THE BURNING HEART THE DEVOTIONAL EXPERIENCE
"Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?"
THE “WHAT” OF THE BURNING HEART
I. "a remembering" experience
A. This was particularly vivid in the faith of the Old Testament people. B. It comes to supreme fulfillment in the faith of the first Christians.
II. "a renewing" experience: "Were not our hearts burning within us . . .?"
A. It is a "remembering" in the heart! B. Watch over the heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life" (Proverbs 4:23).
THE “HOW” OF THE BURNING HEART
I. We can because the privilege is GIVEN! “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” (24:26)--"while He [the risen Lord] was speaking to us on the road."
II. We can by the use of THE ONE book!
The Word that is alive!: "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?" The word in all its forms available to us.: KJV, RSV, NEB, NASB, New Jerusalem Bible, NIV, New American Bible, NKJ, NRSV. Read methodologically, with a thought out plan: “LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH . . . ALL YOUR MIND.”
III. We can by the use of OTHER books
The spiritual classics: A classic is one that has stood the test of time.
The history of spirituality is available in Volumes 16, 17, and 18 of World Spirituality: An Encyclopedic History of the Religious Quest, 1985;1988;1991. Among the better known classics are Augustine's Confessions, 4th century, Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, 15th century, Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God, 17th century, Thomas Kelly, A Testament of Devotion, 1941, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship, 1959.
Devotional books and helps, e.g., Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, 1965, Bob and Michael Benson, Disciplines for the Inner Life, 1985. All kinds of religious books in their season are candidates for lectio divina. Some books that have meant a lot to my personal spiritual journey over the years: Teresa of Avila, The Story of Her Life, 16th century; John of the Cross, The Dark Night of the Soul, 16th century; The Diary of Soren Kierkeqaard , 1960; Thomas Kelly, A Testament of Devotion, 1941; Reuben Welch, We Really Do Need Each Other; Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline, 1978, 1988, 1993; Henri J. M. Nouwen, The Way of the Heart, 1981, Carlo Carreto, Letters from the Desert, 1972; Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation , 1972, Waltraud Herbstrith, Edith Stein: A Biography, 1985, Kathleen Norris, The Cloister Walk, 1996. Journals and Magazines, e.g., Weavings "Woven Together by Love": A Journal of the Christian Spiritual Life, The Upper Room,
IV. We can by attention to THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES
Source:: Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline, Harper and Row, 1978, 1988, 1993 B. My Rule of Devotion:
Introduction: Find a regular time and place of solitude: "Without solitude it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life. Solitude begins with a time and place for God, and him alone, If we really believe not only that God exists but also that he is actively present in our lives—healing, teaching, and guiding—we need to set aside a time and place to give him our undivided attention" (Nouwen).
From the world to the Word
Relax in the realization of God's presence, one "more intimate to us than we are to ourselves" (Augustine). "To consent to God's presence is God's presence" (Keating). Surrender to God and to his will for you this day: "The first movement in all prayer, together with faith in His presence, ought to be the desire to know His will and to abandon oneself entirely to all His dispositions and intentions for us" (Merton). 3. Apply the mind to the witness of Scripture and to other testimony to God.
II. From the mind to the heart
1. Meditate on the truth of God as illuminated to your mind by the Holy Spirit. 2. Reflect silently or in writing on your life, your attitudes and feelings. 3. Contemplate God: Contemplative prayer “is consenting with your will to God’s Presence in pure faith.”
III. From the inward to the outward journey
1. Receive the Spirit of Christ for the day: "how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him" (Luke 11:13). 2. Intercede for the church, for others, and for yourself, bringing all into the presence of God: "So, after many years I can say that I have remained true to my vocation, and at the same time I am completely convinced that one never wastes time by praying; there is no more helpful way of helping those we love (Carretto). 3..Give praise to God: “It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night (Ps. 92:1-2, NIV).
Conclusion: Go into the activities of the day with confidence in God's presence and help.
CONCLUSION
In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice (Psalm 5:3)..
“Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” Henri J. M. Nouwen, Making All Things New: An Invitation to Spiritual Life (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1981), 69. Thomas Keating, Open Mind, Open Heart: The Contemplative Dimension of the Gospel (Rockport, Massachusetts: Element, Inc., 1986), 46. Thomas Merton, The Sign of Jonas (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1953), 112f. Keating, 96. Carlo Carreto, Letters From the Desert, trans. Rose Mary Hancock (Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 1972), xx. This presentation was prepared by Frank G. Carver, San Diego, CA, January 8, 2000
THE BURNING HEART THE DEVOTIONAL EXPERIENCE
"Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?"
THE “WHAT” OF THE BURNING HEART
I. "a remembering" experience
A. This was particularly vivid in the faith of the Old Testament people. B. It comes to supreme fulfillment in the faith of the first Christians.
II. "a renewing" experience: "Were not our hearts burning within us . . .?"
A. It is a "remembering" in the heart! B. Watch over the heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life" (Proverbs 4:23).
THE “HOW” OF THE BURNING HEART
I. We can because the privilege is GIVEN! “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” (24:26)--"while He [the risen Lord] was speaking to us on the road."
II. We can by the use of THE ONE book!
The Word that is alive!: "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?" The word in all its forms available to us.: KJV, RSV, NEB, NASB, New Jerusalem Bible, NIV, New American Bible, NKJ, NRSV. Read methodologically, with a thought out plan: “LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH . . . ALL YOUR MIND.”
III. We can by the use of OTHER books
The spiritual classics: A classic is one that has stood the test of time.
The history of spirituality is available in Volumes 16, 17, and 18 of World Spirituality: An Encyclopedic History of the Religious Quest, 1985;1988;1991. Among the better known classics are Augustine's Confessions, 4th century, Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, 15th century, Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God, 17th century, Thomas Kelly, A Testament of Devotion, 1941, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship, 1959.
Devotional books and helps, e.g., Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, 1965, Bob and Michael Benson, Disciplines for the Inner Life, 1985. All kinds of religious books in their season are candidates for lectio divina. Some books that have meant a lot to my personal spiritual journey over the years: Teresa of Avila, The Story of Her Life, 16th century; John of the Cross, The Dark Night of the Soul, 16th century; The Diary of Soren Kierkeqaard , 1960; Thomas Kelly, A Testament of Devotion, 1941; Reuben Welch, We Really Do Need Each Other; Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline, 1978, 1988, 1993; Henri J. M. Nouwen, The Way of the Heart, 1981, Carlo Carreto, Letters from the Desert, 1972; Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation , 1972, Waltraud Herbstrith, Edith Stein: A Biography, 1985, Kathleen Norris, The Cloister Walk, 1996. Journals and Magazines, e.g., Weavings "Woven Together by Love": A Journal of the Christian Spiritual Life, The Upper Room,
IV. We can by attention to THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES
Source:: Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline, Harper and Row, 1978, 1988, 1993 B. My Rule of Devotion:
Introduction: Find a regular time and place of solitude: "Without solitude it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life. Solitude begins with a time and place for God, and him alone, If we really believe not only that God exists but also that he is actively present in our lives—healing, teaching, and guiding—we need to set aside a time and place to give him our undivided attention" (Nouwen).
From the world to the Word
Relax in the realization of God's presence, one "more intimate to us than we are to ourselves" (Augustine). "To consent to God's presence is God's presence" (Keating). Surrender to God and to his will for you this day: "The first movement in all prayer, together with faith in His presence, ought to be the desire to know His will and to abandon oneself entirely to all His dispositions and intentions for us" (Merton). 3. Apply the mind to the witness of Scripture and to other testimony to God.
II. From the mind to the heart
1. Meditate on the truth of God as illuminated to your mind by the Holy Spirit. 2. Reflect silently or in writing on your life, your attitudes and feelings. 3. Contemplate God: Contemplative prayer “is consenting with your will to God’s Presence in pure faith.”
III. From the inward to the outward journey
1. Receive the Spirit of Christ for the day: "how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him" (Luke 11:13). 2. Intercede for the church, for others, and for yourself, bringing all into the presence of God: "So, after many years I can say that I have remained true to my vocation, and at the same time I am completely convinced that one never wastes time by praying; there is no more helpful way of helping those we love (Carretto). 3..Give praise to God: “It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night (Ps. 92:1-2, NIV).
Conclusion: Go into the activities of the day with confidence in God's presence and help.
CONCLUSION
In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice (Psalm 5:3)..
“Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” Henri J. M. Nouwen, Making All Things New: An Invitation to Spiritual Life (San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1981), 69. Thomas Keating, Open Mind, Open Heart: The Contemplative Dimension of the Gospel (Rockport, Massachusetts: Element, Inc., 1986), 46. Thomas Merton, The Sign of Jonas (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1953), 112f. Keating, 96. Carlo Carreto, Letters From the Desert, trans. Rose Mary Hancock (Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 1972), xx. This presentation was prepared by Frank G. Carver, San Diego, CA, January 8, 2000.