“When we meditate upon the Lord, we see things from a different perspective. The things that worry us begin to lose their grip. . . . Our inward look at problems or situations is replaced by a heavenly view, because we are seated in the heavenly places with Christ Jesus. Meditation brings us to a position in which we can see ourselves in the light of God’s truth.”- Dr. Charles F. Stanley
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, the marveled. And the realized they had been with Jesus.”- Acts 4:13 (NKJV)
Dr. Charles Stanley concludes Chapter 8 of Can You Still Trust God? with the third and fourth liberating truths enabling you to hear the voice of God in a fresh, invigorating manner.
3. Remember God’s promises. In Scripture, God promises each of his children peace, provision, and protection. Hence, our faith grows and our fears dissolve when we meditate on God and remember His promises.
4. Make a request. Sitting before God in meditation involves more than listening. Take time to make a request as well. For example, in 2 Samuel 7:29 David asked God to bless His family. But David also asked God for His everlasting favor. And God answered David’s prayer.
In conclusion, Dr. Stanley underscores, God often expresses His love and devotion to us as he puts his finger on conspicuously wrong areas of our lives. Through that cleansing process, we’re filled with His life and joy. Hence, at this point we either (a) run away or (b) develop a relationship with Him.
Furthermore, Dr. Stanley stresses the need for alone time with God. And what happens when we fail to yield:
“When we are quiet before the Lord, and He wants to do something in our lives and things are not right, we stymie our growth by not yielding to Him. We work against the very God who is on our side, working for us, encouraging us, and building us up.”
Today’s question: What Bible verses help you shift from an inward look at your problems? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The foundation for living in God’s peace”
