Christian Meditation for A Bigger Life with Pastor Dave Cover
Christian Meditation can help refocus your mind and recalibrate your body to get the stress, anxiety and anger out of your heart and out of your body. Spend about 23 minutes to "be still" with God as each episode uses a different biblical image to e...
Recent Episodes
A Christian Meditation with Psalm 63:6-8
23:46 | 02-01-2022
David meditates in Psalms 63:6-8 “I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me” (ESV). This is imagination. Mental imagery. This is what David calls meditation. It sounds attractive, doesn’t it? Let’s take the time to do something like that now. If your podcast app is set to skip silent sections of the podcast, disable that now. We want to use silence as part of our meditation. This is a time for you to meditate and focus your mind and your body on the life-giving, peace-giving presence of the I AM. There'll be other times to do things. To fix things. Think about things. Plan things. You can do all that later. But for now put all that aside and focus all your mind and imagination on God being present with you 100% — focused on you 100% — without being any less present and any less focused anywhere else. He is the Giver of your life. The Source of comfort and peace. Shalom. When the Bible uses the word meditate, it’s talking about focusing your thoughts and your imagination on experiencing God’s presence and promises in a deeper way — a more vivid way — what Paul calls using the eyes of our heart in Ephesians 1:18. Biblically guided meditation focuses you on how everything about you — including your body — depends upon God’s life-giving Spirit at every moment. This kind of meditation can relieve stress and anxiety in your soul: your mind and body and spirit. It helps you imagine and experience your connection with God’s presence and promises even at the cellular level. Your whole body is part of who you are — part of who God made you to be forever. There will be a resurrection of your body in your salvation. So as you take deep slow breaths, embrace your body now as part of you. Imagine this reality. Every part of your being — every cell in your body — at rest in the presence of the I AM. As you’re breathing and imagining and experiencing your complete dependence on God’s breath/Spirit in every cell of your body — your necessary connection with God even at the cellular level… Let’s meditate on… Psalms 63:6-8 (ESV) 6 …I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; 7 for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. Picture this. The I AM is your help. And you’re secure in the “shadow of his wings.” Meditate on this. Use your imagination to picture yourself doing this. God doesn’t have wings, but it’s a picture he uses to show you his protective presence over you. Say to yourself… “I am secure in the protective shadow of God’s wings. I am joyful because the I AM is my protector and my help.” Imagine this reality. Every part of your being — every cell in your body — at rest in the protective presence of the I AM. In your imagination, see yourself under the wings of the I AM who created this entire universe. He’s 100% present with you right now. Picture this. Let’s meditate on… v. 8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. Picture this. God’s arms supporting every muscle and cell in your body right now. Imagine surrendering your entire being into God’s arms — God’s care — God’s love. See yourself doing this with every cell in your body. Every anxiety in your heart. Giving it all to him. Trusting it all into his hands. He created you. There is no life apart from him. So surrender your whole being into his arms. His perfect will. Say to yourself… “I am calm and my body is calm and at rest in the arms of God.” Say aloud to yourself… “Because I have Jesus, the things that matter most are not threatened. I am not in danger. I am secure forever because the forever God is my God forever.” Who can you share this podcast with? If you...
A Christian Meditation with Exodus 33:14
20:16 | 01-27-2022
Genesis 24:63 says, “And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening.” When the Bible uses the word meditate, it’s talking about focusing our mind and imagination to experience God’s presence in a deeper way — what Ephesians 1:18 calls using the eyes of our heart. In some way Isaac was going out into the field at sunset to do exactly that. Focusing his mind and imagination to be alone with God in the field at sunset. It sounds nice, doesn’t it? Let’s take the time to do something like that now. If your podcast app is set to skip silent sections of the podcast, disable that now. We want to use silence as part of our meditation. Biblically guided meditation and relaxation uses your imagination to focus on your body-mind connection. It helps you imagine and experience your connection with God even at the cellular level. It focuses you on how your body depends upon God’s life at every moment. Your whole body is part of who you are — part of who God made you to be forever. There will be a resurrection of your body in your salvation. So as you take deep slow breaths, embrace your body now as part of you. Begin to take in deep, slow breaths and with each exhale relax the muscles in your body a little bit more. Each slow, deep breath. This is a time for you to meditate and focus your mind and your body on the life-giving, peace-giving presence of the I AM. There'll be other times to do things. To fix things. Plan things. You can do all that later. But for now put all that aside and focus all your thoughts on God being present with you 100% — focused on you 100% — without being any less present and any less focused anywhere else. He is the Giver of your life. The Source of comfort and peace. Shalom. This is a time to listen and to speak to your whole person, including your body. Let’s meditate on this… Exodus 33:14 (NIV) The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Imagine this reality. Every part of your being — every cell in your body — at rest in the presence of the I AM. Say to yourself… “I am calm and your body is calm and at peace in the presence of God.” Imagine surrendering your entire being to God’s will — God’s care — every cell in your body. Every anxiety in your heart. Giving it all to him. Trusting it all into his hands. He created you. There is no life apart from him. So surrender your whole being to him. As you’re breathing and imagining and experiencing your complete dependence on God’s breath/Spirit in every cell of your body — your necessary connection with God even at the cellular level… Let’s meditate on this… Matthew 11:28 (NIV) Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Imagine this reality. Every part of your being — every cell in your body — at rest in the presence of the I AM. In your imagination, see yourself coming to Jesus with all your weariness and with all your burdens — handing it all to him. Jesus said “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Picture this. Say aloud to yourself… “Because I have Jesus, the things that matter most are not threatened. I am not in danger. I am secure forever because the forever God is my God forever.” Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on Twitter https://twitter.com/davecover (@davecover) Follow A Bigger Life on Twitter https://twitter.com/abiggerlifepod (@ABiggerLifePod) This podcast is a ministry of https://www.thecrossingchurch.com/ (The Crossing), a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located.
A Christian Meditation with Acts 17:28
19:27 | 01-25-2022
Psalms 119:27 says, “…I will meditate on your wondrous works.” Let’s take the time to do that now. If your podcast app is set to skip silent sections of the podcast, disable that now. We want to use silence as part of our meditation. Biblically guided meditation and relaxation uses your imagination to focus on your body-mind connection. It helps you imagine and experience your connection with God even at the cellular level. It focuses you on how your body depends upon God’s life at every moment. Begin to take in deep, slow breaths and with each exhale relax the muscles in your body a little bit more. Each slow, deep breath. This is a time for you to meditate and focus your mind and your body on the life-giving, peace-giving presence of the I AM. There'll be other times to do things. To fix things. Think about things. To work on things. To organize things. To talk to people. Plan things. You can do all that later. But for now put all that aside and focus all your thoughts on God being present with you 100% — focused on you 100% — without being any less present and any less focused anywhere else. He is the Giver of your life. The Source of comfort and peace. Shalom. This is a time to listen and to speak to your whole person, including your body. As you’re breathing and imagining and experiencing your complete dependence on God’s breath/Spirit in every cell of your body — your necessary connection with God even at the cellular level… Let’s meditate on this… Acts 17:28 (NIV) ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ Imagine this reality. Every part of your being — every cell in your body — depends upon God to live and move and have your being. Let’s meditate on this… Colossians 1:16-17 (NIV) For in him all things were created…all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Imagine this reality. Every part of your being — every cell in your body — depends upon God to live and move and have your being. Imagine surrendering your entire being to God’s will — God’s care — every cell in your body. Every anxiety in your heart. Giving it all to him. Trusting it all into his hands. He created you. There is no life apart from him. So surrender your whole being to him. Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on Twitter https://twitter.com/davecover (@davecover) Follow A Bigger Life on Twitter https://twitter.com/abiggerlifepod (@ABiggerLifePod) This podcast is a ministry of https://www.thecrossingchurch.com/ (The Crossing), a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located.
A Christian Meditation with John 14:27
22:45 | 01-20-2022
This is a biblically guided meditation and relaxation to use any time you need to relieve stress and tension in your body and refocus and rest into God’s presence and promises. Important: If your podcast app is set to skip silent sections of the podcast, disable that now. We want to use silence as part of our meditation. Meditation is a time to listen and to speak to your whole person, including your body. Psalm 42:5 NIV “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God.” Biblically guided Imagination / meditation speaks God’s truth and implications to our “soul” — to our whole self – body and mind and spirit. The psalmist was aware his “soul” was downcast and disturbed within him because he listened to his body, mind, spirit. Then his meditation was to speak the realities of God’s presence and promise to his “soul.” So biblically guided meditation focuses on the inseparable connection between our body, mind, and spirit. It helps you experience your connection with God even at the bodily/cellular level. This is a time for you to meditate and take in the comforting, peace-giving presence of the I AM. There'll be other times to do things. To fix things. Think about things. To work on things. To organize things. To talk to people. Plan things. You can do all that later. But for now put all that aside and focus all your thoughts on God being present with you 100% — focused on you 100% — without being any less present and any less focused anywhere else. He is the Giver of your life. The Source of comfort and peace. Shalom. To begin… Lie flat on your back or sit comfortably in a chair. Close your eyes. Try to relax your body by feeling the weight of every part of your body relaxing like falling water and being supported completely by whatever surface you’re on. Allow yourself to notice and feel how your body is supported. How you are being held from underneath. Your whole body is able to let itself be held. Begin to take in deep, slow breaths and with each exhale relax the muscles in your body a little bit more. Each slow, deep breath. Jesus says in John 14:27… “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. …Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Philippians 4:5-7 NIV “The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Say aloud to yourself… “Because I have Jesus, the things that matter most are not threatened. I am not in danger. I am in the loving care of God my Father.” Just as the author of Psalm 42 spoke to himself in the second person, speak aloud to yourself beginning with saying your name… For example, I would say, “Dave, because you have Jesus, the things that matter most are not threatened. You are not in danger. You are in the loving care of God your Father.” Let’s say that again…Beginning with your name… “____, because you have Jesus, the things that matter most are not threatened. You are secure. You are not in danger. You are in the loving care of God your Father.” Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on Twitter https://twitter.com/davecover (@davecover) Follow A Bigger Life on Twitter https://twitter.com/abiggerlifepod (@ABiggerLifePod) This podcast is a ministry of https://www.thecrossingchurch.com/ (The Crossing), a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located.
A Christian Meditation with Matthew 10:29-31
20:46 | 01-18-2022
This is a biblically guided meditation and relaxation to use any time you need to relieve stress and tension in your body and refocus and rest into God’s presence and promises. Important: If your podcast app is set to skip silent sections of the podcast, disable that now. We want to use silence as part of our meditation. Meditation is a time to listen and to speak to your whole person, including your body. Psalm 42:5 NIV “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God.” Biblically guided Imagination / meditation speaks God’s truth and implications to our “soul” — to our whole self – body and mind and spirit. The biblical concept of the soul is your whole self – body, mind, spirit. That’s why there must be a resurrection of the body for salvation. Your whole body is part of you. You are your body. Embrace your body. The psalmist was aware his “soul” was downcast and disturbed within him because he listened to his body, mind, spirit. Then his meditation was to speak the realities of God’s presence and promise to his “soul.” So biblically guided meditation focuses on the inseparable connection between our body, mind, and spirit. It helps you experience your connection with God even at the bodily/cellular level. This is a time for you to meditate and take in the comforting, peace-giving presence of the I AM. There'll be other times to do things. To fix things. Think about things. To work on things. To organize things. To talk to people. Plan things. You can do all that later. But for now put all that aside and focus all your thoughts on God being present with you 100% — focused on you 100% — without being any less present and any less focused anywhere else. He is the Giver of your life. The Source of comfort and peace. Shalom. To begin… Lie flat on your back or sit comfortably in a chair. Close your eyes. Try to relax your body by feeling the weight of every part of your body relaxing like falling water and being supported completely by whatever surface you’re on. Allow yourself to notice and feel how your body is supported. How you are being held from underneath. Your whole body is able to let itself be held. Begin to take in deep, slow breaths and with each exhale relax the muscles in your body a little bit more. Each slow, deep breath. Jesus says in Matthew 6:6 NIV “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.” You have every reason to feel at peace in God’s presence. Romans 5:1 “…[You] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jesus says in Matthew 10:29-31 NIV “…Not one [sparrow] will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” 1 Peter 5:7 NIV “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Say aloud to yourself… “I am relaxed in God’s attention and care. I am calm. I am not in danger. I am in a good place. I’m safe forever because the forever God is my God forever.” Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on Twitter https://twitter.com/davecover (@davecover) Follow A Bigger Life on Twitter https://twitter.com/abiggerlifepod (@ABiggerLifePod) This podcast is a ministry of https://www.thecrossingchurch.com/ (The Crossing), a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located
A Christian Meditation with Ezekiel 37:5-6
29:00:00 | 01-13-2022
This is a biblically guided meditation and relaxation to use any time you need to relieve stress and tension in your body and refocus and rest into God’s presence and promises. Important: If your podcast app is set to skip silent sections of the podcast, disable that now. We want to use silence as part of our meditation. You can flag these episodes on biblically guided meditation and relaxation for you to return to over and over as needed. Each episode is a little different, so you may decide to favor one or two episodes as better for you. But give all of them a try. Meditation is as old as the Bible itself. Our secular culture is recently embracing the benefits of “mindfulness” and meditation for developing mental and physical health. But the Bible has been there all along, for thousands of years (see the show notes to the January 4 episode). Biblically guided meditation imagines the unseen realities of God as your Source of Life and Joy and Significance, and speaks these realities to your soul – your whole self. Meditation is a time to listen and to speak to your whole person, including your body. Psalm 42:5 NIV “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God.” Biblically guided Imagination / meditation speaks God’s truth and implications to our “soul” — to our whole self – body and mind and spirit. The biblical concept of the soul is your whole self – body, mind, spirit. That’s why there must be a resurrection of the body for salvation. Your whole body is part of you. You are your body. Embrace your body. The psalmist was aware his “soul” was downcast and disturbed within him because he listened to his body, mind, spirit. Then his meditation was to speak the realities of God’s presence and promise to his “soul.” So biblically guided meditation focuses on the inseparable connection between our body, mind, and spirit. It helps you experience your connection with God even at the bodily/cellular level. This is a time for you to meditate and take in the comforting, peace-giving presence of the I AM. There'll be other times to do things. To fix things. Think about things. To work on things. To organize things. To talk to people. Plan things. You can do all that later. But for now put all that aside and focus all your thoughts on God being present with you 100% — focused on you 100% — without being any less present and any less focused anywhere else. He is the Giver of your life. The Source of comfort and peace. Shalom. To begin… Lie flat on your back or sit comfortably in a chair. Close your eyes. Try to relax your body by feeling the weight of every part of your body relaxing like falling water and being supported completely by whatever surface you’re on. Allow yourself to notice and feel how your body is supported. How you are being held from underneath. Your whole body is able to let itself be held. Begin to take in deep, slow breaths and with each exhale relax the muscles in your body a little bit more. Each slow, deep breath. Ezekiel 37:5-6 ESV “Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will …put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the LORD.” Psalm 104:30 NIV When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground. John 20:21-22 ESV Jesus said to them…“Peace be with you.” …And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18 — “Be filled with the Spirit.” Romans 15:13 — “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? Job 33:4 (NIV) The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of
A Christian Meditation with Genesis 1:1-3
25:02:00 | 01-11-2022
This is a biblically guided meditation and relaxation to use any time you need to relieve stress and tension in your body and refocus and rest into God’s presence and promises. Important: If your podcast app is set to skip silent sections of the podcast, disable that now. We want to use silence as part of our meditation. You can flag these episodes on biblically guided meditation and relaxation for you to return to over and over as needed. Each episode is a little different, so you may decide to favor one or two episodes as better for you. But give all of them a try. Meditation is as old as the Bible itself. Our secular culture is recently embracing the benefits of “mindfulness” and meditation for developing mental and physical health. But the Bible has been there all along, for thousands of years (see the show notes to the January 4 episode). Biblically guided meditation imagines the unseen realities of God as your Source of Life and Joy and Significance, and speaks these realities to your soul – your whole self. Meditation is a time to listen and to speak to your whole person, including your body. Psalm 42:5 NIV “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God.” Biblically guided Imagination / meditation speaks God’s truth and implications to our “soul” — to our whole self – body and mind and spirit. The biblical concept of the soul is your whole self – body, mind, spirit. That’s why there must be a resurrection of the body for salvation. Your whole body is part of you. You are your body. Embrace your body. The psalmist was aware his “soul” was downcast and disturbed within him because he listened to his body, mind, spirit. Then his meditation was to speak the realities of God’s presence and promise to his “soul.” So biblically guided meditation focuses on the inseparable connection between our body, mind, and spirit. It helps you experience your connection with God even at the bodily/cellular level. This is a time for you to meditate and take in the comforting, peace-giving presence of the I AM. There'll be other times to do things. To fix things. Think about things. To work on things. To organize things. To talk to people. Plan things. You can do all that later. But for now put all that aside and focus all your thoughts on God being present with you 100% — focused on you 100% — without being any less present and any less focused anywhere else. He is the Giver of your life. The Source of comfort and peace. Shalom. To begin… Lie flat on your back or sit comfortably in a chair. Close your eyes. Try to relax your body by feeling the weight of every part of your body relaxing like falling water and being supported completely by whatever surface you’re on. Allow yourself to notice and feel how your body is supported. How you are being held from underneath. Your whole body is able to let itself be held. Begin to take in deep, slow breaths and with each exhale relax the muscles in your body a little bit more. Each slow, deep breath. Genesis 1:1-3 NIV In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on Twitter https://twitter.com/davecover (@davecover) Follow A Bigger Life on Twitter https://twitter.com/abiggerlifepod (@ABiggerLifePod) This podcast is a ministry of https://www.thecrossingchurch.com/ (The Crossing), a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located.
A Christian Meditation with Genesis 2:7
31:46:00 | 01-06-2022
This is a biblically guided meditation and relaxation to use any time you need to relieve stress and tension in your body and refocus and rest into God’s presence and promises. Important: If your podcast app is set to skip silent sections of the podcast, disable that now. We want to use silence as part of our meditation. You can flag these episodes on biblically guided meditation and relaxation for you to return to over and over as needed. Each episode is a little different, so you may decide to favor one or two episodes as better for you. But give all of them a try. If you know of someone who you think might also benefit from these meditation and relaxation episodes, please share this link in a text or email or on social media. Meditation is as old as the Bible itself. Our secular culture is recently embracing the benefits of “mindfulness” and meditation for developing mental and physical health. But the Bible has been there all along, for thousands of years (see the show notes to the January 4 episode). Biblically guided meditation imagines the unseen realities of God as your Source of Life and Joy and Significance, and speaks these realities to your soul – your whole self. Meditation is a time to listen and to speak to your whole person, including your body. Psalm 42:5 NIV “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God.” Biblically guided Imagination / meditation speaks God’s truth and implications to our “soul” — to our whole self – body and mind and spirit. The biblical concept of the soul is your whole self – body, mind, spirit. That’s why there must be a resurrection of the body for salvation. Your whole body is part of you. You are your body. Embrace your body. The psalmist was aware his “soul” was downcast and disturbed within him because he listened to his body, mind, spirit. Then his meditation was to speak the realities of God’s presence and promise to his “soul.” So biblically guided meditation focuses on the inseparable connection between our body, mind, and spirit. It helps you experience your connection with God even at the bodily/cellular level. It focuses you on how your body depends upon God’s life-giving Spirit at every moment. This imagery/meditation can bring needed relaxation and relieve stress from your body and mind. To begin… Lie flat on your back or sit comfortably in a chair. Close your eyes. Try to relax your body by feeling the weight of every part of your body relaxing like falling water and being supported completely by whatever surface you’re on. Allow yourself to notice and feel how your body is supported. How you are being held from underneath. Your whole body is able to let itself be held. Begin to take in deep, slow breaths and with each exhale relax the muscles in your body a little bit more. Each slow, deep breath. Jesus said in John 10:27-30… “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. …And no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.” Psalm 46:10 [God] says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” 1 Corinthians 6:11 …You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. Genesis 2:7 Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it. Follow Dave Cover on Twitter https://twitter.com/davecover (@davecover) Follow A Bigger Life on Twitter https://twitter.com/abiggerlifepod (@ABiggerLifePod) This podcast is a ministry of https://www.thecrossingchurch.com/
Biblical Meditation
37:35:00 | 01-04-2022
Meditation is a very broad word. Biblically speaking, it’s a time of focused, intentional thought. Using your imagination to better see reality. Meditation embraces the importance of talking to yourself rather than just always listening to your brain’s chatter.Psalm 42:5–6 NIV5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. 6 My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you.Psalm 42:8 NIVBy day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.Psalm 42:11 NIVWhy, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.Genesis 24:63 (ESV)And Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening. And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, there were camels coming.Psalms 119:27 (ESV)…I will meditate on your wondrous works.Psalms 119:23 (ESV)Even though princes sit plotting against me,your servant will meditate on your statutes.Psalms 119:78 (ESV)…They have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.Psalms 119:148 (ESV)My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.Psalms 77:12 (ESV)I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds.Who can you share this podcast with? If you found this episode helpful, consider sharing it on social media or texting it to a friend you think might benefit from it.Follow Dave Cover on Twitter @davecoverFollow A Bigger Life on Twitter @ABiggerLifePodThis podcast is a ministry of The Crossing, a church in Columbia, Missouri, a college town where the flagship campus of the University of Missouri is located.
“Forever” | Psalm 119
18:51 | 12-30-2021
We’ve been looking through the imaginative paintings of God’s life-creating power in Genesis 1-3 as we read Psalm 119. (To understand more what makes Psalm 119 so unique in the Bible, read the show notes from the Dec 21 episode.) Imagine eating the fruit from the Tree of Life. What might it have tasted like? What would you feel like afterward? Genesis 2-3 tells us that its fruit was the ultimate superfood – the life-giving nutrient of “forever”! After Adam and Eve rejected the commandment of God, God banished them from Eden. One big reason was so that they could not eat from the Tree of Life and live forever in their state of brokenness and dysfunction. It was a mercy killing of sorts so that God could bring resurrection through the Offspring of promise in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%203%3A15&version=NIV (Genesis 3:15). Genesis 3:22 NIV And the LORD God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” Genesis 3:24 NIV After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. The Tree of Life promises in Revelation. Revelation 2:7 NIV Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. Revelation 22:2 NIV On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22:14 NIV “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.” Revelation 22:19 NIV And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll. God’s word is the most tangible thing we have that’s a kind of Tree of Life. Imagine eating from the Tree of Life as you read and meditate on God’s word. Psalm 119 ESV 89 Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. 111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. 142 Your righteousness is righteous forever, and your law is true. 144 Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live. 152 Long have I known from your testimonies that you have founded them forever. 160 The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. Abundance. Genesis 2:9-10 NIV The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. A river watering the garden flowed from Eden. Speaking of the wisdom of God’s word (the word for “wisdom” in Hebrew is femine in gender). Proverbs 3:13–20 NIV 13 Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, 14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed. 19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; 20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew. God’s word (commandments, promises, etc) are eternal because they are entwined into the very fabric of the universe. Repeated throughout all of...