Calculated v. Meditative Thought
As Christians we are adopted children with a loving and engaged father who sees us, enjoys us and takes care of us. How easy it is to forget this. We can drift into a sense of scarcity with fear, anxiety and selfishness as driving forces for our actions. But in Christ we abound in love and spiritual resources that free us to live with confidence, compassion and joy. How do we tap into this?
Calculated Verses Meditative Thought
Calculated thought is the mode we get into when we are seeking to accomplish a task, to get from point A to point B. According to psychologist Iain McGilchrist this is the dominant form of thought in our tech thick culture. In contrast, meditative thought is patient and, in a way, non-productive. Upon hearing something surprising or disturbing it doesn’t immediately look for solutions. It asks questions to sink deeper into reality and allows truth to slowly reveal itself.
Both modes are useful in different circumstances. If you need to balance your budget, construct a building or develop software it requires calculated thought. If you want to develop people, understand your desires and responses to the world and cultivate transformation you need meditative thought. Here’s how Luke Burgis puts it in his book, Wanting:
Meditative thought opens the door to transformation. When the calculating, processing part of our brain calms down, the meditative part - which takes in new experiences - is given the ability to work, integrating those new experiences into a new framework for reality.
The calculating brain is only able to fit new experiences into existing models. The meditative brain develops new models. If we spend all of our time in calculating mode, we spend our lives trying to fit every new encounter into boxes.
Focusing our attention and being present in the meditative mode with the Lord is becoming increasingly difficult. Digital technologies have their place but it takes a lot of effort to set boundaries on resources like smartphones, social media and the internet that are designed to command our attention.
It’s important to set rhythms of pause to quiet ourselves, take stock of our emotional state and prayerfully connect with God in this meditative mode. To reflect regularly on his love for us and promises of empowerment feed the sense of abundance we have in Christ and starve the sense of scarcity Satan would have us believe is true. Below are three simple steps to help you do this.
3 Steps For Meditative Thought
1. Enter Quite
Let your body, mind and soul settle into a stillness. Consider Psalm 131:2 - “...I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.” Or the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30 - “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest…”
Prayerfully imagine yourself as a calmed and satisfied child with his/her mother. Or being face to face with Jesus and hearing his invitation to come and rest. Take deep breaths. Allow yourself to be in a relaxed state.
2. Release
Take an inventory of your interior life. Are you happy, energized, confident or serene? Are you frustrated, tired, angry or sad? God knows you deeply and you can place yourself before him as you are. He is delighted to be with you even in your weakness and will not cast you out. Share what you are thinking and feeling with him.
Is there sin to confess? Suffering to acknowledge? Grace to savor? Give these to him, casting your anxieties on him.
3. Receive
Consider the secure relationship you have with God, the acceptance and resourcing you have in Christ. Meditate on the truth about you in the Loved and Resourced Script. It may help if you read it out loud. Or read it as “I statements” about who you are or as “you statements” from God’s perspective, picturing Jesus saying these things directly to you in the context of the relationship you have with him. It may help to place your body in a receiving posture, kneeling or with your hands extended with palms up as you seek to receive and be satisfied by the steadfast love of God (Psalm 90:14). Enjoy him, his nearness and his promises to empower you.