Experiencing God - "Be still and know that I am God." [Contemplatives]

Have you ever said "I wish I could just have more quiet time with God?"  Why do you think that we say that?

I believe that "quiet time" with God is one of the more highly sought after spiritual practices that people desire today.  There are countless numbers of books, sermons, websites, calendars all devoted to helping us develop a more meaningful quiet time devotion with God.

I think if any of us are envious of any temperament, it's probably the contemplative temperament.  Contemplatives are usually finely tuned into to the "God-channel" in their spiritual lives.  They know where the exact frequency is, and have a deep experience of God in their lives.  And for most contemplatives you can see it, right?

You can just tell by interacting even just a few moments with a contemplative that you are in the presence of someone who is deeply connected with God.

There are a couple of people who come to mind who have had a significant impact on my life when it comes to this temperament.  David Pounds was my college minister while attending the Broadway Church of Christ in Lubbock, Texas.  There were several occasions where David would minister to me by going out to the lake and just reading Psalms.  I remember one day in particular where we went out to one of Lubbock's lakes and sat on the abandoned railway bridge that overlooked it.  David taught me to pray with my eyes open, looking and marveling at all the things God was doing around me.  He taught me as a college student that slowing down and taking time to be with God is crucial to healthy spiritual living.  The other influential contemplative in my life was my spiritual formation professor, Ethan Brown.  Dr. Brow taught me about all of this we have been discussing in terms of spiritual modes.  He had a deep understanding of Christian formation and placed high value on allowing God to shape us into his image.  In my interactions with Dr. Brown, he showed me the importance of balance between being with God and learning about God.  I'm sure you have people in your life that you could list as well who have influenced your life in the way these two have mine.  

Contemporary worship music has done a really good job of guiding us into a contemplative mindset whether we know it our not.  We sing songs like "In the secret, in the quiet place...I want to know you more."  Or things like "Your love is extravagant and your friendship is intimate."  But it's not only contemporary songs but also some oldie-but-goodies.  One popular hymn says 

"I come to the garden alone while the dew is still on the roses
The voice I hear calling on my ear 
the Son of God discloses 
And he walks with me and he talks with me
and he tells me I am his own 
And the joy we share as we tarry there none other has ever known"

 All of these songs, and the hundreds of more like them, call us to a life lived in the presence of God, seeking his face, and worshiping him in his holy presence.  

In our class we surveyed a number of Biblical examples such as Psalm 63 where David speaks about his deep relationship with God and his desire to know God more fully.  We also looked about Luke 10:38-42 which tells the story of the time when Jesus visited his friends Mary and Martha.  We know this story very well, but in terms of the contemplative temperament Jesus teaches us that Mary chose well.  We know that she desired to be in Jesus' presence, even though it was "not kosher" for her to do so.  And lastly we looked at Jesus, himself, who often withdrew to solitary places, such as in Mark 1:35-39, to pray and be with the Father.

I loved one particular commentary I read during this study which basically said if solitary was practiced by Jesus, then we sure better be practicing it ourselves!!

Lectio Divina

One spiritual practice that always ushers me into a more contemplative experience with God is the practice of Lectio Divina.  This practice is a devotional reading practice that uses Scripture to open up our hearts to hear God speaking into them.  The practice itself varies from person to person, but here is the basic process:

Find a passage of Scripture that you would like to meditate on for a time.  One of my favorites is John 15:1-8. 

Get settled and use these steps as your guide through the passage.

1) Silencing - As you begin, to try and remove those things that hinder you, quiet your mind, and get to a place where you are open to receive the words of God.  Maybe you will want to close your eyes, or bow your head.  Take a few deep breaths and prepare to hear the words of God speak to you.

2) Reading -  Begin a slow gradual reading of your selected passage allowing the words to resonate and settle in your heart.  If a word or phrase catches your attention, let it linger...don't rush to get to get the next "thing."

3) Meditation - Read the passage for a second time, and this time listen for the words that connected with your life right now.  Ask the question:  "What is this Word from God speaking into my life at this moment?" 

4) Pray  - Read the passage once more, continuing to listen attentively to what God is speaking to you. Has God invited you to respond to this passage in some way?  Allow the Scripture to lead you in prayer as a response to those things God has spoken to you in this time.

5) Contemplation - Having let the words of God speak to you, take a few moments to just rest in his presence and love.  Allow these words to sink deeply into your heart so that they will go with you throughout the rest of the day.  Return to them and remember them in the coming hours.

This is a great practice!  For me, it always breathes new life into the text and allows God to speak deeply to me.  This week, I hope that you will find comfort and peace in God's abiding presence in your life.  May you be filled with joy and overwhelmed with God's goodness as you seek his presence.