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
Dealing with Those Who Want to Harm You | Psalm 35
19:47 | 02-09-2021
Anyone who takes the Bible seriously knows we live in a world where there is real evil. And that evil can take deep root in people’s lives so that they are motivated to bring evil into our lives. To do us harm. To hurt us in some way. That was David’s circumstance as he prayed Psalm 35. And I think his prayer is a great example for us as we deal with people with evil intentions in our lives. What should you do? How should you pray in such situations? Let’s look at how David does it in this episode. Psalm 35 ESV Of David. 1 Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! 3 Say to my soul, “I am your salvation!” 4 Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life! Let them be turned back and disappointed who devise evil against me! 5 Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away! 11 Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know. 12 They repay me evil for good; my soul is bereft. 17 How long, O Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions! 22 You have seen, O LORD; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me! 23 Awake and rouse yourself for my vindication, for my cause, my God and my Lord! 24 Vindicate me, O LORD, my God, according to your righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me! 26 Let them be put to shame and disappointed altogether who rejoice at my calamity! Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me! Follow Dave Cover on Twitter @davecover. This 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. Like this content? Make sure to share it with others and leave us a rating, so others can find it too. To learn more, visit ourhttps://www.thecrossingchurch.com/ ( website) and follow us onhttps://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( Facebook),https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/ ( Instagram), andhttps://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo ( Twitter) @TheCrossingCOMO. Social Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO) Instagram:https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( )https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/ (https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/) Twitter:https://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo ( https://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo)
Imagining Biblical Pictures of God | Revelation 22:1-5
26:02:00 | 02-04-2021
Imagine writing a letter to a loved one without ever imagining them in your mind as you write. Not much of a conversation. Now imagine conversing with God without using your imagination. Again, not much of a conversation. But the Bible gives us poetic pictures of God for us to use to imagine him in a way that brings his reality to life in our minds and hearts. Revelation 22:1-5 is one of those passages that’s explosive word imagery of our relationship with God. Let’s talk about that in this episode. Revelation 22:1–5 ESV 1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. Follow Dave Cover on Twitter @davecover. This 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. Like this content? Make sure to share it with others and leave us a rating, so others can find it too. To learn more, visit ourhttps://www.thecrossingchurch.com/ ( website) and follow us onhttps://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( Facebook),https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/ ( Instagram), andhttps://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo ( Twitter) @TheCrossingCOMO. Social Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO) Instagram:https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( )https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/ (https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/) Twitter:https://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo ( https://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo)
Approaching God with Biblical Imagination | Psalm 32:7-11
19:42 | 02-02-2021
As you come before God to pray, what are you usually thinking? To some degree you are using your imagination, picturing in some way God with you and listening to you. But in the Psalms David imagined much more than that. If you pay attention you’ll notice that his language of prayer is filled with intimate and powerful mental images. He used his imagination to picture his relationship with God in his mind as he prayed. Psalm 32:7-11 is a good example of how David’s Spirit-inspired imagination can inspire the kind of imagination in our own prayers that help us draw closer to God in trust and joy. Psalm 32:7–11 ESV 7 You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. 9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. 10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. 11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! Follow Dave Cover on Twitter @davecover. This 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. Like this content? Make sure to share it with others and leave us a rating, so others can find it too. To learn more, visit ourhttps://www.thecrossingchurch.com/ ( website) and follow us onhttps://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( Facebook),https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/ ( Instagram), andhttps://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo ( Twitter) @TheCrossingCOMO. Social Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO) Instagram:https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( )https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/ (https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/) Twitter:https://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo ( https://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo)
Seeing Your Poetic Present and Your Literal Future | Psalm 30
21:14 | 01-28-2021
As a psalmist uniquely inspired by the Holy Spirit (Matt 22:43), King David’s prayers were often prophetic; describing poetically/figuratively what will ultimately be literal in the future through the Son of David, the Messiah (the Christ). For example, we see this regarding Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection in Psalm 22. And I think we see this in Psalm 30 regarding the resurrected future of Christ’s redeemed. Which of course included David. David is praying figuratively and poetically God’s redemptive realities in his life. And what he presently prays poetically will also be true literally for all those redeemed in Christ. When we see that future, it empowers us in the now. Let’s use our poetic imagination to see that life-giving story and that future together in this episode. Psalm 30 ESV A Psalm of David. A song at the dedication of the temple. 1 I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. 2 O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. 3 O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. 4 Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. 5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. 10 Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me! O LORD, be my helper!” 11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, 12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever! Follow Dave Cover on Twitter @davecover. This 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. Like this content? Make sure to share it with others and leave us a rating, so others can find it too. To learn more, visit ourhttps://www.thecrossingchurch.com/ ( website) and follow us onhttps://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( Facebook),https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/ ( Instagram), andhttps://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo ( Twitter) @TheCrossingCOMO. Social Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO) Instagram:https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( )https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/ (https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/) Twitter:https://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo ( https://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo)
Coming to God Emotionally Expressive | Psalm 28
24:15:00 | 01-26-2021
I think in some ways the reason we lose emotional control at work or at home or in traffic or wherever is because we keep too much emotional control when talking to God. We have it backwards. Learning to be more emotionally expressive, even dramatic, to God in our prayer life is an important way to become more like David (and Jesus) in our relationship with God. And that helps us be more like Jesus in our relationship with others. Let’s discover some important tips together in this episode on Psalm 28. Psalm 28 ESV Of David. 1 To you, O LORD, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit. 2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary. 3 Do not drag me off with the wicked, with the workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors while evil is in their hearts. 6 Blessed be the LORD! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. 7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. 8 The LORD is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed. 9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever. Follow Dave Cover on Twitter @davecover. This 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. Like this content? Make sure to share it with others and leave us a rating, so others can find it too. To learn more, visit ourhttps://www.thecrossingchurch.com/ ( website) and follow us onhttps://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( Facebook),https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/ ( Instagram), andhttps://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo ( Twitter) @TheCrossingCOMO. Social Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO) Instagram:https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( )https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/ (https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/) Twitter:https://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo ( https://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo)
What is the Bible’s Biggest Truth for Your Life? | Prayer on Psalm 1
16:58 | 01-21-2021
What is the number one truth of life in the Bible? The Bible’s big truth for your life? Here it is: Only God’s will brings life; and every other will brings destruction. Dependence upon God brings life; independence from God brings death.This is the entire Bible’s first equation. This is what all of human history will ultimately show the universe a billion years from now. This is the ultimate lesson to be learned in everything that happens in your life. And this is the message of the first Psalm. It’s a great Psalm for your soul to soak in if you truly want to live the “blessed” life. A Bigger Life. Let’s take a moment and do that now in this episode. Psalm 1 NIV 1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. Follow Dave Cover on Twitter @davecover. Like this content? Make sure to share it with others and leave us a rating, so others can find it too. To learn more, visit ourhttps://www.thecrossingchurch.com/ ( website) and follow us onhttps://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( Facebook),https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/ ( Instagram), andhttps://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo ( Twitter) @TheCrossingCOMO. Social Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO) Instagram:https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( )https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/ (https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/) Twitter:https://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo ( https://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo)
Why Should You Choose God Over All Else? | Prayer on Psalm 26
15:57 | 01-19-2021
Why should you choose God over anything else? I always have to remind myself why following (seeking, trusting, obeying) Christ is always worth it more than not. My guess is you do too. This is a great Psalm to remind you of who God really is for you, and why you desire him more than anything or anyone else. Take some time to let God speak to you and then let’s take a moment to speak back to him in prayer with some great phrases in this Psalm. Psalm 26:3 ESV For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in your faithfulness. Psalm 26:6–9 ESV I...go around your altar, O LORD, proclaiming thanksgiving aloud, and telling all your wondrous deeds. O LORD, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells. Do not sweep my soul away with sinners. Psalm 26:11 ESV But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me. Follow Dave Cover on Twitter @davecover. Like this content? Make sure to share it with others and leave us a rating, so others can find it too. To learn more, visit ourhttps://www.thecrossingchurch.com/ ( website) and follow us onhttps://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( Facebook),https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/ ( Instagram), andhttps://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo ( Twitter) @TheCrossingCOMO. Social Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO) Instagram:https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( )https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/ (https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/) Twitter:https://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo ( https://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo)
How Jesus Redirects Our Fears | Prayer on Matthew 10:29-31
18:25 | 01-14-2021
Jesus’s words in Matthew 10:29-31 have been some of his most important words in my life because of their powerful picture of God’s detailed care and involvement in my life. Jesus emphasizes our eternal value to the God who created everything in this universe! But the context of these verses makes these words far more than just comforting. They are words that draw the battle lines in our heart of what we will fear the most. And when we understand the context of these amazing words, we realize how Jesus is redirecting our fears in a life changing way. Let’s discuss and pray these powerful words of Jesus together in this episode.. Matthew 10:29–31 NIV Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them 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. Follow Dave Cover on Twitter @davecover. Like this content? Make sure to share it with others and leave us a rating, so others can find it too. To learn more, visit ourhttps://www.thecrossingchurch.com/ ( website) and follow us onhttps://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( Facebook),https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/ ( Instagram), andhttps://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo ( Twitter) @TheCrossingCOMO. Social Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO) Instagram:https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( )https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/ (https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/) Twitter:https://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo ( https://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo)
How Jesus Challenges Your Anxiety and Worry | Prayer on Matthew 6:25-34
20:03 | 01-12-2021
We all worry. We all deal with anxiety. Most of the time it’s the back-burner feeling that’s like a slow leak in our joy. In Matthew 6 Jesus directly challenges that kind of anxiety and worry. Think about it this way -- the creator of the universe -- YOUR creator -- became human and is telling YOU why you don’t have to live a life pushed around by your worry and anxiety. Let’s take a moment together in this episode and hear how Jesus challenges our worry and anxiety, and then we can experience his words more deeply by praying them. Matthew 6:25–34 NIV 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Follow Dave Cover on Twitter @davecover. Like this content? Make sure to share it with others and leave us a rating, so others can find it too. To learn more, visit ourhttps://www.thecrossingchurch.com/ ( website) and follow us onhttps://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( Facebook),https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/ ( Instagram), andhttps://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo ( Twitter) @TheCrossingCOMO. Social Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO) Instagram:https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( )https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/ (https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/) Twitter:https://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo ( https://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo)
Seeking the Face of the King of Glory | Prayer on Psalm 24
25:08:00 | 01-07-2021
The risen Jesus told his disciples that ultimately what is written in the Psalms points to him (see Luke 24:25-27, 44 below). We especially see this in Psalm 24, written by King David a thousand years before Jesus was born. I love these messianic psalms of David (psalms that specifically describe to us something about the Messiah) because they show me how God has his ancient, eternal, bigger story that he is bringing to this earth through Jesus the Christ/Messiah. And these psalms poetically show me how I can be inside that story and live into that story today! And I can experientially seek the face of God (v. 6) as I pray this ancient prayer. And you can pray it with me in this episode. Luke 24:25–27 NIV He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. Luke 24:44 NIV He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Psalm 24 ESV 0 A Psalm of David. 1 The earth is the LORD’S and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, 2 for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. 3 Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. 5 He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah 7 Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle! 9 Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory! Follow Dave Cover on Twitter @davecover. Like this content? Make sure to share it with others and leave us a rating, so others can find it too. To learn more, visit ourhttps://www.thecrossingchurch.com/ ( website) and follow us onhttps://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( Facebook),https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/ ( Instagram), andhttps://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo ( Twitter) @TheCrossingCOMO. Social Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO) Instagram:https://www.facebook.com/TheCrossingCOMO ( )https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/ (https://www.instagram.com/thecrossingcomo/) Twitter:https://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo ( https://twitter.com/thecrossingcomo)