The Joy of Christian Meditation

Living the Joy of Christian Meditation

Notes from the Journey

by Dr. Deb Kukal

On the path

January 26, 2010 And then sometimes I don't!

Too many mornings, I find a reason not to meditate.

Oh, I still do it often enough that some people think I'm weird. And I suppose it may seem weird for me to sit there and "do nothing". But I know it's far from "nothing". Meditation is a daily obedience to Jesus' path for my life. It changes my heart, opens me to God's truth, and stands me under His outpouring love.

But sometimes I just don't want to!

I'm too busy, or distracted, too…filled up with other things. And who knows what God will see, or show me, if I let Him get that close.

And so I don't.

My natural 'bent' toward selfishness and rebellion—and plain old sloth, too--shows itself every day. Yep, it's discouraging. In fact, some days it's very discouraging! And it's not just a problem with meditation, either. It happens all over my life. I mess up on a regular basis.

But more and more, instead of focusing on the mess I've made, instead of trying to fix or hide it, I reach out for God's love and His help. Because more and more I realize that my failures still result in His grace. Yes, each time. Every day. Even now! Which really is amazing, freeing and reassuring—and I experience gratitude, trust and renewal, all over again.

Our Christian life, living and growing in the love of the Lord, is a daily journey. And daily journeys have daily mess-ups. But the more we focus on our limitations and our shortcomings, the further we go off track.

At first it can be a relief to quit trying. But eventually we feel the effects of living off the path. Consequences begin to find us. We struggle in the dark hours of the night. Sometimes we see our failures so clearly that we hide from God.

Hiding is a very bad place to be—I know, I've been there. It's a deep and angry place, covered over with shame.

Only love can bring us out of that place.

And it turns out, we aren't really hidden at all. God already knows us, all parts of us, and He loves us anyway. And He knows that on our own we will continue to go straight off track. He fills us with power and guides our steps every day. He gives us real joy in our lives.

So it's ok to recognize that we've walked off the path. We don't have to stay off, or hide out!

Don't give up the truth and the joy of experiencing God. Be amazed by His grace, trust His welcome, and get back on the path of opening your heart and being grown by Him.

Ok. Gotta' go—it's time to meditate!

Blessings!

Dr. Deb

January 1, 2010 It's that time again!

Have you made your New Year's Resolutions?

I love to make plans, to come up with goals to move me further down the path God has shown for my life. But I know lots of people who have given up setting goals, because it's really hard to achieve them. It isn't that we don't care. And it isn't that we haven't even prayed about our goals, and asked God to show us His path. But when we try, it just doesn't work! We may not really be sure how to start, or we may try, but fall into our same old traps, and then feel guilty, or like a failure-and after a while it's just easier to let it go and laugh about it.

With other people, at least. But inside, it's discouraging.

There are steps you can take toward your goals, and they are do-able, and even fun.

Here are three things you can do to move in the direction you need to go--whether it's meditating daily, losing weight, or leaving behind old crazy behaviors.

1) Make your goal POSITIVE.
We can't just NOT do things. We have to DO things--new things, other things, better things. Different things that will take us where we want to go. Don't focus on what are you leaving behind (you know that all too well) but instead, focus on what are you being transformed TO. So, don't say "I won't interrupt people"; instead, say "I will be sure other people are finished speaking before I speak". (Can you tell what one of my goals is?)

2) Make your goal CLEAR.
Writing the goal helps you get concrete. Be specific and realistic-"I will lose 15 pounds by June 1st"; or "I will meditate 3 times every week". These are small steps-they may not be your final goal--but they are specific, clear and DO-able. And write down the new and different things you will do to reach the goal-joining Spark People, for instance, if you want to lose weight; or using a guided meditation CD if you want to meditate more often.

3) Finally, and perhaps most importantly--Let your goal COME ALIVE in your heart.
Proverbs 23:7 says "As a man thinks in his heart, so he is". Start with just one minute a day of seeing yourself living at your goal. Let the picture fill your heart, right down to the details of how you look, how you walk, how you talk. Become familiar with succeeding, from the inside out. Just one minute, every day, begins to change your heart experience. And the rest of you will follow!

If you need help, try the free 7 minute meditation "New Song". As you meditate, you can begin to see yourself living in the new paths God has for you, singing a 'new song' in your life.

When your goal is walking God's path for your life, the goals you set and the steps you take will be empowered by HIS power-and that will get you where you need to go!

So think it out, pray it through--then take a risk and set a goal.

Make it positive. Make it clear.

And let it begin in your heart.