Sanctuary of the Soul

With a 70% chance of thunderstorms this afternoon and not wanting to get caught up on the mountain if it started storming I chose to stay at the base of the mountain.  I grabbed a book and drove to a mountain stream. -a perfect place to read.  I read Richard Foster’s book  Sanctuary of the Soul: Journey into Meditative Prayer.  

In this book Foster takes you on a step by step journey into the struggles and benefits of meditative prayer.  I look forward to teaching this book when I get back.  It will be interesting to get your response and to practice some of his suggestions to a deeper prayer life. 

When we hear the word meditation, we tend to think of a Buddist monk sitting in a lotus position going “Hmmmmm”.  Meditation is a significant part of Eastern spirituality, but it is also an important discipline for our faith life, even though it doesn’t get much attention today.  In meditative prayer, Foster writes, "we are learning to sink down into the light and life of Christ and becoming comfortable in this posture.  As Foster explains," “Prayer in general is the interactive communication that transpires between God and ourselves.  Meditative prayer in particular is the listening side of this communication.  We are bringing both mind and heart into the presence of God and then we listen to the Lord.”  In meditative prayer we are creating the emotional and spiritual space that allows God to construct an inner sanctuary in the heart. Jesus is knocking; meditative prayer opens the door. We are learning to be still and to be attentive to God.  It is the words of Frederick W. Farber: 

Only to sit and think of God,

Oh what a joy it is!

To think the thought,

To breath the name;

Earth has no higher bliss.

If you are hungry for a deeper meditative life with God, then Richard Foster’s Sanctuary of the Soul is a helpful, practical book that shows the way.

Teach me to stop and listen,

Teach me to center down.

Teach me the use of silence,

Teach me where peace is found.

Teach me to hear Your calling,

Teach me to search Your Word.

Teach me to hear in silence,

Things I have never heard.

Teach me to be collected,

Teach me to be in tune,

Teach me to be directed,

Silence will end so soon.

Then when it’s time for moving,

Grant it that I might bring

To every day and moment,

Peace from a silent spring.

-Ken Medema