Quest

Contemplative Prayer

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Some are afraid of contemplative prayer because it necessitates the silencing of the mind, the soul as an act of the will. They believe and teach that this opens us up for demons...The fact is Christians most likely contemplate on the voice of the Holy Spirit more often than they realize but don't title it 'contemplative prayer'. You cannot actively listen if you are talking...and if your mind is debating, questioning, reasoning. so contemplative prayer is essential to revelation...without it we merely engage in an intellectual process and the Bible says that the carnal mind cannot receive the things of God..and it warns us to not lean to OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING.

Can Satan speak? Sure, and God has placed several 'filters' if you would, in place..The scriptures, His Spirit within, and our brethren...eliminate any one of those three and deception is far more likely..

So some say, why bother? If I don't have confidence in those things why contemplate? e contemplate all the time and are being talked to all the time by self, Satan, the world..so we don't AVOID deception by rejecting this principle of prayer, we increase the odds of deception. These are in place to guide what we already do all the time. They are put in place to redirect our contemplative prayer in the right direction and to train us to clearly recognize what voice we are listening to...without them we can be listening to and following other voices.

Conclusion: it would serve pastors and teachers well to teach the truth regarding the fact that we contemplate (listen internally, intuition, discern) all the time and that this is often the source of deception because we don't contemplate BIBLICLLY with the safeties God designed fully in place...of course whether they teach it or not, each of US is accountable for what we hear regardless of their failure to teach and equip..

This is MY contemplative HEARING today

Isaiah 30:15

For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: "In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." But you would not,

In studying the stress affect years ago, I learned 2 things. Stress is the result of conflicting beliefs. The Bible calls this 'double minded'. The spirit has the mind of Christ and the soul, when in conflict, creates the state of double minded. When in this state we will 'receive nothing' because in that state faith is canceled out.

James 1:3-8
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

And the second thing I learned is the result of stress on the physical body. I lived with chronic stress from childhood. It was not until I experienced true peace and faith in God that I discovered the 'feeling' and realized how UNNATURAL it was. I came to understand that in that state there is an internal response where the vital organs, heart, liver, kidneys..get out of rhythm. I gradually became aware in my conscious mind when this occurred and how to bring them back into alignment.

I also learned one can bring the physical back into alignment to some degree with FALSE peace, the kind the Lord calls the peace of the world. This peace can silence the spirit within by willfully embracing a lie, a compromise, a deception. I say to some degree because a person will experience the conviction and correction of the Holy Spirit up to the point of a completely seared conscience. So while we may cease to war by willfully embracing a lie which will simulate true peace, it never truly brings the body mind and spirit into sync.

Isaiah 30:3 Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.

Isaiah 30:16 But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.

Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

The beauty of contemplative prayer is the silencing of the mind in faith..to silence the reasoning cycle, all the various voices, and REST in Quietness and faith that God's voice is all we desire..Then and only then do we experience THE PEACE THAT SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING.

Acts 5:40-42 King James Version
40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Some of our greatest depths of discouragement and despair are caused not by our circumstance but by where we placed our trust...

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Today I will practice as Paul said, pray without ceasing and if I detect stress I WILL silence my soul and enter the state of contemplative prayer by faith expecting the Spirit of God within me to speak and direct...and then I will bring my thoughts and actions in alignment with what He says...and when I do this PHILLIPIANS 4:7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Dear Lord, thank you...thank you for rescuing me/us from the dark world that knows NO peace. Thank You for giving us free access to YOUR hiding place of peace and joy. Thank You that even though we have difficulty and opposition in the world You said to worry not for YOU overcame the world..not that we would not have difficulty but that despite it we can walk in peace and joy and power...thank YOU that we know we have another home and that we currently dwell in YOUR kingdom under Your authority and leadership...I pray for our nation, repent for our nation...it has become a nation guilty of shedding much innocent blood...judgment no doubt is looming overhead ready to fall...but as Abraham interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah I intercede for America.. the ones dead set on handing our nation lock stock and barrel over to Satan's end time plan....we know the end I inevitable but we pray as Samson cried out between the two pillars he was chained to, LORD let us have victory over our enemies. Many have given up hope, given up the fight of faith...but I believe Lord that is deceptive...just a with Sodom and Gomorrah the judgment was pronounced but Abraham's intercession opened the door for redemption...Sodom reclosed that door but for that brief moment it was open by intercession...but regardless of the outcome and the next leader of our nation, WE KNOW for us in the kingdom of God YOU have your supernatural joy and peace to keep us no matter what...help Your people recognize and return misplaced faith to YOU and not fast horses..In Jesus name..amen
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