894 Honor the Lord with Substance and Discipline, A Guided Christian Meditation on Proverbs 3:9-12 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ. Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable doing 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 Proverbs 3:9-12 NIV 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. 11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, 12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. RSV 9 Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. 11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, 12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. and refreshment to your inner self. Reflection on Scripture: These two stanzas go together well. Let's reflect on the first. What is the purpose of the substance we have? What can our wealth do for us in the long run? What about beyond 100 years? On an eternal scale it is very limited and has no impact other than where we set our heart. If we learn to prioritize God above the things of the world, to include finances, we are in a far better situation to be able to learn what God wants to teach us. I think this message is valuable in times of plenty but in difficult economic times, this message is even more valuable. What would you pay for a better eternal relationship with God? What would someone pay for their own soul? Now the second Stanza, in modern society discipline is often presented as a negative or a necessary evil. And yet the scripture is very pro discipline. I was talking with someone close to me outside my immediate family and I was talking with them about things that werent going the best in their life. I had a very specific moment where I had to decide how truthful to be with them. Not that I had to decide to lie or not, but I had to decide to intentionally bring up uncomfortable conversation that was absolutely not necessary for my happiness. There is a pattern in that person's life I felt I should highlight for them because it was negatively impacting other relationships for them. I remember at that moment specifically choosing to engage in that lengthy emotionally exhausting and uncomfortable conversation because I cared about that person and I wanted them to do well. My willingness to engage in that discomfort was rooted in care. I wanted nothing from that person other than for them to live a more satisfying life for them and for those around them, but I had no expectation the conversation would help me. The Lord cares for us far more than that. If God chooses to correct us it is not out of an unrighteous desire. It is not out of malice or narcissism or any negative outcome or bias. It is because of his raw care and concern for us. When scripture calls us to repentance or others in our life point out how we could be better, our pride fights it, but God's desire for us is that we rejoice in that correction because it will help 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: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast 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? FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPo
