614 For The Love OF Christ Compels Us, A Guided Christian Meditation on 2 Corinthians 5:12-15 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

2 Corinthians 5:12-15 NIV

12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us,so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are "out of our mind," as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

NRSVUE 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died.15 And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves but for the one who for their sake died and was raised.

Meditation:

Recently I was listening to a therapist discuss an idea where he was asking people to consider different parts of themselves and how those work against each other. He then talked about the value of learning to focus on the center "empty" self. I think this idea misses something valuable but harnesses spiritual ideas that are felt.

As we sit in silence before the Lord we learn what Paul teaches here. We live for Christ. The thing we seek in stillness and silence is not only some empty version of ourselves. I disagree with that characterization. What we seek is the nature of the God of Peace which is inside us. When you sit in silence,

The value of the Spirit of God is not a psychological idea, yet it is the thing that most reliably produces emotional healing. The love of God urges us on. When we experience the love of God we are unity with the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the salvation God offers through that and as well the love and connection that we gain by uniting with that love of God which God put inside us.

Pause now to reflect and experience the love of God within 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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Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind?

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