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Sep 3, 2017

 

Christians often experience conflict about anger. In, some ways we realize that is a natural human response. In other ways, we realize the damaging consequences of it. Some people wonder if Jesus really felt anger as he drove the moneychangers out of the temple, and if so, wouldn't that be a sin. Sometimes we try and justify our anger using this example.  The greatest danger of our anger is when it affects our relationships with others. Ultimately though when we are thoughtful and honest we realize that righteous anger probably represents a small portion of our anger if at all. This meditation will focus on how to reconcile the anger we feel, and hopefully, learn a kind of discipline to make anger a less frequent visitor in our lives.  

Intro:

This meditation will follow an ancient Christian model called Lectio Divina which originated in the 6th century AD. It is meant to be used all week long.

Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation, Visualization

I invite you to get comfortable for 20 minutes, without driving or doing chores, but focusing exclusively on the message God has for you. If you feel safe to do so, close your eyes. The goal of this relaxation is to remove distractions to allow us to focus on God’s word.

Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:

Observe your body.  Are you currently carrying tension? What does that tension feel like? Is it pent up anger, perhaps it's anxiety or fear? Gently allow air to come into your body and fill your stomach.  Breathe slowly all the way down to your diaphragm. The experience of tension does not need to rule you. You notice that as you continue to focus on slowing your breath that you release this tension as you go.  Your body receives the message. Imagine

As you continue breathing deeply, leave your heart open to receive this message of scripture.

Bible verse for meditation:

James 4:1-3 - KJV

1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

James 4:1-3 - NIV

1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?

2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.

3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

Meditation on scripture / bible verse meditation:

The cause of much of our contention is rooted in our desires, lusts, and expectations. Again I want to be clear that this is not universal.

Think about a time when you were Angry? Was it related to desires lusts and expectations?

Now breathe deeply and release that anger energy. Let the battle of desire within you subside.

What is the solution recommended by scripture? We do not have because we don't ask God. If we have the wrong motive, we will not receive.

As we learn to let go of that, we find greater peace.

Meditation of Prayer:

Pray as directed by the Spirit.

Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm:

Imagine what it would feel like to give up worldly desire.

Meditate and Visualize Positive Change in Your Life:

Take the message that you gained from God’s word as you continue to allow his breath cleanse you. What message did you get from this scripture?

Remember that you can use your own experience, reason, but more importantly scripture and the Spirit of God to bounce this idea off.

I invite you to imagine how this message would play out in your life.  What behaviors would change if you lived your life, with the knowledge that this thing is true.  Imagine at least one specific thing that you could do today or tomorrow based on this message. Fully visualize this.  What would it look like in your life?  What positive things could you do, or what would happen around you, knowing that this thing was true?

Visualize the change

Conclusion:

Thanks for joining me.

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

You can help someone feel the peace you experienced here by sharing this podcast with those you care about. You can get more information about my podcast by visiting my website ChristianMeditationPodcast.com. You can also send me a message through the site. I would love to hear what your experience is with my podcast.

 

REVIEW: A friend of mine Michael, who runs a podcast called Diet Science commented on my Facebook page Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast the following: Jared, this is awesome! Great Job and I love the music in the background. Nicely done! Thanks, Michael. If you haven't heard Michael’s podcast I would highly recommend it. He interviews an expert on various aspects of nutrition and health. It's a great podcast.

If you would like to look me up on Facebook, via my website, or on Twitter @christianmedpod I would love to hear from you.

As we learn to let the conflict of desire within you slow, we become more able to feel Gods peace.

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