Meditation is a reflective moment; a time when you quite your mind to think, reflect, commune with your inner self and commune with God. I do this every morning. A lot of people turn to yoga, because it has been sold as a tool that connects you to your inner self; it stills the mind. Yoga is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices which originated out of India and have been introduced to the west. It is a multi billion dollar successful industry, so successful that the young flock to buy yoga mats and sign up to yoga schools. Everyone wants to still their mind. Everyone wants a moment, just one moment of relaxation – and this seems to be the “yoga moment”.

I do not attend a yoga class. I however have seen a yoga class in action in videos: the slow movement of the body, the standing on the hand and moving the body in formations I did not know were possible; the stretching that though looks painful, you wouldn’t see a wince on the face of the one who dared. It all looks great. I believe through the collective movement, or even non-movement, the mind is made still. Correct?

However, Psalm 19:14 says May the words of my mouth and this mediation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. So what type of “meditation” was David speaking to here? I believe he was alluding to the state of the mind, the thoughts that churn daily in our hearts; such thoughts that eventually spring into words, feelings and actions. Yes, those meditations. Those baseline thoughts. Those unspoken words: maybe a feeling of dislike, or rage, or jealousy, or hatred, or even love; that have not been spoken yet. Those thoughts that are mixing away, David wants those words to be acceptable to God. Why? Because God is looking at the heart. He is looking at the intent. God is not easily fooled. He wants us to be pure. And when we are put through the refiner’s fire (according to 1 Corinthians 3:13, He wants us to be like gold. He knows that most times it is not the action, but the heart. God knows it is not the “what”, but the “why”. Remember Matthew 5: 21 says this: “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.” You see that Jesus was not only speaking to those who actually commit murder, He was also speaking those who entertain anger and evil thoughts towards others. Also see Matthew 5:27-28: 27 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Also here we see that the act of adultery is not ONLY what reaps judgement, but even the looking at a woman/man lustfully, will reap judgement.

We have to be careful in thinking that what is not spoken or acted upon is okay, even when it grieves God.

Let us go back to yoga; it is all well and good to engage in this if you want to help your body supple up and engage with itself. I will however not see these worldly fixes as a way to balance the mind, de-clutter lust, rage, anger, etc. These are issues of the heart which only God can deal with. Only He can do the cutting out of lust, bitterness, envy, strife, worry etc. That is why it is pertinent for us to go to vinedresser. I always look to John 15:1-2 which says I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

Jesus is the “true Vine”, and God is our “vinedresser”. We are the branches ( I love that)! God’s word says every branch that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that does bear fruit (we should fall in this category as we work out our salvation with fear and trembling), He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Yes, He is going to cut back some stuff in you and I, so we can bear more fruit. God will not tolerate anger, lust, bitterness, strife, jealousy, etc. These things grieve Him. He wants to spend time with us. He wants us to be the salt of the earth. He wants us to grow and show the world who He is. He does not want us harboring all the worldly junk in our hearts, and so expect Him to cut you back. The truth is no yoga class can cut those things out of our hearts; no liquor bottle can do that; no lie or whitewash can do that; only God can. We have to go to Him and ask Him do what only He can do in our lives. Amen.

Linda Faith

Linda is a prolific writer. Her body of work includes inspiring poems, fictional books, and Christian living empowering books. You can find her work on www.amazon.com. Linda is also the pioneer of Joy Women, a platform she employs to inspire women all over the world to be all God has destined them to be.

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