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Feb 14, 2021

308 Elijah Rides to Heaven on a Chariot of Fire, A Guided Christian Meditation on Mark 2 Kings 2:9-12 with the Recenter With Christ app

I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain, my purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina:

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

Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.

Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:

Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate.

Bible verses for Meditation:

2 Kings 2:9-12

KJV
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” 10 And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” 11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more.

NIV
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” 10 And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” 11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more.

Meditation on Scripture:

As with various examples in the Old Testament the accounts there are some miraculous things occuring in this scripture. Elijah was a great prophet. He was close to God’s power and accessed it various times to great effect. Elisha came to be the protégé of Elijah. In fact it was a revelation that caused Elijah to seek out Elisha as his successor. As a result, he sought out and found Elisha and Elisha followed him immediately. Elijah adoptped him as though he were his own son.

Elisha spent some time at Elijah’s side learning from the experienced prophet. He saw many things and valued highly the abilities that God had blessed him with. Elijah put upon his student the mantle of prophet, yet when he was given this opportunity to ask for something in return from the prophet, he asked for twice his spirit, perhaps in reference to the natural rights of inheritance of the oldest son, or perhaps as a literal doubling of the powers Elijah displayed.

The thing that I want to place a little focus on is this idea that there are two distinct things occuring here. One is a very clear depiction of God choosing someone and making that revelation clear. The other is the choice and desire of Elisha to receive from God and how that was honored. Many times we can get too locked into how we think God works and we lose sight of the dynamic that God encourages. For example why was the blessing of Spirit that Elisha requested not automatically bestowed? Why did he have to ask for it then wait?

Perhaps one explanation is that God wants to work with us. He wants us to submit to him and train our will and desire to the things that are good for us in the long run. It seems that God directs us in our life but then wants us to come along for the ride and follow. Pray to God as though all decisions are in His hands, then use your own insight to pursue the best gifts as you can. What greater gift can there be than closeness with God’s spirit which leads to eternal life with God.

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.

Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life:
This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast

Updates: What Sims, Worries, Doubts or Fears would you be willing to give up for an increase in God’s Spirit. To be clear we don’t purchase the gifts of God with obedience. We don’t perform some act then earn some specific benefit. We demonstrate to God that we value what the Almighty God values. We allow God to slowly transform our will to mirror His. God commands us to do things that will develop us into being what He wants us to be. God asks us to do things that will bless us and others, even when those things will not benefit us in the short run.

Final Thought:

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