Meditation: Thank You, God, for Not Making Me a Bug!
Summer is generally a time for slowing down.
I mean, sure, there are family vacations, plans with friends, and adults who still have to work, but for the most part, summer reminds me of cool glasses of lemonade, lazy mornings, and spending time together outside.
A few summers ago, I was on the deck with my daughter, Sarah. She was reading a book that captivated her attention, and I was meditating quietly. Then, suddenly, and out of nowhere, I looked at her and said, “I am so glad God didn’t make me a bug!”
Sarah looked up from her page, half concerned and half confused, and asked, “Mom, what did you say? Who on earth would say something like that?”
And my answer is me.
To fully understand my otherwise left-field wondering, we need to explore why I said it.
Hurry is the Devil
During the summer of 2020, I felt in my spirit that I was being called to help others understand spiritual disciplines while the world was forced to slow down.
During the first months of the pandemic, I remember hearing a quote that changed my perspective, and it was this:
“Hurry is not of the devil; hurry is the devil.” - Carl Jung, Psychologist
How true is that?
We all have busyness in life, and if the devil can constantly keep us distracted and on the go, we won’t be able to pause to hear the voice of God. And now more than ever, we need to slow down and listen so that we can hear God’s instructions as we learn to lean into Him.
What is Meditation?
Meditation often gets a bad rap among Christian circles. With mindsets that it is demonic and new-age, most Christians often leave this spiritual discipline in the dust.
However, God’s word tells of people utilizing meditation in their own lives!
In Psalm 63, we see David meditating all through the night as he contemplates who God is.
As Joshua prepares to lead the Israelites, God tells him, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.” (Joshua 1:8, NIV)
I want to encourage you that meditation is simply a thoughtful observation. It’s the act of quieting ourselves before the Lord as we look inward, paying attention to who He is, how He is faithful and listening to His voice over our lives.
Leaning Into His Presence
The truth is that life is filled with distractions, to-do lists, and non-stop errands. So how do we learn to lean into God’s presence so that it becomes second nature in the hustle and bustle?
We begin implementing and practicing the spiritual discipline of meditation. We pull away from the demands of life and commit to being disciplined to the discipline.
Some of you may already be thinking, “My life is loud, fast, and non-stop. Where will I find time to stop and meditate?”
Take heart! You can pull away from the noise no matter where you are or whom you are with. It just takes practice.
Practice of Meditation
Did you know that for years, I had no idea I was meditating?
Recently in my prayer time, I simply expressed, “Trina, you really aren’t as grateful as you should be.” And almost instantly, I repented to the Lord, and at that moment, I began to meditate on the ways I was thankful to God; for all the unknown and known ways He has protected me, for the way He loves me completely, and all the ways He has provided for my family and me.
It was as simple (and life-changing) as that. And my guess is that you may already be implementing the spiritual practice of meditation in your life too!
Richard Foster, the author of Celebrations of Disciplines, says, “When you meditate, you’ll find that God gives you insight on the most mundane things.”
You begin to see God in the ordinary: in your marriage and how to love your husband, on the path of your morning walk, and even how blessed you are not to be a bug.
Tips for Meditation:
Start small. Begin your meditation time with 5-minute blocks each day.
Find a comfortable place in your home. This could be your favorite chair, leaning on an oversized pillow on your floor, and even sprawled out in your bed!
Sit and be still in silence. And when your mind begins to race – which it will at first! – center yourself by thinking of an attribute of God.
Think about one thing: this could be God’s love for you, something He wants to work on in you, or who you can forgive.
Implement deep breathing by inhaling something you are asking God for (“Lord, I breathe in your goodness.”) and exhaling the thing you want to get rid of (“I exhale fear, disbelief, etc.”)
And as you choose to be still, may the Lord remind you that He is a good, faithful God.