Complicating Our Spiritual Lives

Are you desiring to complicate your spiritual life? 

Dani has some books for you to help you on your journey!  As we discussed what "simplifying" our spiritual lives really means, Dani shared about her adventures to a local Christian college library and all that she found, to help us achieve just the opposite. 

So, if it isn't "12 Steps", "Befriending our Desires', or "11 Gateways", what is it that brings focus and simplicity to our spiritual lives? 

Here are some scriptures to remind us:  "This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.  For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." Joshua 1:8

or

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD and in His law he meditates day and night.  He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not iither' and whatever he does shall prosper."  Psalm 1:1-3

These are verses that direct us to the spiritual discipline of meditating on scripture.

Here are some key points that Dani brought to us last night on meditation:

A.  Select an appropriate verse or passage

B.  Pray for illumination (And He opened their understanding, that  

      they might comprehend the scriptures."  Luke 24:45)

C.  Repeat the verse or passage in different ways, for example put

      the emphasis on a different word each time you read the verse.

D.  Rewrite the verse or passage in your own words

E.  Look for application (ex. pg. 69)

F.  Don't rush!

And, here are the blessings that come from meditating on scripture:

A.  Better concentration skills

B.  Greater absorption of truth.

C.  An increase in knowledge and understanding. (Ps. 119:98-99)

D.  Comfort in times of affliction (Ps. 119:23)

E.  A strong defense against sin and temptation. (Ps. 119:11)

F.  A tenderness to the things of God.  (Ps. 63:5,6)

G.  Stability (Psalm 1:1-3)

H.  Fruitfulness (Ps. 1:1-3)

I.   Perseverance (Ps. 1:1-3)

J.   Success and Prosperity (Ps. 1:1-3, Joshua 1:8)

I think this is one practice that can be added to our lives without complicating it.  In fact, just the opposite.  It should simplify our spiritual lives!