Christian meditation....Practical help -Part Six

Christian meditation....Practical help _ Part Six

Daniel: A Godly Influence

Daniel 6

Daniel had the rare opportunity to influence four kings and their kingdoms with godly principles. Staying true to God often meant putting himself in danger. But, he never once wavered in his convictions. The record of Daniel's life shows us what is necessary to have a godly impact on others.

Complete confidence in the Lord's ability to protect and provide empowered Daniel to make bold decisions. He delivered bad news to kings, an act that could have gotten him killed (Dan. 2:26-44; 5:17-28). Daniel even defiantly challenged a law requiring him to worship other gods (6:7-11).

Daniel wasn't concerned with being popular. He was committed to doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord. And when he had to face consequences for choosing the unpopular course of action, he did so with a calm and humble spirit. He offered no complaint and accepted the punishment of being thrown into the lions' den. He had, in fact, broken the law.

It's so tempting to think that if we do the right thing, we'll be rewarded or, at least, protected. But, we live in a broken world. Sometimes doing right will get us punished. How we respond to the consequences of our obedience is actually as important as carrying out God's will. Others are watching and evaluating our reaction, and they want to see if we really believe our claim that the Lord is in control. Ultimately, God uses our experiences and our witness to reach others for His Kingdom.

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Further contemplation points

The following are some themed contemplation points, which you could spend a few minutes meditating on each one, before moving on, learning to slow down, a quiet time, a quiet space, an intimate time with God.

Presence of God

At the still point of my turning world,

At the core of my being,

I wait to hear and feel the gentle presence of God

Who calls me to open and let go.

Can I go to that place where God is calling me?

Freedom

I ask the God of all mercies

And the Father of all consolations,

To send the Spirit.

To free me to see all the good about me.

To be taken up in the freedom God wants me to enjoy.

How am I really feeling? Lighthearted? Heavy-hearted? I may be very much at peace, happy to be here. Equally, I may be frustrated, worried or angry. I acknowledge how I really am.

It is the real me that the Lord loves.

Consciousness

In the presence of the One who

Accepts, heals and renews

I can be honest about the ways I have fallen short

of the love I experience.

How has the last day gone?

How do I feel about the way I have responded

interacted, opened myself?

I share my feelings with the Lord.

Jesus, you always welcomed little children when you walked on this earth. Teach me to have a childlike trust in you. To live in the knowledge that you will never abandon me.

The Word

God speaks to each one of us personally.

What am I hearing?

Read the text a few times......

John1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God.

All things came to be through him,

and without him nothing came to be.

What came to be through him was life,

and this life was the light of the human race;

the light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness has not overcome it.

A man named John was sent from God.

He came for testimony, to testify to the light,

so that all might believe through him.

He was not the light,

but came to testify to the light.

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world,

and the world came to be through him,

but the world did not know him.

He came to what was his own,

but his own people did not accept him.

But to those who did accept him

he gave power to become children of God,

to those who believe in his name,

who were born not by natural generation

nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision

but of God.

And the Word became flesh

and made his dwelling among us,

and we saw his glory,

the glory as of the Father’s only-begotten Son,

full of grace and truth.

John testified to him and cried out, saying,

“This was he of whom I said,

‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me

because he existed before me.’”

From his fullness we have all received,

grace in place of grace,

because while the law was given through Moses,

grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

No one has ever seen God.

The only-begotten Son, God, who is at the Father’s side,

has revealed him.......

What are you saying to me, Lord?

Conversation

Where are the leading strings of God's love?

Where am I called to forgive, understand, apologise, make amends?

Where am I moved by love or fear?

Share your feelings with Jesus.....

At any time of the day or night we can call on Jesus.

He is always waiting, listening for our call.

What a wonderful blessing.

No phone needed, no e-mails, just a whisper

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,

world without end.

Amen.

Remember...He did not just make us and go away......God works with us and for us, and we see God's hand not just in the sunshine and obvious blessings, but even in the dark times...

Isaiah 43:16, 18-19

This is what the LORD says— he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

gbu and peace

rachy