Tag: "christians"

How Can We Sow God’s Love?

How Can We Sow God’s Love?

Have you ever wondered why some people are repelled by Christians? Many believers may want to say that being a Christian convicts non-believers of their sin. However, in many cases, it is because they find them proud, arrogant, judgmental, or self-righteous. Thus, there is now a popular saying that is circulating about Christians, we are “known more for what we are against rather than by what we believe…” What a painful rebuke! But there is truth to it that we cannot deny.

God has indeed commanded Christians to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth and to make disciples of men. This task involves teaching, as well as correcting and rebuking others as God’s Spirit leads. But teaching or correcting others according to the teachings of Jesus must always be done in love. John 13:35 tells us that unbelievers will know we are Christians by our love. This part however, is not easy because as Christians, we also have things in ourselves that we are working to change.

How does one cultivate the love of God in the heart so that we could draw others to God by our very countenance and actions?

Asking the Holy Spirit

Romans 5:5 tells us that “hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” No matter how good we are, true love that has the power to transform lives can only come from the God’s Spirit. Luke 19:9-13 tells us that if we ask God, he will give us his Holy Spirit. Cultivating love, therefore, begins with asking God humbly, to “pour out his love on our hearts.”

Being Grateful

Gratefulness towards God leads to love towards men. In Luke 7:47, Jesus said that the one who has been forgiven much loves much. In our Christian walk, we must always remind ourselves of what God has done for us. This is not so as to bring feelings of guilt and remorse upon recollection of our past sinful state, but rather, to cultivate gratefulness in our hearts. Matthew 10:8 says “…Freely you have received; freely give.” The more we are aware of the grace God has bestowed on us, the more we are able give love to others.

Staying Humble

Acknowledgement of our weaknesses and shortcomings is good because it cultivates gratefulness; and it also creates empathy for those who might be struggling with weaknesses as well. This is another key to cultivating the love of God in our hearts.

No matter how mature we become in the faith, we will have struggles that keep us always desperate for God’s grace. These struggles keep our feet on the ground and our hearts humble before men.

One of the reasons why we become proud and self-righteous in dealing with others is because we forget how much Jesus has suffered for our sins. Sometimes, we forget that it was completely by grace through faith that we have been saved. We start thinking that we somehow deserve the merits of this blessed Christian walk.

Just imagine if we can all walk in humility before God and men. Perhaps, the next time challenges our patience, we will feel compassion instead of anger upon remembering how terrible life is without Jesus.

Never Failing to Forgive

Matthew 7:1 reminds us to not judge others so that we too will not be judged. The Lord’s prayer teaches us that God forgives our sins as we have forgiven others who have wronged us. Forgiveness is an expression of God’s love and we find ourselves able to forgive others when we are most aware of how much we have been forgiven. That is why it is important to stay grateful and humble. It’s a wonderful cycle that leaves no room for boasting. Christianity thrives on gratefulness for the cross of Christ.

There will be times, of course, when we would feel that no matter how hard we try, it is just difficult to love others the way Jesus loves us. During such times, we must not condemn ourselves for falling short. Instead, we should use it to seek God and receive his forgiveness. Remember, he who is forgiven much, loves much. And 1 Peter 4:8 assures us that love covers a multitude of sins.

As we learn to walk in love more and more, more people will respond to the Gospel that we preach with our mouths because they have already seen it at work in our lives. This is exactly what Jesus is saying by “we will be known by our love” — that the Gospel is preached effectively if we live it rather than just speak it. As 1 Corinthians 13 says, “love never fails.” If we keep on loving others, it is bound to be felt by them. People will always recognize genuine compassion. Thus, this is the challenge and joy given to us as Christians: to pursue a life that radiates God’s love, because as Dwight L. Moody said, “Of one hundred men, one will read the Bible and ninety nine will read the Christian.”

Jesus said I will keep thee in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on me. Learn how to eliminate worry, negative thinking, and stress by meditating on the Lord. Listen to Christ-centered meditation Cds that teach you how to take authority over your thoughts and bring them under the kingdom of God. Visit The Christian Meditator for Christian meditation resources and tools.


Jul 04, 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

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

Legalism Vs. Love and Truth

My heart is saddened a bit this morning.  Several weeks ago I contacted an online Christian women’s magazine about placing an ad directing believers to my website to get free daily Christian meditations.  After a week with no response, I sent a follow up email and this is the reply I received.

Thank you for your letter. I held on to it to check with a few others and so it took me a while longer than usual. Personally I think the site looks great, but because we have such a legalistic section of an audience I feel that I should avoid websites that may spark controversy among some of the readers, who may misinterpret it as new age. For this reason we have decided that we have to decline. Live Well!”

I have underlined several passages of this letter that I would like to address.  First, it is still beyond me why so many Christians are “legalistic.” If anyone should be tolerant and compassionate it should be us!  I don’t mean tolerant of sin, but tolerant of our brothers and sisters as well as the unbeliever.  Jesus said love your neighbor as yourself.  That doesn’t imply to love him only if he thinks like you, acts like you, looks like you, or is a Christian like you. Your neighbor may be the gay couple with 6 adopted kids! I know that will make some Christian’s cringe. Maybe if we stop being so judgmental we can actually love some people into a relationship with Christ by being a reflection of God’s love.


Jun 11, 2009 | 18 comments View Post
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