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
Bringing God’s Power Into Your Life | Psalm 68
28:28 | 03-09-2021
The Psalms come back to repeated themes for emphasis. We forget what matters most because we get hijacked by the smaller horizontal stories that bombard us everyday. But when we lift up our eyes vertically through praise to God and his bigger story for us, we bring God’s power and strength deeper into our lives today.. But just for today. It has to be repeated, like daily manna in the desert. Which is why the Psalms repeat this story in different ways for us to imagine. Like in Psalm 68. Let’s have a conversation with God together through this psalm. Psalm 68 ESV To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song. 1 God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate him shall flee before him! 2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God! 3 But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy! 4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the LORD; exult before him! 18 You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there. 19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah 20 Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death. 24 Your procession is seen, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary— 26 “Bless God in the great congregation, the LORD, O you who are of Israel’s fountain!” 32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, Selah 33 to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice. 34 Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies. 35 Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God! 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. Like this content? Make sure to share it with others and leave us a rating, so others can find it too.
Five Words to Pray for Anyone | Psalm 67
16:22 | 03-04-2021
Do you ever want to pray but you’re not sure what to pray? Whether for yourself when you want to pray for yourself. Or when you want to pray for someone else. “I’ll pray for you,” you say to a friend, but what will you pray? What should you pray for? Psalm 67 gives us some great phrases to use when praying for others and for ourselves. You just have to remember five words: gracious, bless, face, praise, joy. Let me tell you how in this episode. Psalm 67 ESV 1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah 2 that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah 5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 6 The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him! 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. Like this content? Make sure to share it with others and leave us a rating, so others can find it too.
Learning to Pray More Dramatically | Psalm 61
27:11 | 03-02-2021
Are there times in your life when you don’t want to pray? You can just barely muster up the focus on God enough to barely pray. You want to pray in the sense that you know you need to pray and you don't want to drift away from God. But your heart is not in it. We all have times like that. Sometimes it's because our heart has become hardened, or discouraged, or anxious, or we're just in a place where we're lethargic spiritually. And in those times you want to wake yourself up, or have God wake you up. And so you just want to approach God in prayer and hope something happens. My freshman year in college, before I learned to pray the Psalms back to God, Christian music was a spiritual lifeline for me. A contemporary Christian artist named Matthew Ward sang this psalm. He had an incredible voice. Very dramatic. And I think he really captured the emotional drama of these first few verses of David’s psalm. He sang it so dramatically that I still remember the opening words to this psalm all these years later. And I think that’s what David is doing in this psalm. I'm thankful that the Holy Spirit has given us this prayer in Psalm 61. Psalm 61 ESV Of David. 1 Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; 2 from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, 3 for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. 4 Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah 5 For you, O God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. 6 Prolong the life of the king; may his years endure to all generations! 7 May he be enthroned forever before God; appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him! 8 So will I ever sing praises to your name, as I perform my vows day after day. 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. Like this content? Make sure to share it with others and leave us a rating, so others can find it too.
What About Our FOMO? | Psalm 49
22:35 | 02-25-2021
Do you struggle with FOMO sometimes? Welcome to being a Christian. Our Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) is NOT new to the human condition. And it’s certainly not something new to the life of faith. I’m amazed how often 3,000-year-old psalms, inspired by the Holy Spirit, talk honestly about it. It’s a real fear for God’s people, and it always has been. For good reason: lots of people who don’t concern themselves with living by the will of God seem to be doing really well in life. They advance in ways that people of faith cannot. People of faith in Christ must make certain sacrifices for obedience (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2016:24&version=NIV (Matt 16:24)). Sacrifices of certain sexual freedoms. Sacrifices of money and wealth and vacations in order to give generously. Sacrifices of people’s praise and approval and friendships when we don’t just conform to all the beliefs of the crowd. Life often seems easier without such restrictions. But only when seen through a small window of time. This psalm wakes us up and puts it all back inside the real story. The bigger story. Let’s explore it together. Psalm 49 ESV 1 Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world, 2 both low and high, rich and poor together! 3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding. 4 I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre. 5 Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me, 6 those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches? 7 Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, 8 for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, 9 that he should live on forever and never see the pit. 10 For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others. 11 Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they called lands by their own names. 12 Man in his pomp will not remain; he is like the beasts that perish. 13 This is the path of those who have foolish confidence; yet after them people approve of their boasts. Selah 14 Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; death shall be their shepherd, and the upright shall rule over them in the morning. Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell. 15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Selah 16 Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. 17 For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him. 18 For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed — and though you get praise when you do well for yourself — 19 his soul will go to the generation of his fathers, who will never again see light. 20 Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish. 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. Like this content? Make sure to share it with others and leave us a rating, so others can find it too.
Lifting Our Eyes | Psalm 47
22:15 | 02-23-2021
While all the Psalms were written centuries before Jesus was born, Psalm 47 (much like we saw in our last episode on Psalm 45) brings the future reign of Jesus into our present praises. And in doing so it helps us to lift up our eyes to see the bigger horizon of our bigger story. It really is amazing how the Holy Spirit inspired these psalms with prophetic insight to see a future better detailed in the last two chapters of the Bible. Of course, all the Bible gives us glimpses into this story, as Jesus says in https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2024%3A44&version=NIV (Luke 24:44). Including (if not especially) the Psalms. Again, if we can see the bigger story our life is in because God became Jesus and lived and died and rose again and is returning with his resurrection kingdom — there is a life-lifting power in that. Like with Psalm 45, at first pass we may not think this psalm has much to offer us in worshiping God. But it is another amazing Holy Spirit inspired prophetic announcement of the bigger story our life is in. Psalm 47 ESV 1 Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! 2 For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth. 3 He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet. 4 He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah 5 God has gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! 7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm! 8 God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne. 9 The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted! 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. Like this content? Make sure to share it with others and leave us a rating, so others can find it too.
The Life-Giving Power of the Bigger Story | Psalm 45
24:38 | 02-18-2021
Everyone has a mental narrative inside their head of what story they want to live and whether or not they are fitting inside that narrative right now in their lives. And what happens is we have a false narrative inside of our head that is not reality, and so it causes discontentment or misinterpretation of the events in our lives. And it causes us to pursue a false reality for what story we want for our lives. That’s why I’ve been saying in this podcast that if we can understand the real narrative that our life is in — if we can see the bigger story our life is in because God became Jesus and lived and died and rose again and is returning with his resurrection kingdom — there is a power in that. That’s the gospel that the apostle Paul says has the power of God to heal and restore our lives in Romans 1:16. Which brings us to Psalm 45. At first pass we may not think this psalm has much to offer us in drawing near to God. But when we slow down and start to really notice what’s happening and pay attention to the words, it starts to amaze us at how it is a Holy Spirit inspired prophetic announcement of the bigger story our life is in. Psalm 45 ESV A Maskil of the Sons of Korah; a love song. 1 My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe. 2 You are the most handsome of the sons of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever. 3 Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your splendor and majesty! 4 In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; let your right hand teach you awesome deeds! 5 Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; the peoples fall under you. 6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; 7 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions; 9 at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir. 10 Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear: forget your people and your father’s house, 13 All glorious is the princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold. 14 In many-colored robes she is led to the king, with her virgin companions following behind her. 15 With joy and gladness they are led along as they enter the palace of the king. 16 In place of your fathers shall be your sons; you will make them princes in all the earth. 17 I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations; therefore nations will praise you 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)
Living As Though the Truth were True | Philippians 1:21-23; 3:7-11
17:54 | 02-16-2021
I often ask myself what did the apostles who saw the risen Jesus know about Jesus that I don’t know? I read where a Jesuit once said of Dorothy Day that she lived “as though the truth were true.” That’s a big statement when you really think about it. Seems simple yet it’s profound. Do I live as though the truth were true? Do you? When we read the letters of the apostles and the story of their lives in the New Testament, it’s clear that they lived “as though the truth were true.” They lived as though everything they knew about Jesus as true. And we see that especially in these autobiographical reflections of the apostle Paul that we can read in his letter to the Philippians in the New Testament. Over the years when I have reflected on these words something happens deeper in my heart and my soul with Jesus. Let me share that with you in this episode. Philippians 1:21-23 NIV For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far. Philippians 3:7-11 NIV But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. 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)
When Those Who Reject God Prosper | Psalm 37
24:20 | 02-11-2021
It’s easy to get drawn in or intimidated by culturally powerful people. Especially when they are culturally powerful or prosperous because they openly disregard or reject God’s righteousness. It can cause us to lose courage in our faith and commitment to God. All this was something David could relate to. And even Jesus quotes from this psalm in Matthew 5:5 as David puts all of this back into the real narrative of the bigger story. Let’s listen in on this psalm together. Psalm 37 ESV Of David. 1 Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! 2 For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. 6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. 7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! 8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. 9 For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land. 10 In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. 11 But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. 16 Better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked. 20 But the wicked will perish; the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish—like smoke they vanish away. 34 Wait for the LORD and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off. 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)
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 | 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)