Philippians Chapter 2, Paragraph 1: Meditation
Posted on 31. Aug, 2009 by Jeremy in Meditation
If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Philippians 2:1-4
Suggested Time:
Lectio- (word) 10 minutes
Meditatio- (application) 5 minutes
Oratio- (prayer) 10 minutes
Contemplatio- (stillness) 5 minutes
ps. It helps if you don’t read the comments or study blog before you do the exercise in the Featured Posts :)
Jeremy
Aug 31st, 2009
Letio: deep-spirited
Meditatio: Deep-spirited is so much more than the shallow relationships that we call friendships. I must be willing to put aside my feelings that can too often be fragile in order to be deep-spirited. These relationships aren’t breakable because they have no ulterior agenda. The mutual love and respect cuts through the root of any issue.
Oratio: Father, help me have true friendships that are deep-spirited. Teach me to love beyond my needs and wants, but to love in spite of them. It’s only in becoming a true friend that one can ever find deep-spirited relationships.
Contemplatio: quiet
Sara
Aug 31st, 2009
Lectio: love
Meditatio: I push myself away from giving love because of one fear- rejection. I’ve literally let it take over me, but once “I love you” is said to me whether they mean it or not I take it and treasure it and I see myself give a little love back more and more as it is given to me. I feel God wants me to give it all whether I’m rejected or not, let me be the one to give and not receive, to take a risk I would never take if I didn’t have God. He’s giving me chances to give people the heart-melting feeling I have when people give me love through words or through actions.
Oratio: God, help me over come my fears. Give me the ability to show love through those who may not receive it as much and also to those who do receive it. Father, speak through me as I bond with your children, my brothers and sisters, and show them YOUR unconditional love which you have shown to me to share. Give me the chance to speak through my actions in awesome ways, to show others they can do just the same as me, for You God can do all things and I lay every bit of my trust in Your hands to forget myself and lend that helping hand.
Contemplatio: My family is the definition of distraction.
Madi
Aug 31st, 2009
Lectio: Put yourself aside
Meditatio: I really have to stop putting myself before others, I need to be a servant.I need to care about and love the people at my school that are hurt and broken. My life shouldn’t just be about me.I have got to put myself aside.
Oratio: God help me be a servant.Take away my selfish actions and desires.Help me see the world through your eyes.Let me have a desire to love the broken, let my life not be about me anymore.
Contemplatio: Peace
kacey
Aug 31st, 2009
Lectio: help
Meditatio: Sometimes during my day, I see people who look like they’re troubled or just want someone to talk to, but the bell’s about to ring and I can’t be late for class again, so I don’t say anything. Later on, I wished I had said something because maybe I could have made a difference. I want to help people out, but I’m scared of what they might think of me. I need to get over it, though, because when I get older, I want to help people out either by teaching or coaching. I have to start now, but I can’t let little situations like that stop me. God’s wanting me to reach out and be friendly to everyone and He wants me to help them out. I’ve just got to take those chances he gives me and hope they work out for the best.
Oratio: God, please give me the strength to reach out to others regardless of what they might think of me. I want to make a difference to someone and by your love, I can do it. Father, please help me teach in your ways so I know I am reaching out to someone in need of you and your guidence.
Contemplatio: stillness.
Landon
Aug 31st, 2009
Lecto: care
Meditatio: I need to stop caring about what the world thinks of me. I need to care about my relationship with Christ the Lord and spend time with him. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve been consumed in what the world thinks about me, I know who I am, and only God knows my destiny in life.
Oratio: Dear Lord, please help me not to care about what people think, instead I need to care about the time and relationship I have with you. And let me be a vessel unto the world by the way I show myself through you. In your holy name, Amen.
Contemplatio: ….listening to music really does help
Chelsea
Aug 31st, 2009
Lectio- Forget,Sweet talk, Put yourself aside, helping hands.
Meditatio- I need to learn to forget my past sins in my life and move forward. To not dweel on things and move on. to not sweet-talk my way through life or put myself first. to be able to really deserve what i get in life. to learn how to lend a helping hand to my peers.
Oratio- God i pray that you will let me forget about my past sins and move on. I have already given them to you at your feet. lord you must lay in my heart to be helping and put myself aside. lord let me not be self- centered but compassionate for people. god i pray that i will not sweet talk anyone to get what i want. to feel you bcause you are my mighty father and through your ove all things can be done. in jesus name
amen.
Contemplatio- Stillness.
melissa
Aug 31st, 2009
Lectio-Deep-Spirited
Meditatio-Go deep. With every realationship you have, go to a deeper level with each person. Get to them, name them, love them.
Oratio-Lord, help me to take my relationships to a deeper, more personal level. Give me the words to say and lead me.
Madison
Aug 31st, 2009
Lectio: difference
Meditatio: The only way I can ever make a difference in my life and the lives of those around me is to apply God everywhere I can. I have to continue to read my Bible, continue to pray, or I’ll never grow and make the differences I need to see in the world.
Oratio: Hey God :) Please help me to be the difference that I need to see in the world around me. Please help me to stick with my commitments and promises, to read my Bible and to pray constantly, because without you and your promises I am nothing.
Dianne
Aug 31st, 2009
Lectio: Difference
Meditatio: It is so easy to become “one of the crowd”, especially in high school when all that seems to matter is how one looks, how they dress, how they talk, whether you’re popular or not. We just want to fit in. We don’t want to stand out beacause we are afraid that we will be judged or made fun of. But I feel that God is calling me to be different, that I need to take a stand for Him, i need to stop trying to be someone I’m not. I am his child and I need to be reflecting Him in everything I do. I believe He is telling me that He wants to make a difference in my life and a difference in the people around me, but to do so, I have to stop being afraid and take a stand for Him at school.
Oratio: Father, help me be different. Don’t let me be just “one of the crowd”. Give me the courage to take a stand for You at school, Lord I want to be a shining light. Use me, let others see that I am a different person because of You and let them want what I have: You.
Contemplatio:
…
Faith
Sep 1st, 2009
Lectio-obsessed,care
Meditatio-I really should forget myself to lend a helping hand.I put three parts of the word into this.I need to stop obsessing over small things and i need to start caring for others.I HAVE to get with the program and focus on the lives that need Jesus,and us.They need us to help them to Jesus.
I have been obsessed with getting what I want.I need to start caring for people and truly lend a helping hand.
Oratio-Dear Father,forgive me of being preoccupied with other matters.Instead of seeking You and what You are saying.I know You are going to use me.I just have to be listening and ready.Lord I ask for clarity of thought and courage.To stand up to the fear that bothers me.Lord let me be Your light and speak through me.Let me care for people everyday.In Your Name Jesus Amen
Contemplatio
kim
Sep 3rd, 2009
Lectio: deep spirited
Meditatio: Deep places are carved out. Something is removed to make space – for nothingness or some “holy” thing. And when we share this digging out, sometimes done with a gentle spray, sometimes with pick and hammer, we are made able to relate …in deep places – places of sacrifice and loss and dying to self…Then the real and ready reward of such- the love of God which comes powerfully to fill all in all is ours.
Oratio:Deep is not so much about truth as I once believed- it is about capacity- to know and understand and love. Make us deep spaces…filled with You.
Melanie
Sep 3rd, 2009
Lectio: help others.
Meditatio: think about others before myself. i need to make people feel more welcome and reach out beyond my close circle of friends. i need to make myself available to anyone, and stop being shy or selfish or whatever it is that’s keeping me from reaching out.
Oratio: God challenge me to reach out to someone who i would never think of going up to. i ask that i overcome my fear of connfrontation so that i can help others get to you, and stop thinking of only me and my friends. give me the courage to be different and and the wisdom to know when is the right time to say something.
Jesse
Sep 5th, 2009
Lectio: Put yourself aside.
Meditatio: Lately in my life i have been feeling compelled and an urge to be leader and to be ahead. Society today for many teens is offering a challenge, a challenge to be infront and that in order to survide modern day you give your 110% in everything in order to get anything, and that is the only way anyone can survive. The moment that i have a feeling of being behind and retained i push forward.
Oratio: Dear heavenly father help me to slow down.. assist me in any way God i am now willing too step aside. Lord help me to lead people in other ways to step aside God and allow other people to come in and not to be selfish and self conscious but more selfless and caring.
Millie
Sep 8th, 2009
lectio: obsessed
Meditatio:recently I have found myself obsessed and worried about all kinds of things. Little details in people that I’m not fond of, college, and my image and self confidence.
Oratio: Father, help me to stop obsessing with the things of this world, even if they are important to my life here on earth. Help me to see things with your eyes, from your perspective. Keep my mind calm and assured about college, and your plan for my future.
Mandy
Sep 15th, 2009
Lectio: forget yourself
Meditatio: I have been thinking a lot lately how I need to be concerned about others before myself. When I’m at home and I get asked to do something I should do it without expecting anything in return. I want to be able to help others succeed no matter what the price is for me. I think people should see me as someone who loves everyone, but sometimes its hard. I want to reach out and let my closest friends know that I’m there for them and they can come to me for anything.
Oratio: Hey God, I pray that you will help me be strong in my selflessness. I need the loving heart that you have so I can be a better person. Give me the strength and courage to walk through wherever I am and reach out to those who don’t know you. I need your guidance and I pray that you will bless others to where they can want to be more selfless as well.. Amen.