516 I Will Give You The Crown Of Life - Letter to Smyrna, a Guided Christian Meditation on Revelation 2:9-11 with the Recenter With Christ app

The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ.

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.

Scripture for Meditation

Revelation 2

ESV 9 "'I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander[a] of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.'

NABRE 9 "I know your tribulation and poverty, but you are rich. I know the slander of those who claim to be Jews and are not, but rather are members of the assembly of Satan. 10 Do not be afraid of anything that you are going to suffer. Indeed, the devil will throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will face an ordeal for ten days. Remain faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 "'"Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The victor shall not be harmed by the second death."'

Meditation:

The message he gives to Smyrna is a difficult one. He tells them to get ready for hardship. Remember that this vision is of Jesus himself clothed in white holding the angels of the seven churches in his hand. He tells them they will suffer hardship but don't fear it. This is hard to do. He foretells prison and suffering even unto death. The struggle is that we feel that if God is all powerful then he will ensure that the good are saved from prison. We sometimes even say that we understand that sometimes bad things happen to the righteous but when bad things happen to us we still struggle with it. This is a natural human response.

The all powerful risen Lord did not say he would cause these bad things to happen. He did however say he would give them a crown of life if they were faithful unto death. The struggle is that none of us fully understand how wonderful the crown of life is. We have no context for it. I remember embarrassing moments for me when I was a kid and I chuckle at them. Who is to say how we will see the difficulties of this life in one million years from now as we sit surrounded by love crowned with life

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:

Final Question: In what ways do you thirst for God?

Final Thought:

Saint Fransis said preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words. One of the most powerful ways we can reflect the light and life of God is by imitating Christ in our life.

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