InHisCare Bible Study Community Group
I love to study God Word, so I create bible studies for personal study and for other to join me, if they like. My way of staying focus is to study Gods Word daily. I desire this group to become a place of haven for me to meet other Christian who like to pray and study Gods Word. I will share bible studies, prayers, and devotions I love. Please join me if you wish. Thank...
Prayer:
Father God, we honor and praise You or who You are today. We will not give up because of the way the world has turned. We come to You in Jesus’ name asking for You to speak to our hearts today as You did before in bible time. We need to hear from You, especially in our hearts, Lord. You spoke to Joshua and many others, speak to us, Lord; thank You for hearing our prayers, and Lord, please help us to listen when You speak to us. Lord God, bless our time to meditate in Your Word. Give us a desire to do it more and more in Jesus’ name we pray. AMEN.
Scripture: Joshua 1:8;
Lesson: “Meditating in Prayer:
Christian meditation is a form of prayer in which a structured attempt is made to become aware of and reflect upon the revelations of God. ... Christian meditation is the process of deliberately focusing on specific thoughts (such as a bible passage) and reflecting on their meaning in the context of the love of God.
Biblical meditation involves taking a phrase, verse, or passage of Scripture and thinking carefully about it, pondering, and letting the Holy Spirit slowly make it alive within you. Then you pray it back to God. Meditation creates faith and expectation. Meditation focuses our thinking on God's Word. Through meditation we come to know God, not just about Him. Through meditation we grow in our love for God’s Word. Meditation helps us:
Meditation helps us pray more effectively. Psalm 119 speaks over and over again about the value of God’s Word and the importance of meditation. Meditation on the Scriptures will cause us to understand something of the mind and heart of God. Meditation changes us deeply, freeing us from negative thinking because we are dwelling on the positive truth of Scripture. It touches the deepest part of our soul and transforms us. Meditation should always result in a response to God, whether it is repentance, thanksgiving, worship, obedience, or a change in attitude.
In personal prayer, we speak to God, but in meditative prayer, we allow God to speak to us through his Word and his Spirit. What do we mean by meditative prayer? Is there such a thing as Christian meditation? Isn’t meditation non-Christian? According to Richard Foster, “Eastern meditation is an attempt to empty the mind; Christian meditation is an attempt to fill the mind.” Rather than emptying the mind, we fill it with God’s Word. We must not neglect a vital part of our Judeo-Christian heritage simply because other traditions use a form of meditation.
Steps for Meditative Prayer:
Designate a quiet place. In a world full of distractions, we need a quiet place where we can allow God to speak to us. Businessmen and women are comfortable in their offices for work. In the same way, the most effective place to pray is in your quiet place.
Give yourself 20-30 minutes. Many people only spend a few minutes each day in prayer. Very few people actually spend time in meditative prayer. It takes time to drown out the cares of the world, sit and prayerfully meditate on God’s Word, and then allow Him to speak to us.
Choose a scripture to prayerfully meditate. Prayerfully select a passage of Scripture that means something to you. Let it focus on the goodness of God, the promises of God, or the worship of God.
Allow time for God to speak to you. This is the hardest part. Many people never hear the Lord speak to them simply because they don’t allow Him to. We need to allow time to sit and listen for the voice of the Lord. This was the difference between Eli and Samuel (1 Samuel 3). Samuel was open to hearing from the Lord. He said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”
Let’s talk about determine your mindset:
Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” We have the power to set our minds. We train our minds to think in Christian terms. We determine not only what enters our mind, but what is not allowed to enter our mind. We do this when we meditate! Thinking “Christian-ly” is the substance and spirit of what it means for the follower of Christ to grow in the mind of Christ. It would be absurd to affirm that Jesus Christ is the Lord of all, yet then not allow Him to lord over our thinking!
Nowhere is the Lordship of Christ and the power of the Gospel more needed today than in the renewing power of the Christian mind.
Your Assignment: Week # 4 Questions:
1). Christian meditation is a form of what?
2). Christian meditation is the process of deliberately ___ on ___ ___ such as a ____ passage, and ____on their meaning in the context of the love of God.
3). What is focusing?
4). What is reflecting?
5). Biblical meditation involves taking a ____ , ____, or ____ of ___ and thinking ____ about it.
6). Meditation creates _____ and ______.
7). Biblical meditation focuses our thinking on ____ _____.
8). Meditation helps us ____ more _____
9). Through meditation we _____ in our ___ for God’s ____.
10). Read Psalm 119, explain what you feel this scripture is talking about.
11). What is the different between personal prayer and meditative prayer?
12). What do we mean by meditative prayer?
13). What are some steps for meditative prayer?
14). How long do you spend time with God in your quiet time?
15). Choose a scripture to prayerfully meditate on.
16). How do this scripture focus on the goodness, promises, and worship of God?
17). Read 1 Samuel 3, explain.
18). Do God speak to you? Explain
19). Read Colossians 3:2
20). How do we set our minds on thing above, and not on things on the earth?
Daily Exercises: Personal Time with God
Song:
Prayer:
Write down and meditate on one of God’s Characters:
Scripture Worship:
Scripture Memory:
Scripture Reading:
Daily Devotion Reading:
God’s Promise Today:
Spiritual Goal in life:
Ultimate Goal in Life:
Daily Goal Today:
Speak it Now:
Healing Confession:
The Lord’s Prayer:
The Lord’s Supper:
Read Psalm 23:
Read Matthew 18:18
Pray Matthew 18:18 for someone:
My Personal Confession Today:
Prayer Focus:
Ending Song:
Pause:
Record what God spoke to you:
Daily Exercises: Personal Time with God
Song: Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
Prayer: Speak to my heart Holy Spirit, I desire to hear from You today.
Write down and meditate on one of God’s Characters: God’s faithfulness
Scripture Worship: Psalm 97
Scripture Memory: Proverbs 3:3-6
Scripture Reading: I Chronicles 18
Daily Devotion Reading: Jesus Calling
God’s Promise Today: Philippians 4:19
Spiritual Goal in life: Keep my thoughts on Jesus today
Ultimate Goal in Life: Worship God daily in my heart
Daily Goal Today: Hear, obey, and follow You Holy Spirit.
Speak God’s Word: I am free! Jeremiah 29:11
Healing Confession: Psalm 107:20 says I am healed!
The Jabez’s Prayer: I Chronicles 4:9-10
The Lord’s Supper: I Corinthians 11:23-26
Read Psalm 100: Lord, You are my Creator!
Read Matthew 18:18 I loose confusion off me and my loved ones
Pray Matthew 18:18 for someone: I pray this prayer over my sons
My Personal Confession Today: I love You Lord Jesus!
Prayer Focus: I pray Numbers 6:23-26 over the nation of God’s people
Ending Song: Love lifted me
Pause: It’s a good feeling to know in your heart God cares, I meditated on that.
Record what God spoke to you: “My child I am always with you, follow my Holy Spirit, and never give up on Me.
1). Christian meditation is a form of what?
Christian meditation is a form of prayer.
2). Christian meditation is the process of deliberately focusing on specific thoughts such as a bible passage, and reflecting on their meaning in the context of the love of God.
3). What is focusing?
The state or quality of having or producing clear visual thoughts on something; in meditation on God’s Word, it means to keep our minds on the passage of scripture we are reading.
4). What is reflecting?
I love this definition! “Think deeply or carefully about something.”
5). Biblical meditation involves taking a phrase, verse, or passage of Scripture and thinking carefully about it.
6). Meditation creates faith and expectation.
7). Biblical meditation focuses our thinking on God’s Word.
8). Meditation helps us pray more effectively.
9). Through meditation we grow in our love for God’s Word.
10). Read Psalm 119, explain what you feel this scripture is talking about.
I believe it is telling us the importance of God’s Word, and how to mediate on it both day and night; its teaching us the mind and heart of God Himself.
11). What is the different between personal prayer and meditative prayer?
In personal prayer, we speak to God, but in meditative prayer, we allow God to speak to us through his Word and his Spirit.
12). What do we mean by meditative prayer?
In Christian meditation we fill our minds and hearts with God’s Word.
13). What are some steps for meditative prayer?
We must find a quiet place, give ourselves personal time, choose a scripture to prayerfully meditate on, and then allow God to speak to us.
14). How long do you spend time with God in your quiet time?
I do between one to three hours. Earthly things can keep me from doing more, God bless my heart to do more, in Jesus’ name, amen.
15). Choose a scripture to prayerfully meditate on.
Because of what I have been going through lately, I choose Jeremiah 29:11 to meditate on because I really need God’s heart in my plans today.
16). How do this scripture focus on the goodness, promises, and worship of God?
Wow, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” When I read this my heart rejoices because I know God loves me and think good towards me, and His plans are good for my life; “thoughts of peace,” AMEN.
17). Read 1 Samuel 3, explain.
The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called Samuel. ... The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. Samuel was called by God to minister before Him. God anointed Samuel for a special position. If look at the whole chapter you can see that Samuel was awake through-out the night. I believe God want him to meditate, so he could hear His voice when He called him those three times. It’s a good beginning. God anointed Samuel in the place of Eli and his sons later in this chapter. Meditation on God’s Word can help us to be ready when He calls.
18). Do God speak to you? Explain
Yes He does! I hear God speaking in my spirit to me through His Holy Spirit, and through His Word, also through others at time. I love it when He speak to me in my spirit most of all!
19). Read Colossians 3:2
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” This is what I need to do when I get ready to do my quiet time with God.
20). How do we set our minds on thing above, and not on things on the earth?
I believe to get by ourselves and think on things according to Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
KEY PASSAGE: Genesis 6:5-8
SUPPORTING SCRIPTURES: Psalm 32:8-9 | Isaiah 30:21 | Luke 1:28 | Galatians 5:17
SUMMARY
According to Genesis 6:5-8, the ancient world was so filled with wickedness and evil that God was grieved and sorry He had made mankind:
Therefore, He decided to blot out every living creature on earth. But in the midst of all the corruption, Noah “found favor in the eyes of the Lord” and was rescued from the destruction of the flood (v. 8). Our world today is also filled with sin and corruption, and as Christians, we are called to walk as Noah did—in the favor of God.
SERMON POINTS
The favor of God is expressed by His approval, acceptance, support, provision, power, and joy. This is what He showed to Noah and to Mary, the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:28), and it’s also what He has manifested to everyone who has been saved by Jesus Christ.
God’s favor was poured out on us at salvation when our sins were forgiven, and it is further displayed by the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit who seals us as His children. His favor is a fact, but it’s also something we can experience on a daily basis as we walk in it.
After salvation, we should see the evidence of God’s favor working in our conversation, character, and conduct as we walk in the fullness of His Spirit. Our lifestyles and habits should indicate to those around us that we have the favor of God. Instead of fretting over the circumstances in our lives, we can have confidence in His presence with us and His faithfulness in answering our prayers.
One of the evidences of God’s favor is His willingness to communicate with us.
And our willingness to learn to listen to Him is essential for our obedience to His will. One of the first lessons we learned as children was to listen to our parents, and that’s exactly what we need to do in our relationship with our heavenly Father. If all we do is talk to Him in prayer without listening to Him, we won’t know His will for us.
In Psalm 32:8, God makes these promises:
• “I will instruct you.” The Lord gives us insight and understanding of His Word so we will know how to live our daily lives.
• I will “teach you in the way which you should go.” We don’t know what a day holds, but God does, and He will guide us throughout the day.
• “I will counsel you with My eye upon you.” Every day we make decisions and encounter situations that challenge us because we don’t know what to do. What we need is personal direction from the Lord, and He will be faithful to provide it if we will listen. Because He loves us and wants us to obey His will, God continually gives us counsel through His Holy Spirit who is our internal guide and director.
We must learn to listen to God.
This is a basic lesson for anyone who wants to live a godly life. The Lord doesn’t save us and leave us to do the best we can but desires to communicate with us if we’ll listen.
• Listening to God demands our time and attention. The Holy Spirit who directed and led the apostles is the same one who indwells and guides us. We have been tremendously blessed, yet we often think we’re too busy to listen to Him. Our minds are so crowded with other concerns that we can’t hear Him, but there is nothing more important than heeding His voice and operating under His control.
• To listen to the Lord, we must learn to identify His voice.
• God’s voice will be consistent with the scriptures. The Holy Spirit will never say anything in violation of God’s Word. The Bible is always our standard of measure.
• God’s voice may be in conflict with human reason. Because the Lord is infinitely wise and omniscient, His ways are higher than ours and may not seem logical to us.
• God’s voice will clash with fleshly desires. The desires of the Spirit are in opposition to those of the flesh (Gal. 5:17). Therefore, the inner conflict we feel when we’re tempted is the Spirit leading us in the opposite direction.
• God’s voice will challenge us. Sometimes the Spirit leads us to do something we feel incapable of doing.
• God’s voice calls for courage. Obedience is not always easy, but God’s commands are always accompanied with His power and strength.
• God’s voice will speak quietly. He doesn’t shout but speaks softly through our conscience and into our minds, whispering, “This is the way, walk in it” (Isa. 30:21).
• God’s voice will speak clearly. He wants us to know what He is saying, and has been speaking to us since the day of our salvation. First, His voice clearly convicted us of sin and moved us to repentance and salvation. Now He continues to communicate with us to bring us to obedience and surrender in our daily lives.
• God’s voice will speak personally. He loves and cares for us individually and guides us in every situation or concern.
• God is always speaking, but we must listen. We won’t hear His voice if we fill our lives with other things. Although we may become hard of hearing, we can never silence the Lord. However, the Spirit of God may withdraw to some degree, and as His children, we’ll then find ourselves under His discipline.
How does God get our attention?
• Restlessness. This is an inner sense of unease for which we cannot readily identify the cause. It is meant to drive us to the Lord so we can hear from Him.
• A message from someone else. God may use another person to speak to us. However, we must be careful to consider the person’s character and lifestyle in order to avoid being led astray.
• A supernatural blessing. Sometimes the Lord abundantly blesses us to remind us how good He is.
• Unanswered prayer. If the Lord isn’t responding to our prayers, He may be in the process of humbling us so that we’ll be willing to wait for His guidance.
• Disappointments. The Lord uses disappointments to get our attention so we’ll turn to Him.
• Failure. Any failure that drives us to our knees is good.
• Financial problems. The Lord wants us to turn to Him with our need.
• Sickness or injury. God may use illness to stop us from going the wrong way and to teach us to follow Him.
RESPONSE
• As you look at your life, are you walking in the favor of God? If so, what is the evidence of His favor in your life?
• What practices and habits help you listen to the Lord? What hinders you from hearing His voice?
By Charles Stanley