404 Do Not Conform To The Pattern Of The World, A Guided Christian Meditation on Romans 12:1-3 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 connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate.

Bible verses for Meditation:

Romans 12

NIV

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

NRSVCE

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Meditation on Scripture:

The bodies we inhabit are directly connected to the plan God has for us. He was not surprised when our first parents underwent the fall. He offered us a plan of salvation to rescue us. Now we are here on earth with bodies which are fragile and wear out. When we think about the role of our physical body in God's plan for us it becomes clear that there are various messages about this in scripture. We learn from Corinthians that our bodies are temples to God, additionally there is guidance that we should care for our bodies, with that said they should be out of respect for the gift they are from God and how they allow us to do God's will. We should not treat our bodies as something to worship but as a tool to worship the Lord.

This particular scripture gives more insight on how we should be willing to make our bodies a sacrifice. I think this is quite different from being destructive to our body. In this way we should not attempt to destroy the gift God has given but we should be willing to prioritize the things of God over earthly concerns. It seems the main message is for us to not be overly focused on ourselves. So during this time take time to ponder these things and rejoice in the great glory of God and the transformation God offers us. What a blessing that God offers us his grace. May we be sober and mindful in attempting always to embrace the grace of God and follow His will for 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 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:

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Final Question: What role does the Word have in your life?

Final Thought:

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