Healing and Meditation.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XIV, Issue 1, 1 August 1923, Page 291

Healing and Meditation.

(By the Rev. J. B. Brocklehurst) . A friend of mine after attending Mr Hickson V Mission* of Healing m Sydney, wrote to rile saying, "It would be a great help to those who go for healing, if they could learn beforehand to meditate. " Mr' Hiekson advises those who are waiting during

the service for the laying on qf hands, to "rest m the Lord." Some may find this a little difficult, unless, they learn beforehand how to do it. Many at present" are beginning to prepare themselves for healing; so I want to throw, out a few suggestions about meditation, to help further m their preparation. As I am writing these notes for the benefit of the sick, I want to assure them of this fact; meditation is one of the greatest; aids to faith. Those who are anxious to find health and well being, should endeavor ito use everything that brings them into touch with Jesus, . the Saviour. Bear this m mind— the soul has its own geography; it- can climb the y ascent and find peace by the still Meditation lifts one above the' fogs of life, into the purer air of the spiritual world. Those who practice it can say with the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration, "It is good for us to be here. ' ' Since meditation is not a common practice, some may ask what is meant by it. To put it briefly, I would say it is thinking quietly and listening. > "Be still and know that lam God." To meditate you set" yourself deliberately to think, and then you begin to listenwithin your soul, to what God the Holy Spirit has. to say to you. "Listening is probably the most important part of it. The attitude is that of the child Samuel, "Speak, Lord,- for Thy servant heareth." . - Having tried to make clear what meditation is, let me now throw out' a few hints on how to do" it. ; The first important thing is to choose a quiet spot where you will be free' from, interruptions. The next is to choose a suitable time, and if possible, keep the same time' each day. It is advisable to make it a daily practice, , m order to drill the mind and soul into* it. As to the amount, of time required, your own experience must decide, but for beginners I should say not less than ten minutes/ Begin by saying over the V3#i Creator, Hymn 157. This can be said either standing or kneeling; it'should always be said slowly, dwelling on.j each word. Sit down m a comfort-, able place or lie down if you ! prefer, it,- relaxing the body. You want to get your body and tnirid quiet. If you intend at first meditating on one of our Lord's healings,; read' over the passage," and close your eyes. Next try to form a mental picture of it, m your mind; try to see it as it happened ; imagine it happening m your own town, m a certain street, whilst you are an onlooker. It ' will help you if you can localise it, for then it becomes more- real to you. Try and see the face of Jesus, full of compassion and sympathy, of iove and of power; note the look of wofoder, awe, joy, and faith oh the face of- the one healed. Then when the whole

scene is living m your mind, say over to yourself, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to-day and for ever." : After this try and stop thinking about it and begin to listen; this to many will be a little hard at first, but perseverance has overcome harder things. "I will hearken what the Lord God will say concerning me." Something will be given you. Perhaps for the first time m your life you will enter into the meaning, of the words ' ' I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. ' ' In this silence, alone with God, some of these "many things" will be spoken. We dare not even venture to say what they will be. After listening some may want to make a Resolution, but whether "you do or not, don't forget to close your meditation with thanksgiving, "I thank Thee that Thou hast heard me." 1 Put it simply m your own words, then go about your ordinary work. No doubt some will think this is too complicated a method for them to try, but I can assure you it is far simpler than its description. Give it a trial, say for a week; judge for yourself if there is anything m it. The Healing Mission m Australia, has shown that a few recovered before the Mission began, whilst others were on their way to recovery; this was brought about by faith m prayer to Jesus, the Saviour of Soul and Body. .. Though this is written for those who are sick, it is not meant that the healthy should not adopt it ; as a matter of fact I' am hoping that many attending services of preparation will begin to meditate. I think it would be ah excellent plan to arrange for a meditation m church during these preparation services.