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Oct 7, 2018

 

Bible verse for meditation:

1 John 4:4-6

NIV
4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.
6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.


NRSV
4 Little children, you are from God, and have conquered them; for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
5 They are from the world; therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them.
6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and whoever is not from God does not listen to us. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.



What does this scripture mean to you?
Has it had a different effect this reading as compared to times past?
How does this scripture make you feel?

Continue breathing deeply as you ponder this meaning.

Meditation on scripture / bible verse meditation:

This scripture is in the context of an Epistle of John teaching his audience how to identify good spirits. The guiding influence in that determination is based on faith in Jesus Christ. Spirits aligned with God, acknowledge that Jesus was and is the Messiah. In this sense faith in Jesus as the savior is permanent. With that said now comes this scripture which states that God has overcome the world. This includes spirits. The way in which this scripture meets where we are at is shown in the scripture. As we take the name of Jesus upon us through faith, repentance, baptism, and by receiving his spirit, he is with us. His spirit resides in us. As this is true, how can we fear anything in this world? If God is with us, who can be against us.

Despite this understanding there are times when we feel fear. There are times when we let our human emotions run wild and we become afraid. There are so many things we can grow to fear. Everything from death, to social rejection, to financial matters. Fear is a normal human emotion. I don’t think that it is helpful for us, when we feel fear to pile on guilt for not having faith, but I do think it can be instructive and even faith promoting to recognize that fear is a human emotion and a normal weakness common to all of us.

This scripture teaches not only how to be more discerning and wise regarding the truth of God but also how to overcome fear. If we recognize that God is with us while also recognizing that fear is a human emotion we can learn to not let its distracting effects overcome us.

 

Meditation of Prayer:

Pray as directed by the Spirit.
Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him.

Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm:
I invite you to sit in silence feeling being patient for your own faults and trials.

Meditate and Visualize Positive Change in Your Life:

Sue donated on Patreon and selected the scripture. Thanks Sue!


Final Question: How does the knowledge that God is in you help?

Final thought - Many people who have reached out to me talk about stress. What is stress if not a pervasive form of fear. In this moment know this, God is greater than any struggle you are dealing with. He is more powerful than any spirit on earth. He is more powerful than any hardship. He is great. If we learn to continually be sensitive to His spirit within us then we can receive power to overcome fear and have it be replaced with faith.


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