Spiritual Disciplines: Meditation...

I finished the chapter on meditation in the book. Isn't it so difficult to just be still and open ourselves up to the voice of God? It is for me, at least. Foster encouraged his inexperienced readers to make meditation a regular part of the day. He said having that scheduled time helps us to practice and grow that meditative muscle. Because there may be some confusion between yogic meditation and Christian meditation, here are some [hopefully] clarifying statements from the book:

Continual focus upon obedience and faithfulness most clearly distinguishes Christian meditation from Eastern and secular

Eastern meditation is an attempt to empty the mind; Christian meditation is an attempt to fill the mind.

Foster reminds us that meditation is not only for those ascetic or very experienced Christians. Every Christian should meditate on God's Word. Here's why:

[Meditation] boldly calls us to enter into the living presence of God ourselves.

During meditation, we create the emotional/spiritual space which allows Christ to construct an inner sanctuary in the heart .

Meditation can be a comfort to the Christian for many reasons. Foster suggests taking one piece of Scripture and focusing on only that for one entire week. We can then become closer to the text, feeling, tasting, touching, seeing, hearing God's word in HD, if you will.

I will leave you with a final quote from Foster to hopefully encourage you towards godly meditation:

The detachment from the confusion all around us is in order to have a richer attachment to God.

Love,
Ashleigh