There’s an instinct within believers to purify ourselves, even as Christ Himself is pure (1Jn 3:3), to rid ourselves of all lies and misconceptions (Ps 119:29), to heal our wounds and insecurities, to root out all our evil tendencies (Ps 139:23-24), and live worthy of our calling and salvation. (Ep 4:1) This is our sanctification, and though we have the instinct to pursue it, we may not understand the process, how God sanctifies us; this can delay our progress and frustrate us.
The key principle at work in our sanctification is this: all sin springs from believing a lie, and we’re set free (sanctified) by knowing the truth. (Jn 8:32)
It sounds simple enough, but our lies are generally interconnected, layered into us over many years and strategically woven together within our souls through wounds and a myriad of social modeling, training and coercion. These lies build upon and reinforce one another, blinding us to the truth we so desperately need. It is so complex and multi-faceted that getting free really does take an act of God. (2Ti 2:24-26)
Thankfully, God is indeed in the business of sanctifying us (Jn 17:17); He doesn’t leave us alone in this process, yet He doesn’t do it all by Himself either – He expects us to understand how He sanctifies us, submit ourselves to His process and cooperate with Him in working out our own salvation/sanctification. (Php 2:12)
Since we get free by believing the truth (2Th 2:13), the next step in any sanctification journey is always to uncover another lie and renew our minds to believe the truth in the context of that lie. But how do we most efficiently go about this?
We must first find the next lie, identify and isolate it. This isn’t as easy as it might seem. Like diagnosing any ailment or disease, the process can be highly individual and nuanced: many similar symptoms have very different root causes and cures, and every individual is unique.
Further, like solving a Rubik’s Cube, there is often a required sequence in which we must approach a wholistic cure; when certain basic things aren’t working properly it doesn’t help to merely address the symptoms: when we do we just go round in circles, ending up back where we started. We must find the correct root causes, those within in our vast web and network of lies which are relatively unprotected and exposed, less grounded in the underlying substructure of our minds, and address them in a viable sequence. This takes the leading of the Spirit (Ps 23:3), searching all our inward parts (Pr 20:27), knowing how to set us free. (1Co 1:30)
To do this efficiently, in constant communion with the Spirit, we prayerfully take heed (or pay attention) to what’s going on inside of us in light of God’s perfect standard of holiness. (Ps 119:9) We’re to be constantly aware of how our thoughts, feelings, emotions and actions are aligned with God’s Law: Torah, His definition of righteousness. (72)
In parallel, we’re also to be constantly thinking about and meditating on God’s Law (97), so we’re continually exposing ourselves to and contemplating His righteousness in all its glory and wonder (18), constantly evaluating how we ourselves align with it. (59)
Whenever we sense a recurring disconnect between our behavior and God’s Way, we ask God to expose the underlying root-cause lie (105), help us understand and believe the truth (27), and then enable us to walk in it. (35)
To overcome, we should meditate upon and pray through scriptures which specifically address this lie (2Ti 3:16-17), asking God for grace to help us believe the truth with our whole heart, way down in our subconscious mind. We may need to enlist the prayers of spiritual community (Ja 5:16), and invite them to point out more relevant Scripture to cut to the chase and expose our issues. (He 4:12)
We know we are free when our behavior changes and stabilizes in holiness, as we consistently follow the way of truth in this particular area under a variety of trials and circumstances.
Our sanctification is a never-ending journey (Php 3:13-14) guided and attended by the Holy Spirit (Jn 16:13) in the context of spiritual community. We cannot do this all on our own, and we are not alone. (He 13:5)
Commit thyself to the LORD and follow His instruction leaning not on your own understanding. I know the repentant man on death’s tree shows that works alone but faith carries weight. We know the law is good for it shows our wickedness. The demon within us all is ego. Ego questions everything good, doubts everything. He is that serpent in the garden.
Appreciate you brother
Thanks Eric. Agree about faith being key, yet even in his short time as a believer in this life, the thief on the cross had some amazing works!
http://ableever.net/wordpress/2022/12/07/lord-remember-me/
This is the tail end of a discussion from ChatGPT on the different types of meditation that are intended to be transformative in some way. The biblical approach does not seem to be listed, but similar to two ancient Christian practices. I wonder what would happen if someone gave themselves to God’s meditation rigorously as a pattern of life.
Tim: Are there any types of meditation that would be considered Christian or that focus on meditating on the Bible?
ChatGPT
Yes, there are several types of meditation that are considered Christian or that focus on meditating on the Bible. These practices aim to deepen one’s faith, enhance understanding of Scripture, and foster a closer relationship with God. Some of these include:
Lectio Divina:
Focus: Meditative reading and contemplation of Scripture.
Practice: This ancient practice involves four steps:
Lectio (reading): Slowly and attentively reading a passage from the Bible.
Meditatio (meditation): Reflecting on the passage and pondering its meaning.
Oratio (prayer): Responding to God in prayer based on insights gained.
Contemplatio (contemplation): Resting in God’s presence and allowing the passage to sink deeply into the soul.
Centering Prayer:
Focus: Contemplative prayer that emphasizes inner silence and the presence of God.
Practice: Involves choosing a sacred word (e.g., “Jesus,” “peace”) and sitting quietly, gently repeating the word to center one’s focus on God. When thoughts arise, they are gently dismissed by returning to the sacred word.
Ignatian Contemplation:
Focus: Using imagination to enter into and experience biblical scenes.
Practice: Developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola, this practice involves vividly imagining oneself in a Gospel story, engaging all the senses to experience the event as if present, and contemplating its meaning and personal application.
Christian Meditation:
Focus: Focusing on a single word or phrase to draw closer to God.
Practice: Often involves repeating a word or phrase from Scripture or a prayer, such as “Maranatha” (Aramaic for “Come, Lord”), to quiet the mind and foster a sense of God’s presence.
Scripture Meditation:
Focus: Reflecting deeply on specific Bible verses or passages.
Practice: Involves selecting a verse or passage, reading it slowly and repeatedly, and contemplating its significance, asking questions like, “What is God saying to me through this text?” and “How can I apply this in my life?”
Rosary Meditation:
Focus: Meditative prayer that reflects on the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary.
Practice: Common in Catholic tradition, involves reciting prayers (such as the Hail Mary) while meditating on the Mysteries of the Rosary, which are events from the lives of Jesus and Mary.
Taizé Prayer:
Focus: Meditative worship involving repetitive singing and silence.
Practice: Originating from the Taizé Community in France, this involves simple, repetitive chants and periods of silence to create a contemplative atmosphere that facilitates prayer and reflection on God’s presence.
These Christian meditative practices are designed to help believers engage more deeply with their faith, draw closer to God, and find spiritual nourishment through the contemplation of Scripture and prayer.
Tim: Would any of these Christian practices have required memorizing the Bible?
ChatGPT
Most Christian meditative practices do not require memorizing the Bible, but familiarity with Scripture can enhance the experience. Here’s how each practice relates to Bible memorization:
Lectio Divina:
No memorization required. It involves reading a passage slowly and meditatively during the practice.
Centering Prayer:
No memorization required. It focuses on a sacred word rather than specific Bible passages.
Ignatian Contemplation:
No memorization required. This practice uses imagination to enter into Gospel scenes, typically reading the passages as part of the meditation.
Christian Meditation:
No memorization required. It involves focusing on a word or phrase, which can be from Scripture, but it’s repeated during the meditation.
Scripture Meditation:
Memorization can be helpful but is not required. Reflecting deeply on specific verses can be done with a Bible open in front of you, though knowing some verses by heart can make it more spontaneous.
Rosary Meditation:
No Bible memorization required. This practice involves reciting prayers and meditating on specific events in the lives of Jesus and Mary. Familiarity with the events (the Mysteries of the Rosary) is helpful.
Taizé Prayer:
No memorization required. It involves repetitive singing of simple chants and periods of silence, often using short scriptural phrases.
In summary, while memorizing Bible verses can deepen one’s engagement with these practices, it is not a strict requirement for any of them. Familiarity with Scripture can certainly enhance the meditative experience, making it more meaningful and personalized.
Tim: Of all of the types of meditation that exist, which one would most closely approximate the following technique: memorize an extended passage of the Bible, like a chapter or a book of the Bible, and review it until you can repeat it Word for Word with very little error. Then going over it repeatedly reflecting on what parts of it your soul is not properly aligned with, asking God to show you where you are not aligned with this passage, and comparing it with other scriptures that you have memorized, and asking God to change your belief system to align with this particular passage of scripture, along with every other scripture that you have memorized. this would be a lifelong technique of memorizing scripture and meditating on it in prayer, seeking for God to cleanse your soul and spirit of everything and anything that is inconsistent with or contrary to anything in the Bible.
Chat GPT
The technique you described closely resembles a form of **Scripture Meditation** combined with **Lectio Divina**, but with a strong emphasis on memorization and internal transformation. Here’s a breakdown of how these practices align with your described method:
1. **Scripture Meditation**:
– **Memorization**: Your method involves deeply memorizing extended passages of the Bible, which aligns with the principle of Scripture Meditation.
– **Repetition and Reflection**: Repeatedly reviewing the memorized passages and reflecting on their meaning and personal application is a core aspect of Scripture Meditation.
– **Alignment with God’s Word**: Asking God to reveal areas where you are not aligned with the scripture and seeking transformation is central to this practice.
2. **Lectio Divina**:
– **Contemplation and Prayer**: Your method involves contemplating the scripture and engaging in prayer to seek God’s guidance and transformation, which mirrors the steps of Lectio Divina (lectio, meditatio, oratio, and contemplatio).
– **Lifelong Practice**: Lectio Divina is often practiced as a lifelong spiritual discipline, much like the ongoing nature of your described technique.
Your described method is an intensive and comprehensive approach to spiritual growth through the memorization and meditation of Scripture, incorporating elements of both Scripture Meditation and Lectio Divina. It places a strong emphasis on internalizing the Bible, seeking divine guidance, and transforming one’s beliefs and behaviors to align with biblical teachings. This lifelong commitment to memorizing and meditating on the Bible, combined with prayerful reflection and seeking alignment with God’s Word, makes it a deeply personal and transformative spiritual practice.