Pray More Differently (Hebrews 12:1-3)
Gary McManus, 04/24/2016Part of the Life With Jesus is Better series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
The Fourth Sunday After Easter
Hebrews 12:1-3
Is Meditation “New Age”?
The New Age is a term applied to a range
of spiritual or religious beliefs and practices
that developed during the 1970s. The range
of beliefs and practices prevents a simple
definition. New Age practices do not
want to be defined as any known religion
as presently practiced. Their emphasis is
an alternative to religion (Christian faith).
Therefore New Age practices are rejected by
faithful Christians. That being said, the word
meditation occurs in the Bible (depending
on the version: Psalm 1:2, 5:1, 19:14, 49:3,
104:3, 119:97) (See also Psalm 37:30, 71:24,
77:12, 143:5, Isaiah 38:14). There IS such a
thing as Christian meditation.
However New Age belief defines meditation,
Christian meditation must include a focus
on God, His Word, God’s activity. Christian
meditation can never be an intellectual exercise.
Meditation is a “study” or discernment of the will
of God for the purpose of DOING God’s will!
However, in today’s message Pastor McManus
relates the very scientific benefits of meditation.
Direct quotes from the sources:
from Resilience by Dr. Steven M, Southwick
“Are prayer and meditation different? Most
would say yes, though some would say that
one can pray while meditating and vice versa.”
“Learning to use the mind, as opposed to
having the mind use you, is one of life’s
most challenging tasks.”
“Become part of a group that worships
together” !!
Therese Borchard, Beyond Blue: Surviving Depression & Anxiety
Benefits of meditation (prayer)
It Boosts Your HEALTH
1 - Increases immune function
2 - Decreases Pain
3 - Decreases Inflammation at the Cellular Level
It Boosts Your HAPPINESS
4 - Increases Positive Emotion
5 - Decreases Depression
6 - Decreases Anxiety
7 - Decreases Stress
It Boosts Your SOCIAL LIFE
8 - Increases social connection
& emotional intelligence
9 - Makes you more compassionate
10 - Makes you feel less lonely
It Boosts Your Self-Control
It Changes Your BRAIN (for the better)
It Improves Your Productivity
Above list from:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/
feeling-it/201309/
20-scientific-reasons-start-meditating-today
See article for all twenty and the links
to the scientific evidence.
Pastor provides the following Bible verses:
James 5:14, Luke 8:36, Luke 8:50
Mark 9:14-29 , Luke 18:1, Luke 6:46,
“When it comes to meditation, the simpler
the better. . .My goal is not to unlock
universal mysteries or see Peter at heaven’s
gate. . .[but] do reinforce my spiritual connection.”
--Susan Blauner, “How I Stayed Alive When My
Brain was Trying to Kill Me.”
“Be still and know that I am God.” –Psalm 46:10
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