Sep 13, 2020

266 In Your Relationships Have the Mindset of Christ, A Guided Christian Meditation on Philipians 2:1-5 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:

Philippians 2:1-5
NIV
1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

‘NABRE
1 If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy,
2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing.
3 Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves,
4 each looking out not for his own interests, but [also] everyone for those of others.
5 Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus,

Meditation on Scripture:

When you hear this invitation from Christ what comes to your mind? I suspect that each of us think something different. Perhaps we think of challenging relationships, or beautiful relationships that have been attacked by conflict. Perhaps you feel shame or guilt, perhaps you feel vindication, or judgement on someone else. Continue to ponder this. How do you feel as you hear of Christ’s love for you? How is that different than the way you feel when you ponder your attitude in human relationships?

I believe that the example of Christ can help us reconcile the love we feel from God into the way in which we interact with others. Do we truly regard others as more important than ourselves? Are we willing to embrace the strength of God within us to become as Christ. Christ’s attitude was not one of self hatred, or lack of awareness of his value. He knew, as the Son of God he was of infinite worth. Similarly you as a child of God have infinite worth, not because you are so great but because God said so. He makes us join heirs with Christ. May we rise up to live more like an heir of glory. What can others take from us that is greater than what God does and will give 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.

Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life:
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Updates:

Final Question: How do you treat the needs of others?

Final Thought: Some people are threatened by the idea to consider others as more important. This is especially dicey when people have been abused or mistreated. I believe that this message from Christ is not one of self hatred or degradation. As we embrace the value God has placed on us we are more able to let go the approval of others and the approval of the world. Because our value comes by Godly decree we also shouldn’t take pride in it. What are we that we should be considered greater than others? This is certainly a dichotomy but it is one that keeps us humble while also being empowered through God to rise up to overcome anything that would prevent us from living in the love of God.

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