car accident where all of them were sent to the hospital via an ambulance. They were in a very small city and I was hours away. I dropped everything and drove the long distance to meet with them. As additional details came trickling in I found myself in though. One thing that I spend a lot of time thinking about is the balance God puts to us between faith and trust.

 

On one hand he asks us to pray to him and ask him for what we need. On the other hand  we are to trust his timing and what he wills. I’m happy to report that the accident was not life threatening and there do not seem to be broken bones at this point. I find myself grateful to God but I acknowledge that it could easily have gone another way.

 

I love this scripture because it shows something so important. The greater miracle is that God forgives our sins. When things go well for us physically in this world, that may be nice but in an eternal sense the greatest gift is that of forgiveness. I am grateful for a God who has the power to do both and how thoughtfully he applies his will to us. No suffering is wasted if we draw nearer to him.

 

Take a moment and reflect on the miracle of forgiveness.

 

Meditation of Prayer:

Pray as directed by the Spirit.

Pray now in a Spirit of deep gratitude.

 

Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm:

I invite you to sit in silence feeling the power of God over your life.

 

Meditate and Visualize Positive Change in Your Life:

What insights did you gain during these moments?

What thing will change in your life after this moment?

Share this message :

Now visualize someone or a group of people who need this message. Imagine what their face would look like as they receive this scripture in their hearts. Imagine how you can share it with them.

Conclusion:

Print and use this scripture.

I release a new episode of this every Sunday morning at 1AM Mountain time in the US.

You can get more information about my podcast by visiting my website ChristianMeditationPodcast.com.

Next week I am going to read from Luke 2 for Christmas. If you have a scripture you would like me to consider covering in a future episode, email me at the contact page at Christianmeditationpodcast.com. They come straight to my personal email account.

During this week, focus on the value of the women in your life. Encourage them, praise them, and thank them. Be as kind to yourself as you want to be to others. Woman is God’s crowning and final act creation on Earth. Righteous women are God’s greatest creation on earth.

 

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