Reflections on Spiritual Disciplines Handbook (Calhoun)

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Meditation:

How would you characterize your ability to pay attention?

My ability to pay attention is fairly decent. I am able to keep my mind focused on the task at hand. I am able to close out distractions around me in order to stay focused.

When do you find it easiest to focus your mind or heart?

It is easiest to focus my mind and heart while I am in a quiet, dim environment. I don’t have a time of day that is best for me, but when there is a bit of quiet worship music playing in the background and the lights are not extremely bright, I am able to easily focus on God and other tasks.

How might the tendency to do everything quickly affect your ability to meditate?

Doing everything quickly dampens my ability to meditate. While spending time with God, He enjoys our time together, so when I am in a hurry, I am usually not able to receive everything He desires to impart to me.

What is your gut reaction to the word meditation?

I have had a negative reaction the word meditation, thinking of Eastern and new age religions. I have recently begun to intentionally relate associate the word to my Christian worldview.

Complete Spiritual Exercise 1 and reflect on your experience in 100-200 words.

Prepare yourself to meditate on Scripture by choosing a comfortable and quite place. Do not rush. Stretch, arrange your chair, take off your shoes. Sit in a position that you can maintain without effort or attention. Place yourself in the presence of God. Release your anxieties and to-do list to the LORD. Ask Him to open your heart to His Word.

Read a short passage of scripture.

Take your time, and when a word “lights up” for you stop and attend. Let the word or phrase roam around in your mind and heart. What do you hear? What feelings do you notice in yourself? Write down any questions that surface. You can attend to these at another time.

When your mind wanders, gently bring it back and continue your meditation. Do not feel you have to finish anything. Take your word with you. (Calhoun)

            I meditated on the 23^rd Psalm. I love this scripture. After I read the book “A Shepherds Look at the 23^rd Psalm”, by Phillip Keller, I was able to get some insight regarding the actual relationship of the shepherd and the sheep. “He makes me lie down in green pastures” speaks volumes to me today. In this busy and chaotic time in my life, I see my Shepherd bring me to a place of quiet rest. Regardless of my circumstances and situations, He is my peace. He brings me to a place of quietness in my loud life. He allows me to rest regardless of the season I’m in. this promise is very helpful today as I am busy with work, school, and church commitments, along with family time and personal time.

You Are What You Love (Smith)

Chapter 7:

Chapter 7 was mind blowing. The author began with creation and our response to it. God created the world for us to reflect His image, reveal creation’s potential, and for us to occupy it. (Smith) As we journey through creation, we do so in the image of God. This image allows us to love as He loves and do so from a place of humility. As we live as image bearers, we are able to see our vocation as more than a job or career, but a place to pursue God. All these steps we take through life, is not a recommendation, but a mission that God commands us to partake in.

I wouldn’t say that these lessons or insights are new, but the author gave me an opportunity to revisit these thoughts. As we go through life, these nuggets of truth have a way to get murky within the noise and busyness of life. this chapter was a great reminder that regardless of our occupation, we are called to glorify God, minister to Him, and reflect His image to those around us.

Works Cited

Calhoun, Adele Ahlberg. Spiritual Disciplines Hanbook: Practices that Transform Us. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2015.

Smith, James K. A. You Are What You Love. Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2016. Print.