Spiritual Growth~

The first rung step for a beginner in monastic theology is reading. Monks read ample amounts of scripture. Notice the term we use is read, as opposed to study. Spiritual reading is not analytical on mental but rather it is absorbed into the heart.

Reading of this quality is slow and reflective. Words have meaning in themselves that build together into a discourse with God. We sense and feel this spiritual character of reading. Spiritual growth is attained by immersing your heart again and again in scripture.

Jesus is not found in scripture. The Bible tells us about Jesus, but we can only know him in the heart and not the mind. The mind only holds ideas, but love is contained in the heart where Jesus will come to dwell with those who love him.

Many people study scripture with a motivation to master the text. A monk reads scripture with a motivation to love the Master. Ponder that thought.


Looking for more encouragement? Read our sister blog - One Woman Sanctuary Blog.

Christian Prayer~

A good monk would never study God. Rather, a good monk would experience God and call the experience theology. Monks in early Christianity thought of theology as a way of knowing God.

Monastic theology was built on the structure of a ladder with four rungs. Reading scripture is the first step of a beginner. After much reading of scripture, such knowledge must be digested through meditation at the second rung.

The third rung is prayer, asking God for knowledge. Contemplation, the fourth rung, is beholding God in an experience of the divine that is purely mystical. This is where the monk comes to know God more fully.

We can follow this course of knowing God as present day monks. Take each step slowly. God never hurries or skips a step. Take time to read the Bible without questions or analysis. Then take the scriptures of your heart up the ladder with you.

Be still and know God.

Downloadable studies on the practice of Christian meditation on scripture and contemplation are available here.

Looking for more encouragement? Read our sister blog - One Woman Sanctuary Blog.

TAGS: Christian Prayer, Contemplative Prayer, Christian Meditation

Faith in God~

As I watched a single cloud float across the sky, the word of the Lord came to me saying, "Calvin, what do you see?" And I said, "I see a cloud floating in the sky." Then the Lord said to me, "The cloud makes no effort of its own. It only goes where it is propelled by the wind. So it is with my servant who moves in my Spirit."

So I asked the Lord, "How can I learn to live in such freedom?" And the word of the Lord said, "Trust in me and you will have abundant freedom." This is God's simple wisdom.

Contemplating creation will sometimes reveal the wisdom of God. After all, creation is of God's own design and God is still at work in all creation. But for me to trust God with the faith of a cloud is more than I can do. That may take more contemplation. Lord, help me surrender to your simple wisdom.

To learn more about contemplating creation, look here.

Looking for more encouragement? Read our sister blog - One Woman Sanctuary Blog.

Tags: Faith in God, Contemplative Prayer, Spiritual Life

Christian Prayer~

Christian contemplation can be traced back to the Old Testament prophets and beyond. The prophet Ezekiel went to the Jewish exiles at Tel-Abib where he sat overwhelmed in contemplation for seven days. It was the practice of prophets to sit and contemplate a situation until God revealed what he was doing. At the end of seven days, the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel.

But contemplation is not reserved only for great prophets. God wants his faithful people to seek him in this ancient practice. Simply sit still, quiet your mind, and begin your journey.

I know from my own experience that sitting still and quieting the mind is way more difficult than it may sound. You'll want some basic instruction and an experienced person to guide you. With intentional practice and effort, you can experience God through the ancient practice of contemplation. It will deepen your love for God and your faith in him.

Check out a Living for God Spiritual Life Study on contemplation here.

Looking for more encouragement? Read our sister blog - One Woman Sanctuary Blog.

TAGS: Christian Prayer, Contemplative Prayer, Christian Meditation

Spiritual Formation~

Whoever seeks God, and does not give up, will behold the face of God. I believe that it is God's will for us to see and know him in uncreated light. We seek the face of God until he reveals himself.

Be quiet and wait for God. Press in and do not be lazy. Be patient in your contemplation. God will appear without warning and bless you for staying awake.

It is God's passionate desire that you see and experience him in the fullness of his love. God wants to be seen and wants to be sought, pursuing until found. Then at last, you behold the face of Christ illuminated in the love of the Father and revealing the fullness of God's glory.

It is God's love that reveals God's self to anyone who has a wish-filled yearning for him. As a groom waits for his bride, patiently await the entrance of your divine beloved.


Looking for more encouragement? Read our sister blog - One Woman Sanctuary Blog.

TAGS: Spiritual Formation, Contemplative Prayer, Christian Meditation

Christian Discipleship~

God created us out of his infinite love. "And God who created humanity for love, by the same love God wished to restore humanity to the same bliss, and even more," writes Julian of Norwich. You see, in the beginning, God created us to live at peace with God's-self, our inner-self, all humankind, and all creation.

The Father sent Jesus into humanity to restore this four-fold peace, or bliss, which was intended for all of us from the beginning. Jesus offers abundant and lasting peace that cannot be found anywhere else.

So where does Jesus get this peace? It comes from the love of the Father. We, that is, all humankind, exist because of God's love. We survive because of God's love. And we can be restored to the image of Christ because of God's love. And there is even more.

God loves you and every other human being that much. How will you respond to God's love?

Looking for more encouragement? Read our sister blog - One Woman Sanctuary Blog.

TAGS: Christian Discipleship, God's Peace, Reflecting Christ

Christian Discipleship~ 

TAGS: Christian Discipleship, Christian Living, Spiritual Journey

Christian Living~

Holy poverty is a core Christian value. Jesus said, "Sell all that you have, give it to the poor and follow me." You see, it's hard to follow Jesus when your heart and mind are distracted by a wealth of possessions.

Satan knows this, so he has a game plan. First he gets us to desire wealth. Satan knows that once we acquire wealth, then we will desire honor. Once we have honor, then we acquire pride. Now, a prideful person is easily deceived by the devil.

The core value for holy poverty was strong in the early Christian culture. But little by little, that value became less and less prevalent. Today there is a popular teaching that wealth is a sign of God's blessing and that God wants his people to be rich. So these days many Christians desire wealth.

Wait! What was the first step of Satan's game plan? Maybe it's time to start seeking our treasures in heaven.

Looking for more encouragement? Read our sister blog - One Woman Sanctuary Blog.

TAGS: Christian Living, Spiritual Life, Reflecting Christ

Lent~

Lent, Fasting and Charity - by Calvin Wulf



How would you prepare yourself spiritually for the holiest of all celebrations? Easter is the most holy festival in the Christian tradition.
 
This enlightening download tells how the apostles and other early Christians answered this question and offers ideas that you can practice today.

You're invited to learn from them and choose a Lenten observance that has meaning for you in your unique spiritual journey. Read more …

Looking for more encouragement? Read our sister blog - One Woman Sanctuary Blog.

TAGS: Lent, Christian Downloads, Christian Discipleship

Spiritual Life~

To know God is to love God. How could there be any other response to God who is perfect love? And please be assured that I mean "love" in the gushy romantic sense.

We can know a fish in the scientific sense. The fish can be measured. We can dissect the fish and examine its organs. The skeleton of that fish can be diagrammed and analyzed. But this kind of knowing imparts no sense of love whatsoever. You just get a cold fish.

If God has any chance at becoming the lover of your soul, then you must engage God in a dance of courtship. Get to know God as a living being who has an identity and a personality. Behold God and become enraptured. Let yourself be known in return. Indeed, get naked with God.

God deeply desires a romantic embrace with every human being. God doesn't need analysis. Let God be your lover and enjoy an eternity of romantic bliss!

Looking for more encouragement? Read our sister blog - One Woman Sanctuary Blog.

TAGS: Spiritual Life, Christian Spirituality, Contemplative Prayer