Week 15 – The Forms of Meditation – Meditation upon Events

Celebration of Discipline Bible Study

Prepared by: Rev. Willetta Ar-Rahmaan

Week 15 – The Forms of Meditation – Meditation upon Events

            The last form of meditation Foster defined is “meditation upon events of our time and to seek to perceive their significance”.   In the previous lesson we talked about meditation upon creation, the beauty of what God created and now Foster wants us to focus on the events of our time as meditation.  When I read this particular portion of the book, God recalled to my memory my sermon preparation class.  My professor, the Late Rev. Dr. Miles Jones, said we need to read the newspaper and the Bible together.  As we meditate on the events we are asking God to reveal to us the deeper meaning of what was written in the paper or heard on the news.  This type of meditation is seeking God’s insight of today so we can see if the underlying issues were those that impacted the early church.  Foster also believe “we should ask for guidance for anything we personally should be doing to be salt and light in tour decaying and dark world” (pg. 32).

            When most of meditation upon current events and we are able to discern what God is revealing to us, we may not share it with others because we are not comfortable being the messenger of unpopular news.  God didn’t call us to be popular but to be like the prophets of old, speak to the people so they can turn from the path of destruction.  Have you noticed the events of today seem to be the same events going on in the Bible?  The same message the prophets spoke is still being reiterated today.  This is why it is necessary for us to seek that deeper meaning and relationship with God.

            Meditation on this level is not easy because we are seeking quick answers but we must sit a while with God for the revelation needed.  When we start meditation it may feel like a waste of time but actually it’s time in God’s presence.  Meditation is like everything else we start at first.  It’s hard and we may not feel we are making progress but the key is to keep doing it.  Don’t allow you feelings to discourage you because your feelings have good and bad days.

            As I searched for resources for Christian Meditation, I realized there was a lack of available resources.  A good rule of thumb is to look at the Notes section in the back of any book.  Foster used several books that can be found online.  If you are not sure about meditation, take small steps like prayer.  A little at a time and next you will be meditating and focusing on all things in life.

            This is our last lesson for meditation.  We will start looking at Prayer.  Remember, we are working on the inward disciplines.  These disciplines develop our personal time with God.

Assignment:

Research an event you remember from growing up (i.e. war, crime, peace, unity). 

Pray and ask God to show you why did this happen? 

Write down where Bible a similar event took place in the Bible

What was the outcome?