408 Do Not Walk In Darkness, A Guided Christian Meditation on Ephesians 4:17-19 with the Recenter With Christ app

These are the verses immediately preceding those covered in episode 192

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:

NIV 17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

NASB 17 So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, that you are to no longer walk just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their minds, 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves up to indecent behavior for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

Meditation on Scripture:

The meaning of these verses is direct but complex. God's way is perfect. The way he provides is what is best for us. An example of this is the impact of faith and church attendance blesses our lives. This week I was at a Chaplain conference with a large number of other chaplains. The presenter is a well respected health researcher who has published hundreds of articles and dozens of books. The area of research he presented was the health impacts of religious involvement. In some ways I am conflicted with this. We should not be religious for our own benefit but as an expression of the gratitude that fills our hearts for the grace, love, and guidance of an Almighty God.

Yet it is extremely compelling to look at the research. Just as this scripture says, God's plan is perfect for us. He makes our way blameless. Church involvement is overwhelmingly connected to positive emotional, psychological, and even physical benefits. This is virtually a scientific fact that Church attendance is strongly correlated to better wellbeing. Everything from depression, anxiety, reducing negative behaviors, deaths of despair, and general wellbeing. Yet the greatest benefits are spiritual which cannot be judged by human judgements. God saves us through His grace.

When He started guiding early Christians to gather, they started experiencing these benefits from that time and over the last 2 thousand years. May we benefit from the plan God laid out for our lives, and whenever possible join in worship with others. This podcast is a great way to center your soul on the Lord and it is not meant to replace the value gained in a community of faithful Christians working together for Good. If you have fallen out of activity for some reason recently, I invite you to find a community of faith. God created us to be in communion with other faithful people.

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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