If we’re filled with all the fullness of God (Ep 3:19b), if Father God is strengthening us with might by His Spirit in our inner man (16), if we’re continually conscious of the indwelling Christ living in and through us (17a), if we’re firmly rooted and grounded in love (17b), comprehending the deep things of God (18), if Christ’s love for us energizes, motivates and overwhelms us (19a), then we’re rightly enjoying God’s salvation and redemption.
Otherwise, we’re leaving much wonder and glory on the table, not pursuing God’s kingdom and righteousness with our whole heart. (Ps 119:5)
Perhaps we’ve become lukewarm (Re 3:15-16); perhaps we don’t yet fathom what’s available to us and how to obtain it. (Ep 4:17-18)
We might start by asking God to begin deepening our hunger and thirst for righteousness (Mt 5:6), that He would begin inclining our heart towards Himself (Ps 119: 36), renewing our mind and helping us put on our new nature. (Ep 4:23-24) This would start stirring up our appetite for holiness (Ps 119:32) and awakening us to our need. (Re 3:17)
We could then start asking Him to help us become more aware of ourselves (Ja 1:23-24), to help us begin noticing how we’re feeling and thinking and reacting, to perceive what’s energizing and motivating us throughout each day (Ps 19:12), especially when we’re under stress. (Pr 20:27)
Then we could start asking Him to show us any areas He would like to cleanse and renew, any consistent patterns which are misaligned with Torah: His perfect standard of righteousness. (Ps 139:23-24) As the Author and Finisher our faith (He 12:2), He knows how to take us to the next phase of our particular journey, what areas we should be working on next.
Then we could prayerfully start considering any scriptures which come to mind (Ps 119:18), which expose any part of our lives as misaligned with God’s Way. (Ps 119:105)
Then we could start memorizing these verses (Ps 119:11) and meditating on them (15), comparing our beliefs, affections and desires with what He reveals. (9)
Then we could begin visualizing ourselves walking in more obedience to God in these specific areas, setting our minds on our destiny (Re 3:18): to be more Christlike, and begin aligning our behavior moment by moment with that holy vision, asking God to order our steps in His Word, to not let any iniquity have dominion over us (Ps 119:133), and to continue making us go in the path of His commandments. (35)
We may persist, asking in faith, knowing He will be within us and continually helping us, because that’s precisely why He gave Himself for us: to redeem us from all iniquity and purify us unto Himself. (Ti 2:14)
Yet, as we’re praying and looking to Him to deliver us, God expects us to strive to cleanse ourselves (2Co 7:1), even as we’re asking Him to cleanse and strengthen us. (Jn 15:5) If we’re earnestly seeking Him and His righteousness (Mt 6:33), we’ll do whatever we can to pursue holiness as a manner of life (1Jn 3:3), as we depend on Him to deliver us. (Php 2:12) In our striving He works in us both to will and to do as He pleases (13), ordering our steps according to His perfect plan. (Ps 37:23)
And all along the way, we can be praying for ourselves and others, and asking others to be praying for us (Ja 5:16), that we might be continually filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that we might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. (Co 1:9-11)
In this way we can be adding to our faith virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and agape love (2Pe 1:5-7), for if these are abounding in us, we’ll not be barren nor unfruitful in our knowledge of Christ. (8) Without them we’re blind and forgetful, wandering in the twilight, wanton and dissatisfied in God. (9)
This post is inspired in part by an (2-hr) interview with Joe Dispensa, which provides insights into the power of spiritual meditation.
Here is a bit of an outline summary of his methodology and beliefs.
I think some of Dispensa’s techniques are dangerous, where he leverages spiritual power without discerning between godly and ungodly power. Even so, I think he has borrowed a lot of concepts from God which we can leverage to achieve a godly outcome.
Comments from Andy Hayes
I definitely see the Gnosticism in Dispenza’s ideas. Gnosticism draws from a variety of philosophies and ideas, but is primarily based on deviations from Christian principles, which is why it’s not a huge leap to bring the concepts back into line with scripture.
Dispenza says there is a divine intelligence inside us that gives us life and that we have to develop a relationship with it. The idea common to all Gnostic religions and to the philosophy of Gnosticism in general is that the true essence of humanity is the inner spirit, which is our intellect, and that the goal is to free our intellect from the prison of the body (and in Dispenza’s case, its diseases, which are part of the oppression) to be at one with the Supreme God in the spirit realm.
The Gnostic view is that there is a Supreme God who is higher than the oppressive god of the OT who created earth and our bodies as a prison. From Genesis 3, Gnostics got the idea that the acquisition of knowledge makes humans more like God and so gnosis or special knowledge is the key to being your own god and to help you to merge with the Supreme God.
Dispenza even talks about being your own creator, which appears to me to be more like being your own “repairer”. So instead of the Christian idea of having a relationship with God who is inside us, the gnostic idea is to be your own god and have a relationship with your own intellect to free yourself from the oppression of the body.
Dispenza then adds to this basic gnostic idea some self-help concepts from the 1950s such as Transcendental Meditation as well as the Power of Positive Thinking, from Norman Vincent Peale, and both of those ideas are based on Christian principles.
Having said all that, taking Dispenza’s methods and crediting the original source for his method and using the language from that source, which is scripture, will lead back to the original method of how to connect with the true God of the OT.
On the “All the Fullness” biblical approach, work-wise it is heavy on prayer (asking for God’s help) vs. meditation and reflection (our duty to help ourselves/having skin in the game) whereas Dispenza’s method appears to rely exclusively on self-help. So, my only comment on the biblical method, which is great so far, is that it could include a brief discussion about the relationship between time spent asking God to help us vs. helping ourselves. Is the method one primarily of prayer supplemented by meditation/reflection or vice versa? Time-wise, I don’t think it can be 100% of both. The method currently implies that it is primarily prayer based.
I was thinking that it would vary per person, but that you could lay out a general principle and I would think that it would end up being mostly meditation supplemented by prayer although I suppose it could start out with more prayer than meditation and the mix would change over time.
I was trying to think of an analogy to explain why God doesn’t immediately and permanently transform us into His perfect image, but that we need to work at that. Scripture says to “ask and ye shall receive” but also says to study to show thyself approved” and that rewards are based on work. People aren’t normally handed positions at the top from the start. You work your way up. You can ask for a promotion, but you normally don’t get it unless you have put in the work first.
Excellent! Thanks for the feedback. I have incorporated some of your suggestions into the post.
Here is a link to some info on spiritual alchemy, which is strikingly similar to Dispensa’s methodology.
A few tips from Dispensa, which appear obviously healthy and scriptural, are helping me grow spiritually:
[1] First thing every morning, and periodically throughout the day: envision being the best version of myself (more confident, humble, joyful, balanced, temperate, pure, wise, gentle, holy). I think this is at least part of what it means to “put on Christ”.
[2] Throughout each day, especially every evening, practicing a spirit of thankfulness and gratitude.
[3] Becoming more aware of my physical senses: what I am seeing, hearing, smelling/tasting, feeling — stopping to notice the details of my life and enjoy them with God.
[4] Becoming more aware of my spirit: what I am feeling and thinking, comparing this with the Word, asking God to show me areas He’s wanting to cleanse and heal and what scriptures will address each one.
When I started out applying these things, I didn’t have any particular struggle in mind and was surprised at where it led.
God started with my fearfulness, then started working on my discontentment, then my pride, then my tendency to go to extremes even when moderation is healthier, etc.
There has been a circling back to certain areas, sometimes with several concepts in play in parallel. Some topics last only a day at a time, others are more ongoing.
I think everyone’s journey will look different.
I am finding more wholesomeness in my thought life, more confidence and joy, less fear and anxiety, more hope and wisdom.