In today's world, meditation is a word that is widely used among people who consider themselves somewhat spiritual or religious. Its application has been largely limited to practices that aim at emptying the mind of noise and distraction and focusing inward to bring calmness to one's life in the quest to achieve wholeness and balance. Its recent popularity can be attributed to the endorsement given by western celebrities who have explored eastern religions, particularly Buddhism, and touted the benefits of some of their practices for modern life, claiming impressive results.
Given this background, much of the Christian world have viewed the word with suspicion and in some quarters steered clear of it altogether, thereby falling for the enemy's classic manoeuvre: make people let go of a powerful truth by calling a falsehood the same name.
A candid comparison of the early church and the church today must leave us with sobering questions. Where is the powerful witness we see in the book of Acts? In my country Nigeria, with mega churches and at least 90 million Christians, where is the national transformation we should experience if our Christianity has the same potency as that of the first century 120, which transformed the world? Christians all over the world are asking these questions. We have clearly lost something along the way.
Christians now have access to more books, CDs and MP3s, conferences, seminars, and Christian television networks, than at any other period in church history. Numerous Bible translations abound. Study aids that help us understand the original languages of the scriptures ranging from commentaries to lexicons and word studies are readily available to all. The internet is also an excellent resource. Christian organizations have made expensive study tools accessible at no charge to anyone with a computer and internet connection. Even secular online bookstores and auction houses have large catalogues of Christian material.
These tools, though welcome, are clearly not the answer.
The Western church is still enjoying religious freedom, and countries that historically opposed the gospel are opening their doors, so this is not a problem of access.
The word of God remains the same. The Holy Spirit remains on earth. We are still in the same dispensation as that of the church in the book of Acts. What did they know and understand that we need to learn?God's counsel to Israel during Jeremiah's day still holds true for the church today....
"Stand in the ways and see,
And ask for the old paths, where the good way is,
And walk in it;
Then you will find rest for your souls..." (Jeremiah 6:16).
This study examines one of those ancient paths: the practice of true biblical meditation. Biblical meditation started with the patriarchs and persisted throughout the early church. It holds the key to unlocking the transforming power of God in every life and has the potential to ignite revival fire in every heart.
We must claim meditation back with its true meaning and practice. We must reclaim the practices of the faith that were delivered to the saints and freely admit to their mystical nature. There is a higher life in God behind the door that this powerful key will unlock. This book provides tools that will enable you get up and experience it.
I commend this book to the precious Body of Christ who have been purchased by the blood of the Lamb of God and called to a high purpose. May your heart's hunger for more of God be satisfied through the power of the Holy Spirit.
