566 Must We Suffer for God’s Sake?, A Guided Christian Meditation on Acts 9:13-16 with the Recenter With Christ app

566 Must We Suffer for God’s Sake?, A Guided Christian Meditation on Acts 9:13-16 with the Recenter With Christ app  

The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ. 

Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.

Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted f or about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing.  If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.
 
Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:
 
Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate,  deflate.

Scripture for Meditation

NASB
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

ESV
13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

Meditation:

Ananias was told directly to go help Paul. He resists which makes sense. I find it interesting that Ananias was told that Paul would be shown how he must suffer for Gods name. Why? We don’t know but we get some insight from reflecting on Gods word. Perhaps God revealed it to deal with the struggle of understanding Gos blessings amidst life challenges. 

There are many ways to explain the value of Paul’s mission. And the Lord chooses to explain his necessary suffering. It demonstrates a valuable dichotomy. Sometimes we feel that God promises that everything will go smooth. I have talked with so many people who are struggling who feel that their struggles are a sign that God is not treating them fairly or has forgotten them. The story of Job is an example. 

This scripture speaks of the universal axiom that struggle leads to growth when empowered by God. It briefly shows the contrast of the victory of Paul’s conversion yet also the deep challenge that will be demanded of him in his new faith in the Lord. Each of us will suffer for the Lord in our own way. This is not a failing of the plan of God. It is baked into the plan. Our focus should be to pause and rejoice in all the Lord has given us regardless of what is happening around us. 
 
Meditation of Prayer:

Pray as directed by the Spirit.

Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him.

Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm:

I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials.

Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life:

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