Category: Questions

Is it possible that practicing EFT makes things worse in the beginning?

Is it possible that practicing EFT makes things worse in the beginning?

Here is an article I wrote regarding EFT, http://thechristianmeditator.com/myblog/2010/02/03/should-christians-practice-eft-or-avoid-it/

To answer your question, could things get worse before they get better, I would say possibly.

EFT requires us to look within for our fears and limiting beliefs and bring them out into the open.  This can be a scary thing. Often we think that acknowledging that we are afraid, upset, or angry is wrong so we try to deny or bury these feelings. Yet, just because we don’t admit them, doesn’t mean they don’t exist. They are just keep living in our subsconscious mind having the same detrimental affects on us.

Once we let these beliefs and feelings come up and out it can trigger a whole lot of different emotions and one or two sessions of eft are probably not enough to permanent freedom. Remember, we’ve been living with this stuff for usually years.

Once we acknowledge our authentic beliefs (called making friends with the problem), we then begin to use God’s word in the form of positive affirmations to dissolve these mindsets and plant new positive ones.  Although you may find some relief, most likely you will need to keep with it for awhile in order to change your subconscious mental patterns. Therefore, keep with it several times a day.

If you are finding emotional baggage that you just can’t cope with on your own, it may be beneficial to talk with a counselor or seek outside help.  I hope I answered your question.


Apr 26, 2012 | 0 comments View Post

Why Do I Fall Asleep When I Meditate?

Question: Why Do I Fall Asleep When I Meditate?

Answer: You probably fall asleep during meditation because you are sleepy. :-)   Meditation can be so relaxing that if you are the least bit tired you may doze off.  The first remedy is to make sure you are getting enough sleep.  In order to stay alert during meditation try the following. Choose a straight back chair to sit in.  While sitting in the chair, don’t allow your back to rest against the back of the chair. To do this just scoot up several inches. Now when you meditate, if you begin to fall asleep, your body will adjust to keep your balance.  In addition, try to do your meditation or quiet time in the morning as opposed to the evening or close to bed time.


Jul 15, 2011 | 0 comments View Post

How Can I Integrate Christian Meditation into my Counseling Practice?

Question: How Can I Integrate Christian Meditation into my Counseling  or Coaching Practice?

Answer: If you ever read my testimony you will know that Christian meditation helped me overcome years of depression. Prior to this I had sought out counselors and was even on medication for awhile. But what I didn’t understand at the time was that my negative thinking was contributing to my low and depressed moods. By this time negative thinking had just become a way of life.  It wasn’t until I began to quiet my mind that I began to observe what I was thinking.  Once I began to monitor my thoughts, I was able to use God’s word to squash my destructive thinking. I believe this is a powerful tool for any counseling theraphy. Just think if my counselors had shared this information with me? I would have learned to monitor my destructive thinking and then take authority of them using God’s word.  Although individuals come to counseling for many problems, I believe  that most of our problems stem from the thoughts we think.  Christian meditation can help support your counseling efforts by helping your clients to better understand the mind, body, and spirit connection. I believe that this knowledge can be empowering.  Through Christian meditation your clients gain many benefits. They will learn to observe their thoughts and take authority over them, surrender their mind to God for healing, plant God’s word in their heart, and receive the transformative power of dwelling in God’s presence. I would encourage practioneers to select meditation topics close to the needs of the client and then encourage them to meditate at least once per day.  If purchasing Cds isn’t possible, then scripture meditation is also encouraged.  Christian meditation integrated with Christian  counseling is a powerful tool for change, healing, and spiritual growth.


Jul 15, 2011 | 0 comments View Post

Is Christian Meditation Safe?

Question: Is Christian Meditation Safe?

Answer:  Some Christians fear meditation. They believe that meditation requires them to empty their minds and  may open the door to evil spirits entering in.  However, Christian Meditation encourages us to meditate on the Lord. During some forms of Christian meditation you silently repeat a scripture or passage or dwell in God’s presence. Christian meditation does encourage you to quiet your mind to create a greater space for God to enter in your life.  But what Christians often fail to realize is that the greatest battle to the believer are the thoughts between their ears.  The Bibles tells us over and over to renew our minds. Gods wants to clear our minds from all types of destructive and limited beliefs so we can fully embrace his word.  I personally believe that Christians need to EMPTY their minds from all types of negative thinking, fear, judgments, doubt, and ungodly thoughts.  It is more likely the current thoughts that we think  will hinder our Christian walk, much more than some outside entity entering in.  Many people don’t need an evil spirit taking them over to walk in anger, fear, and worry. We do it everyday already.  Therefore, if you want to fear anything, fear the evil and destructive thoughts playing over and over in your mind right now and use Christian meditation to get rid of them once and for all.


Jul 15, 2011 | 0 comments View Post

Is Christian Meditation New Age?

Question: Is Christian Meditation New Age?

Answer: Although on the surface Christian Meditation might appear to be New Age, it is not. New Age philosophy does not honor the One and Only Living God which is Jesus Christ.  2 Timothy 3:15 tell us that there are those who have a form of godliness but deny or don’t attritube this power to the true God, from such we are to turn away.  During Christian Meditation, we’re  not meditating on some unknown deity or the cosmos. Instead, we are meditating on God’s Word and His Power, Glory, and Presence.  We use this time to enter into God’s presence and to fellowship with Him in Spirit. If you are meditating on a scripture, it will help you to hide God’s word in your heart and bring your mind under the authority of Jesus Christ.  There are many forms of meditation. Some have religious principles, others are purely secular. You can choose which type of meditation you do based upon your desired outcomes.


Jul 15, 2011 | 0 comments View Post

How Do You Know When God is Speaking To You?

Question: How do you know when God is speaking to you?

Answer: God speaks to his children in various ways. He speaks to us through the Bible or the Word of  God.  Often times, meditating upon God’s word will bring enlightenment and wisdom.  God’s words are alive, powerful, and transformative. 

God  may  also speak to us through others.  Many Christians may have gone through similiar circumstances or experiences and have insight that can help you.  God will even send people your way at just the right time to give you a word regarding your situation.  God also speaks to us through the power of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit comes upon us, he will infill us with his wisdom, knowledge, and power. Oftentimes without any words, we will just have a knowing or an unction  in our heart. For example, you may feel a desire to give something to someone to bless them or phone a friend that has been on your mind.

God also speaks to us in a still small voice.  This can also be a knowing, an unction, or a word(s) that penetrate our spirit.  Many times these words just seem to come from nowhere but they are relevant to your situation. God spoke to me one time in a busy restaurant. It was not audible but it was very loud, He said, “Rhonda what are you doing here?”

I believe that the more we can clear our hearts and mind from worry, fear, and constant chatter or daydreaming, that we create an environment in our hearts and mind to hear God more clearly.

Begin to follow the words or impressions that God’s spirit puts on your heart, especially those that require faith.  If you can’t hear God speaking to you through the methods above, begin to spend some time  in silence, solitude, and Christian meditation, to prepare your mind to be more open to communicating with the Lord.


Jul 01, 2011 | 0 comments View Post

How Can I Improve My Christian Life?

Question: How Can I Improve My Christian Life?

Answer:  The irony to this question is that we think “we” can improve our Christian walk.  The number one thing I believe we can do to live a more fulfilling Christian life is to get out of God’s way and let him work through us.  God wants us to decrease so He can increase within us.  Paul said, within Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). Jesus said that if we abide in Him and He abides in us, we will bring forth much fruit for without him we can do nothing. We are God’s branches and he is the vine.  God wants us to be a vessel for Him.  So what does it mean to die to ourselves as the Bible so bluntly puts it. It means to eliminate, release, and let go of everything that stands in the way of allowing God to fully live through us. It could mean ridding ourselves of fear, doubt, unbelief, selfishness, anger, judgment, and all other toxic emotions.  It also means surrendering ourselves to God daily and inviting the Holy Spirit to teach, guide, and live in us unhindered.  There is nothing more fulfilling than being used by God.  Begin by becoming still before the Lord and then expressing your desire to grow in Him. Surrender everything to him and use daily meditation to tune into God’s spirit and help you eliminate any fears, habits, or mindsets that may be limiting God’s access to you.  A great Christian meditation is I Surrender. You can find it at http://www.thechristianmeditator.com/christian_meditation.html.


Jun 30, 2011 | 0 comments View Post

When Is the Best Time to Meditate?

Question: When is the best time to meditate?

Answer: The very best time to meditate or spend time with God is when you FIRST wake up in the morning.  I try to make my time with God the very first thing I do before I get preoccupied with other tasks.  Once you start your day it is very difficult to stop and be still.  If you can’t meditate first thing in the morning, then I would encourage you to select a meditation time each day and then stick to it. You may decide that between 10-10:30 am or 6-6:30p.m.  you will begin your meditation practice. Make meditation a “must” and not a “should” to encourage you to keep the practice.

One of the reasons to meditate in the morning is that our minds are often more peaceful and open to the spirit.  That means that you will be less distracted and can enter into God’s presence more quickly.  We are also giving God the first fruits of our day and we can expect him to lead and guide us through it. Also, meditating gets us centered in Christ, so we will make better decisions throughout the day and not be pulled into urgent or distracting activities.

I know many Christians think that meditating 30 minutes  every morning will steal time from our already busy day, but just like when we give of our finances, God has a way of giving us back so much more and multiplying it back  to us with increase.


Jun 29, 2011 | 0 comments View Post
What is the Difference Between Eastern and Christian Meditation?

What is the Difference Between Eastern and Christian Meditation?

With meditation being prescribed by doctors to relieve stress and spiritual leaders touting meditation as a way of spiritual growth, more and more Christians are becoming interested in this practice but are concerned as to whether it goes against their Christian faith. However, Christian and eastern meditation is very different in both their objectives and methods.

Eastern meditation is actually more common throughout the world than Christian meditation. Eastern meditation isn’t just something Buddhists do, it requires no belief in any sort of god, it does not require that you follow any specific belief system. Eastern meditation is much more of a personal experience than it is a religious experience.

Eastern meditation is often used as a path to spiritual enlightenment, but doesn’t necessarily prescribe to any particular affiliation. Regardless of your religious or non-religious tradition, individuals can attain the same personal benefits from meditation while embracing their own paths of spirituality.

The method of meditation is where the two forms differ most. In Eastern meditation, one empties the mind. You empty your mind, you think nothing, essentially, and allow yourself to simply be, to just exist. Western culture is very goal oriented, and this is reflected in everything from meditation to religion to art. Look at Asian films, paintings, music and comic books, and there’s more focus on “being” rather than “doing”.

This can be helpful for anyone of Eastern or Western descent alike, as it allows you to take a moment to simply appreciate life for what it is, to appreciate simply being, the gift of having been born or just being a child of God. For a Christian, this can even help one become closer to God by just taking in the gifts God has laid out for us, not trying to figure it out or understand it, but just to appreciate it and experience it, to allow the experience to flow through you rather than to be analyzed and studied and contemplated.

Christian meditation is more goal-oriented. It has to do with, specifically, finding a closer understanding of God and a closer understanding of self. It’s much more structured in terms of method.

A major component of Christian meditation is to reflect on the love, peace, provision, and goodness as well as the Word of God. This is also not a component of Eastern meditation.

For a Christian, meditating on God can be rewarding and life changing. Meditation can be contemplative (meditating on scripture, attributes of God, or a sacred word), for relaxation (to let go of stress and anxiety), or the practice of just abiding, waiting, and soaking in God’s presence.

Although different in both nature and practice, they have something integral in common. For the Christian, meditation helps you to find a deeper appreciation of the waking life, of yourself and can draw you closer to the Lord. By learning to meditate on God and quiet your mind, you give the Lord greater opportunity to speak to and guide you by his still small voice. Christians don’t empty their mind in meditation, but give their attention to the love, peace, and wisdom of God. Complete understanding of God is inherently impossible, but these methods of meditation can bring you ever closer to Him and to a better understanding of oneself. Meditation allows us to worship God in Spirit and in truth.

Is your life out of balance? Do you need a Biblical makeover? Feeling disconnected from God? Learn how to Detox Your Life Now & Awaken Your Inner Spirit. Rhonda Jones is the author of 22 Christian meditation and affirmation Cds, visit The Christian Meditator to find meditations and affirmations CDs on weight loss, healing, healthy living, peace, joy, and more.


Jun 29, 2011 | 0 comments View Post

Is Christian Meditation Biblical?

Question: Is Christian Meditation Biblical?

Answer:  One of my favorite scriptures is from Joshua 1:8. It reads, “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. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

According to the scripture, meditating on God equals success. I don’t think the real question is whether meditation is Biblical. I believe the big question amongst believers is “how” do we meditate on the Lord. 

There are many forms of meditation that Christians will benefit from.  Some of these are Scripture meditation, soaking on God’s spirit, or even just meditating on a scriptural passage or word, like a mantra. If you want more details about how to meditate on God, please view the youtube video I created title, Should Christians Meditate and If So How?   Also, here is a link to an older article I wrote on Christian Meditation Techniques.  It doesn’t include Scripture Meditation which I now encourage. Learn more about scripture meditation.


Jun 28, 2011 | 0 comments View Post

How Can I Teach Others Christian Meditation?

Question: How Can I Teach Others Christian Meditation?

Answer: One of the best ways to teach others to meditate is to meditate yourself. As your Christian meditation practice deepens, you will receive the guidance and wisdom to instruct others. There are also a variety of books and resources to help you. Please check out an article on How to Start a Christian Meditation Group to get you started. I also recommend attending one of the many Christian meditation retreats for a crash course  in meditation.  I listed some links to various Christian meditation organizations on the page of the article above.  Here are a few below. Most of these teach a form of Christian Meditation called Centering Prayer. These are just a few. I would suggest Googling Christian Meditation and then your area. Christian meditation groups and retreat are popping up everywhere.

http://www.contemplativeoutreach.org (National)

http://www.conout-norcal.org/ (Northern California)


Jun 28, 2011 | 0 comments View Post

What are some of your favorite scriptures to meditate on?

Question: What are some of your favorite scriptures to meditate on?

Answer:  I practice a variety of Christian meditation techniques depending upon what outcome I want to achieve.  One of my favorite techniques is Scripture Meditation and the name speaks for itself. During scripture meditation, you spend up to 30 minutes slowly and silently meditating on a scripture passage or passages of choice. You can also meditate on inspirational passages as well. I have created a list of great scriptures to meditation on in my free course on Scripture Meditation. You can find them by clicking here.


Jun 27, 2011 | 0 comments View Post

How Do I Get the Holy Spirit?

Question: How Do I Get the Holy Spirit?

Answer: Luke 11:9-12 says,  “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.  Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?  If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”    

I believe when we are born-again that we gain access to the Holy Spirit in our lives.  The more we decrease and allow God to increase within us, the greater power the Holy Spirit will have in our lives.  God sent his Holy Spirit to teach us, guide us, and help us to draw closer to God.  If you want to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit you  must first become born-again by asking Jesus Christ to come and abide in you.  Next, ask the Holy Spirit abide in you and to teach, lead, and guide you. Then, surrender.  The more we surrender to the leading of the Holy Spirit, the greater capacity and authority he will have in our lives.  We create a greater space for the Holy Spirit within us when we weed ourselves from those things that pollute our spirit like fear, doubt, anger, insecurity, and other toxin thoughts and emotions.  Christian meditation, soaking in God’s spirit, and studying the scriptires will help you to renew your mind and walk in God’s love and light. 

Contrary to some beliefs, I believe we receive the Holy Spirit when we are born again. I remember when I received Christ in my life at the age of 23. Immediately I was a different person.  I began to think and act differently. I didn’t know anything in the Bible yet, but God’s spirit began to work in me.  The Bible also mentions an indwelling of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in Tongues.  This indwelling that fell upon the disciples and infused them with God’s mighty power is also available to us.  Just ask God to fill you and then wait as the disciples did.  Continue to worship and serve the Lord and he will fill you at the right time. (Read Acts 2)

Also, it’s important to note that God often infuses us with power when we need it.  For example, God may tell you to witness to someone and as you are obedient, God’s spirit comes upon you and you witness with boldness and power.  When you are done, you realize it wasn’t you, but God speaking through you. If you want to experience more of God’s power,  step out in faith to be a blessing to others.  God’s power will enable you. (See Acts 11:15)

Whatever you do, don’t get unhung up or frustrated over being filled with God’s spirit. God wants you to trust him and live in peace.  Just love and experience God in this moment and all else will fall into place.


Jun 26, 2011 | 0 comments View Post

How Long Does It Take Christian Meditation to Work?

Question: How long will it take before I begin to reap the benefits of Christian Meditation?

Answer: The majority of Christians will begin to see the value of meditation beginning with their very first session.  Christians new to the practice will begin to observe their mind and thoughts and discover just how distracted and fragmented their mind is. This is a wonderful discovery in that now you can use the practice of meditation to take control of your thinking. As with any new practice or activity, it will take continuous practice before you begin to reap greater benefits, benefits you will actually see.  However, usually you won’t notice them right away. What tends to happen is that you just begin to notice that you don’t react to situations quite the same way. One day you may observe that the same situations don’t upset you with the same intensity or you just let stuff go that in the past would really upset you. In addition, you will begin to hear the voice of God speaking to you more clearly.  As your mind becomes quieter, you create a greater space and capacity to hear the voice of the spirit.  It will come as words, impressions, or knowings in your heart.  The longer you practice Christian meditation, the more transformation will take place within you.  In addition, there is no such thing as a bad meditation session, because every session, no matter how difficult, is helping you gain control over your mind little by little.


Jun 26, 2011 | 0 comments View Post

Should Christians Visualize?

Question:  As you know, I have used and shared your meditations for the past couple of years with great success. This week a lady raised a question I could not answer, so I am turning to your for help with it.

She asked if visualization is involved with your meditations? I said yes, and mentioned about seeing troubles floating down the river or leaving with balloons. When I got home I researched visualization and saw a lot of material that I know you are opposed to.

Please help me know the difference between the visualization you include in your Christian meditations and the visualization involved other forms of meditation. What scriptures can guide Christians in selecting safe forms visualization? Or is there such? Thanks in advance for your helping me with my search.

Answer: Sometimes I think we really get caught up on semantics.  We begin to want to banned any word that has been associated with another religion or movement.  We forget that words have various practices and can be harmful or helpful depending upon how they are used and who is using them. Visualize is just a more focused form of daydreaming.  In fact, visualization is much more powerful than daydreaming in that it is  a conscious act of directing our attention on what we want to achieve.

The scriptures tell us to live a life of faith. Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. Everything that we see in the physical world was first manifested in the spiritual world. In fact, Jesus said whatever we bind on heaven is bound in earth and whatever we loose in heaven is loosed in earth. There is a direct correlation between what happens in the earth and the spiritual realm.

As Christians, God wants us to speak those things that are not as though the were. An extension of that would be to “see” those things that are not as though they already existed.  Renewing our mind also involves renewing our vision. Without a vision the people perish. God told us to write the vision on the all and make it plan. Visualization can be a positive tool in helping us to stay focused on our dreams  or alter negative or debiliating mental movies or patterns.

Yes, some of my meditations are interactive and do contain visualizations.  We all absorb information in different ways. In school, we learn that we learn things easier if we are involved in the process as opposed to watching someone else show us or tell us what to do. Visualization is like a trial run of the mind and is a powerful tool for change.

Don’t get hung up on the word because it is often associated with new age philosophy. Every concept in the new age movement isn’t bad. Let’s stop throwing out the baby with the bath water and learn to distinguish between good and evil. There are some practices that we can adopt that can transform our life and relationship with God. Meditation is one of them. I say, let’s begin to look at things at face value instead of putting a good or bad label on everything we don’t understand.


Jun 25, 2011 | 0 comments View Post
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