APPROACHING JESUS - a meditation
‘Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith’ (Hebrews 10:22)
‘Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest’ (Matt 11:28)
- Laying aside barriers and hindrances
- Approaching Jesus
- Hearing his voice
- Bringing another with you to Jesus
Laying aside
What do you need to lay aside as you come to approach Jesus?
Use the visual aids if it helps - stone, ‘veil’, string, something else
Take some time to pray about this, perhaps write down a prayer.
Listen to what God is saying to you.
What do you need to lay aside as you come to approach Jesus?
- Veil of dullness or confusion
- Hard heart
- Sins and entanglements and weights
- Fears
- Other hindrances or barriers......
Use the visual aids if it helps - stone, ‘veil’, string, something else
Take some time to pray about this, perhaps write down a prayer.
Listen to what God is saying to you.
Approaching
Approaching Jesus – meditative Bible reading
Read of one of the passages below – take your time – ‘be there’ :
Imagine you were in that place at that time.
Perhaps imagine being an onlooker to this event
Think of all senses - sight, sound, touch, smell, taste.
Let particular phrases in the account sink deep into your soul
Pray as you, yourself approach Jesus
Possible passages to meditate on
Woman with bleeding Luke 8: 43-48
Mary and alabaster jar Luke 7:36-38;50
Peter by the Lake John 21: 1-14
Mary, Martha and Lazarus John 11:17-44 esp 29-32
Prodigal son Luke 15:11-42
Money changers’ tables Mark 11:15-17
Hold onto the image, the passage, the prayer
Hold onto it for long enough. Take time to approach Jesus
Approaching Jesus – meditative Bible reading
Read of one of the passages below – take your time – ‘be there’ :
Imagine you were in that place at that time.
Perhaps imagine being an onlooker to this event
Think of all senses - sight, sound, touch, smell, taste.
Let particular phrases in the account sink deep into your soul
Pray as you, yourself approach Jesus
Possible passages to meditate on
Woman with bleeding Luke 8: 43-48
Mary and alabaster jar Luke 7:36-38;50
Peter by the Lake John 21: 1-14
Mary, Martha and Lazarus John 11:17-44 esp 29-32
Prodigal son Luke 15:11-42
Money changers’ tables Mark 11:15-17
Hold onto the image, the passage, the prayer
Hold onto it for long enough. Take time to approach Jesus
Hearing
Listen carefully to what Jesus is saying to you as you have approached Him.
Understand any challenges He is giving you
Know His rest and comfort
Listen carefully to what Jesus is saying to you as you have approached Him.
Understand any challenges He is giving you
Know His rest and comfort
Bringing another
Is there some particular person you want to approach Jesus about today ? Bring them to Jesus : approach Him for them
(Jairus Luke 8 :40-42;49-56; Centurion’s servant. Luke7:1-9)
Is there some particular person you want to approach Jesus about today ? Bring them to Jesus : approach Him for them
(Jairus Luke 8 :40-42;49-56; Centurion’s servant. Luke7:1-9)
Bible References
Barriers and hinderances Veil 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 Hardened hearts Hebrews 3:12-15 Weights and entanglements Hebrews 12:1-2 Fear Luke 8:22-25 |
Approaching Jesus in Holy week Palm Sunday John 12:12-16 At the foot of the cross John 19:25-27 Resurrection morning John 20:10-18 Breakfast by the Lake John 21 |
A prayer for myself
Psalm 130 Out of the depths have I called to you, O Lord; Lord hear my voice; Let your ears consder well the voice of my supplication My soul is waiting for you, O Lord If you, Lord, were to note what is done amiss, O Lord who could stand? My soul is wating for you, O Lord For there is forgiveness with you; Therefore you shall be feared My soul is waiting for you, O Lord I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for him; In his word is my hope My soul is waiting for you, O Lord My soul waits for the Lord, More than the night-watch for the morning More that the night-watch for the mornng My soul is waiting for you, O Lord O Israel, wait for the Lord For with the Lord there is mercy; My soul is waiting for you, O Lord With him there is plenteous redemption And he shall redeem Israel from all their sins. My soul is waiting for you, O Lord |
A prayer for others
Upon all who have been forsaken Lord, come in your mercy. Upon all who have been betrayed by a kiss Lord, come in your mercy. Upon all who are destered by friends Lord, come in your mercy. Upon all misunderstood by loved ones Lord, come in your mercy. Upon all who are in physical pain Lord, come in your mercy. Upon all suffering mental anguish Lord, come in your mercy. Upon all at the point of death Lord, come in your mercy. |