Do you find contemplation difficult, or even impossible? Does your mind constantly slip away from observing the thoughts, emotions and physical sensations bubbling up within you, becoming caught up with them, instead? If so, you might like to try a different approach.
A fresh approach
1. Sit, lie, or stand comfortably, or walk, if you feel restless.
2. Ask God to help you with everything you are going to share with him.
3. Let your breathing be however it is. If you are still, you can close your eyes if you wish.
4. Notice the thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations arising within you, and share them honestly with God. You can do this silently, or aloud, whatever suits you best. Tell him anything you want to, even if you think you shouldn’t feel, or think, that way.
5. Ask God to help you with each issue you tell him about, listening for his still, small voice in response. It doesn’t matter if you move on to a new concern before you have finished talking to him about something else. It doesn’t matter if you fall asleep. You are always in God’s arms, like a little child, and he already knows everything you are experiencing and sharing with him. This kind of contemplation is about being yourself, and being honest with God.
6. Do this for whatever amount of time you wish, long or short; again, it doesn’t matter. Thank God for listening, understanding, caring, and helping you. Then continue with your day.
Conclusion
With practice, you may find that you can continue sharing your thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations with God whilst you are doing simple tasks. He lives within you, so you can commune with him in your heart whenever, and wherever, you want.
In time, always aware of his presence, you will unhesitatingly share everything with him, and this is a vital part of what it means to love both God and yourself.
Image: Anja, Pixabay
References
Introduction
As I stood there is silence – not even speaking of good things – the turmoil within me grew worse. The more I thought about it, the hotter I got, igniting a fire of words (Psalm 39:2-3; NLT).
A fresh approach
1. Be still in the presence of the Lord (Psalm 37:7; NLT).
I cannot be still (Jeremiah 4:19; NLT).
2. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer (Psalm 19:14; NLT).
3. The life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being (Job 12:10; NLT).
4. Pour out your heart to him (Psalm 62:8; NLT).
Lord, you are searching for honesty (Proverbs 11:5; NLT).
Pray about everything (Philippians 4:6; NLT).
5. He will be gracious if you ask for help (Isaiah 30:19; NLT).
Tell God what you need (Philippians 4:6; NLT).
Listen to his voice (Deuteronomy 13:4; NLT).
The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you (Deuteronomy 33:27; NLT).
He knows the secrets of every heart (psalm 44:21; NLT).
6. Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help (Psalm 86:5; NLT).
Conclusion
I know the Lord is always with me (Psalm 16:8; NLT).
There is […] one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all (Ephesians 4:4,6; NLT).
You are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).
Commune with your own heart (Psalm 77:6; KJV).
Pray constantly (1 Thessalonians 5:17; CSB).
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength (Mark 12:29; NLT).
Love your neighbour as yourself (Luke 10:27; NLT).
My old self has been crucified with Christ.
It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me
(Galatians 2:20; NLT).
1. The love of Christ
Shines in my hands.
2. He walks with me
To light the way.
3. The breath of Christ
Sustains my life.
4. He gives me hope
And strength each day.
5. The blood of Christ
Beats in my heart.
6. He touches me
To make me whole.
7. The peace of Christ
Calms all my fears:
8. He makes his home
Within my soul.
References
1. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end (John 13:1; NLT).
2. I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life (John 8:12; NLT).
3. He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22; NLT).
4. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17; NLT).
5. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:28; NIV).
6. When Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her (Matthew 8:15; NLT).
7. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you (John 14:27; NKJV).
He will calm all your fears (Zephaniah 3:17; NLT).
8. All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them (John 14:23; NLT).
Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (Colossians 3:11; NLT).
This is the confidence we have in approaching God:
that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us
(1 John 5:14; NIV).
Lord,
1. May I treat myself with love
According to your will,
Sharing all I feel with you
As I face each new test.
2. May I capture all my thoughts
According to your will,
Changing judgements into love –
Then I’ll have done my best.
3. May I speak the truth in love
According to your will,
Choosing all my words with care,
Though sometimes I’ll be blamed.
4. May I do all things with love
According to your will,
Serving you with all my heart –
Then I won’t be ashamed.
References
1. Love your neighbour as yourself (Leviticus 19:18; NLT).
You desire honesty from the womb (Psalm 51:6; NLT).
Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested (Hebrews 2:18; NLT).
2. We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5; NIV).
Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For […] the standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged (Matthew 7:1-2; NLT).
We have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16; NLT).
I have always tried my best to let wisdom guide my thoughts (Ecclesiastes 7:23; NLT).
3. We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).
I have many aggressive enemies; they hate me without reason (Psalm 38:19; NLT).
4. Do everything with love (1 Corinthians 16:14; NLT).
Serve the Lord with all your heart (1 Samuel 12:20; NIV).
Let me not be ashamed; let not my enemies triumph over me (Psalm 25:2; NKJV).
Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in you (Psalm 25:20; NKJV).
Draw near to God and he will draw near to you
(James 4:8; NKJV).
1. Lord,
In contemplation,
I watch my thoughts arise;
Wrapping them in love, I lay them down,
With soft goodbyes.
2. Lord,
In contemplation,
I watch my thinking fade,
Waiting, still and silent, as your glory
Is unveiled.
3. Lord,
In contemplation,
I watch my thinking cease;
Slowly coming closer, till we meet
In joy and peace.
4. Lord,
In contemplation,
I’m drawn into your gaze;
At last, our souls unite, and I am lost
In wordless praise.
References
1. When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private (Matthew 6:6; NLT).
Leave all iniquity behind you (Job 11:14; NLT).
He told them to take nothing for the journey except a walking stick (Mark 6:8; NLT).
They left everything and followed Jesus (Luke 5:11; NLT).
2. Wait patiently for the Lord (Psalm 27:14; NLT).
Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10; NIV).
Be silent before the Sovereign Lord (Zephaniah 1:7; NIV).
We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image (2 Colossians 3:18; NIV).
3. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you (James 4:8; NKJV).
While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him (Luke 15:20; NIV).
4. The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love (Psalm 33:18; NIV).
Whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17; NIV).
We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans (Romans 8:26; NIV).
Search me, O God, and know my heart (Psalm 139:23; NLT).
1. Search me, Lord,
Then live within,
And help me fight
Each urge to sin.
2. Search my mind,
I beg you; stay
To help me keep
Mean thoughts at bay.
3. Search my heart,
Remain; invest
In me, and help me
Face each test.
4. Search my soul,
Make it your home,
Then, Lord, I’ll be
Your flesh and bone.
References
1. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them (1 John 4:16; NIV).
Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak (Mark 14:38; NLT).
2. I, the Lord, search the heart and examine the mind (Jeremiah 17:10; NIV).
We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5; NIV).
3. The Lord tests the heart (Proverbs 17:3; NLT).
Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows (John 16:33; NLT).
4. The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12; NIV).
Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them” (John 14:23; NLT).
All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it (1 Corinthians 12:27; NLT).
The Spirit of God lives in you (1 Corinthians 3:16; NLT).
