Manner of Meditating

11/16/09
A full measure of the Word and prayer each day (especially Monday for me) gives a healthy and powerful life." --Andrew Murray

Years ago, Nancy Stephenson introduced me to Madame Guyon (1647-1717) through Guyon’s autobiography written while she was being held at the infamous Bastille. Guyon advocated time alone in prayer and meditation. She also taught the Reformation principles of sola gracia (grace alone) and sola fide. (faith alone)

Centuries ago, Guyon espoused the same idea which we have been using each “Meditating Monday.” It’s just encouraging to read it from someone who had a real handle on a timeless truth. (Spiritual Progress
or Instructions in the Divine Life of the Soul 
from the French of Fenelon and Madame Guyon"; 
Printed in 1853; Chapter 2)

Here’s what Madame Guyon had to say:

Meditative reading is the choosing (of) some important practical or speculative truth, always preferring the practical, and proceeding thus: whatever truth you have chosen, read only a small portion of it, endeavoring to taste and digest it, to extract the essence and substance of it, and proceed no farther while any savor or relish remains in the passage: then take up your book again, and proceed as before, seldom reading more than half a page at a time.

It is not the quantity that is read, but the manner of reading, that yields us profit. (Guyon, p.3)

Her “manner of meditating” leads to prayer or prayerful consideration. (My THOTS, exactly---Trusting Him On This Scripture)

When by an act of lively faith, you are placed in the presence of God, read some truth wherein there is substance; pause gently thereon, not to employ the reason, but merely to fix the mind; observing that the principal exercise should ever be the presence of God, and that the subject, therefore, should rather serve to stay the mind, than exercise it in reasoning.

For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. (Jeremiah 2:13, NASB)

Let’s go directly to Him, our Source, for our refreshment. Quit turning to self. Put down those shovels. We’re digging ourselves into a hole. Our cisterns, based on our work, relationships, prestige/credentials, pseudo-power/control and our own strength are so “leaky.” Cisterns of “self” won’t even hold water.

"Come all ye that are athirst to the living waters, nor lose your precious moments in hewing out cisterns that will hold no water.”

Today let’s meditate as Guyon and those faithful ones of past centuries did ---Come ye famishing souls, who find nought to satisfy you; come, and ye shall be filled!