348 You Are Called To Freedom, A Guided Christian Meditation on Galatians 5:13-15 with the Recenter With Christ app

 

I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain, my purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina:

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

Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for 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.

Bible verses for Meditation:

Galatians 5:13-15

NASB
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.
14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

NIV
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

Meditation on Scripture:

What is freedom? How do we obtain true freedom? According to this scripture, what should we do with our freedom? Many times when we think of freedom it is something that fills us with the ability to do what we want. The scriptures mention freedom various times. Here it says we are called to freedom, to be free. Yet what is that call? It is the call of Christ. Jesus is who offers us the ability to be free of the most serious consequences in existence, that of sin and human weakness. Here we are corrected from using freedom as an excuse to do whatever it is that we want instead God offered freedom to us to help transform us to his image.

The way Paul suggests that here is to say that we should use our freedom in service and love. He reiterates the pronouncement of Jesus who said that the second great commandment was to love our neighbor as ourselves. Loving God with all our heart, mind, might, and strength was the first. Our freedom allows us to do those things that would improve us and make us more in His image. We are called to love, we are called to freedom to allow us to do that.

As we faithfully follow Christ, we have power to answer this call. We receive true freedom which is to do what is most important for us to do, not necessarily what our current desires dictate to 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 being 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:
This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast

Updates:

Final Question: Why did God give you freedom of spirit?

Final Thought: God’s plan was meant to try us and to push us to rely on Him.

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