EHS Practices – Week 4 – Day 4

THEME: THE WALL

BREATH PRAYER: LORD, HELP ME TRUST YOU WHEN I CANNOT SEE YOUR GOODNESS

SETTLING IN:

• In a journal, note the day, time, and place you’re sitting.
• Open with a few moments of silence. Rest, and breathe deeply.
• Complete the following sentence in your journal: Today, I feel ________________.
• Read these words slowly (aloud or silently):

Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
(Psalm 1:1-3)

Pray this week’s breath prayer and pause for a few moments of silence.

PRACTICE:
MEDITATION

Christian meditation stands distinct from our connotations of crossing our legs, closing our eyes, and saying “ohhhmmmmm…” Rather than trying to clear your mind or disappear into nothingness, the heart of Christian meditation is to focus your mind and allow yourself to become fully present with God. One way to do this is to focus on a piece of scripture and let it soak into your mind and heart. To draw an analogy from the world of hiking, worship can be seen as the feeling of wonder and awe that wells up as you stand at an overlook and take in the view. Bible study is like walking an entire trail, and gaining an understanding an appreciation of all it provides. Meditation is like stopping in the middle of your walk to look at a flower for a long period of time and letting its own wonder and beauty wash over you.

Today we will meditate on the simple words of Psalm 27:14: “Be strong, take heart, and wait for the Lord.”

• First get quiet and comfortable and breathe deeply. If there are any errant thoughts running through your mind, resist the urge to grab onto these thoughts. Try to view them as cars passing you on the street and let them go off by themselves.
• As you get ready to meditate, ask the Spirit to guide you in His understanding for this exercise.
• First, focus for a few minutes on the first part of this verse: “Be strong.” As you focus on it, write down any thoughts or questions  you have in your journal. Ask the Lord what He would have you know about these words.
• Now focus for a few minutes on the second part: “take heart.” What does this mean? What does this mean to you? Again, ask the Lord what He would have you know here.
• Now focus on the last part: “and wait for the Lord.” What does it mean to wait? What is your gut reaction to this part of the verse? Ask God if there is something He wants you to know about this verse.
• Lastly, meditate on the entire verse: “Be strong, take heart, and wait for the Lord.” Now that you have deeply considered each part of this verse, ask the Lord what He would have you know about the whole of it. Write down any thoughts or promptings you have in your journal.

Digging Deeper: Consider the ways in which the world would guide us to NOT be strong, to NOT take heart, and to act WITHOUT waiting on the Lord.  Think of some times in your life where you faced these temptations in your life and write them down in your journal.  What is the fruit of giving in to these temptations?  Ask the Lord to make you aware of opportunities in the next 24 hours for you to be strong, take heart, and wait on the Lord.

• Summary: Write in your journal a brief summary (five sentences or less) of your experience meditating on the Word.
  
• Closing Prayer: Thank God for His faithfulness, for the fact that time waiting on the Lord is never wasted. Lord, help me trust You when I cannot see Your goodness.