Previous Spiritual Exercises
Memorising
Before you think to yourself, I can’t do this - my memory is bad! let me remind you that your memory bank can be trained. Exercise is good for it and what better way to exercise your memory than to fill it full of the Bible.
HOW TO MEMORISE
The memorising workout
The best way to memorise is to break the verse into portions. Learn the first portion first, then the first and the second together, then the first, second and third together, and so on until you have completed the task.
Let’s take 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 as an example: ‘Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.’ These verses naturally fall into phrases. So, let’s take the first phrase: ‘Be joyful always.’ Repeat that out loud many times, then add the second phrase: ‘Be joyful always; pray continually.’ Again, repeat it a number of times before adding the third phrase: ‘Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances.’ Repeat the same process before adding the fourth phrase: Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.’
Once you have said it all, say it over and over again until it becomes part of you. Why not try recording it again and again onto a cassette and let it play while you are doing other things? It helps to get it firmly implanted in the brain. Perhaps put it on a card or piece of paper and take it with you in order that you can review it during the day. It is worth noting, however, that just because you can say something once or twice doesn’t necessarily mean you have memorised it. It needs reviewing in order for it to be imprinted in your memory bank.
This week’s EXERCISE
Romans 1:16 ‘I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes; first the Jew, then for the Gentiles.’
What a great verse to memorise! There is no need to be ashamed of the gospel - because it is the power of God for you and for me! Let’s not just memorise it - but let’s believe it too.
Once you have memorised this verse do repeat it to yourself during the week many times. If you want to do further exercises you can purchase my book which will take you further in your walk with God. My book is called Nancy Goudie’s Spiritual Health Workout and costs £6.99. You can purchase this on line. I’ll be in touch with you again next week.
Music Meditation
Using your imagination in Meditation
Another type of meditation is using Scripture, your imagination and perhaps music to bring you deeper into the presence of God. I have often used this form of meditation either by myself or with a large audience. The results coming from this form of meditation has been very exciting. At the end of the meditation, people have often been in tears, having heard from God or having been touched by God in a special way. I would encourage you to use this type of exercise and not to be fearful of using your imagination. Your imagination has been created by God, therefore He does want you to use it to His glory rather than in self-centred and unrealistic fantasising.
This week’s EXERCISE
As I mentioned last week, you will need my Journey to The Cross CD or cassette for this exercise. Find a place where you will not be disturbed for 15 minutes or so and put on track 4 of my CD or cassette. When the story is finished, spend a few minutes writing down what God has said to you. So many people have been encouraged and challenged through this meditation and often feel God speak to them through their emotions and feelings. Perhaps spend a few minutes afterwards thanking God for Jesus and for the fact that He died for you. Do write to me to tell me what God says to you through this exercise. I’d love to hear from you. If you want to do further exercises you can purchase my book which will take you further in your walk with God. My book is called Nancy Goudie’s Spiritual Health Workout and costs £6.99. You can purchase this on line. Join me next week for another exciting exercise. Enjoy!
Paraphrasing
The paraphrasing workout
Here is another exercise that people shy away from, and yet when they experience it they realise how much it can help them get to grips with the Bible. Sometimes we pass over the more difficult parts of the Bible, and if someone were to ask us to explain what we have read, we wouldn’t know how to go about it. ‘Paraphrasing’ can really help you understand the meaning behind the words. ‘Paraphrasing’ is a fancy word for using your own words to express the meaning of the passage. We need to be careful that we don’t change the meaning of the passage but just express it in a different manner. After you have paraphrased a piece of Scripture, look up The Living Bible, which is a paraphrase of the Bible, or perhaps look up a commentary to see if you have altered the meaning at all. Try the following psalm and you will see how easy it is.
This week’s EXERCISE
Paraphrase Psalm 20
Paraphrasing is a fantastic way of hearing God speak to you. If you don’t know how to paraphrase do look at the instructions. However, let me show you my paraphrase of Psalm 23 to help you to get going.
God you are my friend and because of this I will never be poor.
You give me only good things in my life - like peace and tranquillity - you take away my fears and revive my inner being.
No matter what I go through in life, whether it be illness, injections, operations or even death I need never fear because I don’t have to go through them on my own.
You are always there and will comfort me and help me in every circumstance.
You delight in serving me and providing food and finance for me, whilst poverty, illness and destruction look on.
You honour me and make me feel so good that I can’t help laughing and shouting for joy.
There is no doubt that good things and deep love are mine throughout the whole of my life and I will enjoy your blessings - inner peace, joy, happiness and riches forever.
24 February
The meditation workout
This is an exercise that people shy away from, and yet when they experience it they realise how much it can help them get to grips with the Bible. Sometimes we pass over the more difficult parts of the Bible, and if someone were to ask us to explain what we have read, we wouldn’t know how to go about it ‘Paraphrasing’ can really help you understand the meaning behind the words. ‘Paraphrasing’ is a fancy word for using your own words to express the meaning of the passage. We need to be careful that we don’t change the meaning of the passage but just express it in a different manner. After you have paraphrased a piece of Scripture, look up The Living Bible, which is a paraphrase of the Bible, or perhaps look up a commentary to see if you have altered the meaning at all. Try the following verse and you will see how easy it is.
This week’s EXERCISE
Paraphrase Romans 8:1
What a fantastic releasing verse! May God speak to you loads through paraphrasing this verse.
There are many other exercises in my books ‘Spiritual Health Workout’ which will further your walk with God. You can purchase this book online on the shop page.
One of the lost arts in the Christian world is meditation. However, whenever I mention the word ‘meditation’ people often get concerned that we are getting into something dodgy! It sounds dodgy because we associate it with Transcendental Meditation, Eastern mysticism or the New Age movement, but the art of meditation has actually been stolen from us. Christian meditation is a wonderfully refreshing way of hearing God speak and has been used since the beginning of time. The Bible has many references to meditation. Let me give you a few scriptures that you can look up for yourself to discover that meditation is completely biblical: Genesis 24:63 Joshua 1:8 Psalm 48:9 and Psalm 119:148 all tell us about meditation.
Transcendental Meditation and the New Age movement tell us to empty our minds. This, I believe, can be very dangerous and I would never encourage anyone to do this. It allows outside influences, which are not always good, to invade our minds and affect our lives. In contrast, Christian meditation is allowing God and Scripture to fill our minds. Quite a difference! It demands discipline, since our minds find it easy to wander from one subject to another. However, if you are willing to try mediation, I know you will find it a very useful and fulfilling exercise.
There are many ways to meditate - this week we are going to meditate on the Bible. If you have never meditated before here are a few instructions on how to meditate.
HOW TO MEDITATE ON THE BIBLE
1. First of all, relax. Meditation is very easy, so don’t get uptight or anxious about it, or you will find it difficult to hear anything from God.
2. Look up the suggested scripture.
3. Read it slowly
4. Pray, asking God to speak to you through it.
5. Read it again several times.
6. Spend time thinking about what the verse says.
7. Perhaps dwell on a phrase or section of the verse, or even just one word.
8. Allow yourself to follow a train of thought until you see something in the verse you have never seen before.
9. Write down what you get.
10. If your mind begins to wander totally off the subject, then start again.
This week’s EXERCISE
Meditate on John 10:11 ‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.’
What a fantastic God we have that He should care enough about us to lay down His life. If you have seen the film ‘The Passion of The Christ’ then you will have seen with your own eyes just how much pain and sorrow Jesus went through for us. Meditate on this verse and write down what God says to you. At the end spend time thanking Jesus for ‘Laying His life down’ for us. If you want to do further exercises you can purchase my book which will take you further in your walk with God. My book is called Nancy Goudie’s Spiritual Health Workout and costs £6.99. You can purchase this on line. See you next week.
This week’s exercise is MEMORISING. Before you think to yourself, ‘I can’t do this - my memory is bad’, let me remind you that your memory bank can be trained. Exercise is good for you and what better way to exercise your memory than to fill it full of the Bible.
HOW TO MEMORISE
The memorising workout
The best way to memorise is to break the verse into portions. Learn the first portion first, then the first and the second together, then the first, second and third together, and so on until you have completed the task.
Let’s take 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 as an example: ‘Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.’ These verses naturally fall into phrases. So, let’s take the first phrase: ‘Be joyful always.’ Repeat that out loud many times, then add the second phrase: ‘Be joyful always; pray continually.’ Again, repeat it a number of times before adding the third phrase: ‘Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances.’ Repeat the same process before adding the fourth phrase: Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.’
Once you have said it all, say it over and over again until it becomes part of you. Why not try recording it over and over again and then let it play while you are doing other things? It helps to get it firmly implanted in the brain. Perhaps put it on a card or piece of paper and take it with you in order that you can review it during the day. It is worth noting, however, that just because you can say something once or twice doesn’t necessarily mean you have memorised it. It needs reviewing in order for it to be imprinted in your memory bank.
This week’s EXERCISE
Memorise Romans
This is a great verse. Once you have memorised it, do repeat it to yourself several times during the week. May God indeed fill you with His joy and peace as you trust in Him this week. Knowing His love and peace even through tough times can help you to smile at the darkest night. If you want to do further exercises you can purchase my book which will take you further in your walk with God. My book is called Nancy Goudie’s Spiritual Health Workout and costs £6.99. You can purchase this on line. Join me next week for another exciting exercise.
1 December 2010
Writing a psalm workout
Whenever I mention to the people attending one of my conferences or spiritual exercise seminars that we are all going to write a psalm, a look of horror appears on a number of faces. Looks that express ‘You will never get me to do that’ and ‘Well, that’s it, I may as well give up now’ are common. However, if people take the plunge and decide to go for it, then they discover that writing a psalm is a new and exciting way of putting their thoughts and feelings about God on paper.
The first time we did this exercise in Heartbeat, the band that my husband and I founded in 1980, I felt exactly the same. The fact that people who wrote music surrounded me did not add to my confidence! However, when I put pen to paper and concentrated on my ‘heavenly Dad’, a great explosion of praise happened within me and I just wrote down what I was feeling. It doesn’t need to rhyme, or have fancy or flowery words. It just needs to convey your love for God in a way that reflects your personality.
This week’s EXERCISE
Find a place in your busy day where you are not going to be disturbed for 15 minutes or so. Listen to Track 1 of my CD ‘A God Encounter’ and then out of that experience write a psalm of praise to God whilst in God’s throne room. May God so fill your heart with His joy and bring you closer to knowing Him. He is so wonderful!
If you want to do further exercises you can purchase my book which will take you further in your walk with God. My book is called
25 October 2010
This week’s exercise is MEMORISING. Before you think to yourself, ‘I can’t do this - my memory is bad!’, let me remind you that your memory bank can be trained. Exercise is good for it and what better way to exercise your memory than to fill it full of the Bible.
HOW TO MEMORISE
The memorising workout
The best way to memorise is to break the verse into portions. Learn the first portion first, then the first and the second together, then the first, second and third together, and so on until you have completed the task.
Let’s take 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 as an example: ‘Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.’ These verses naturally fall into phrases. So, let’s take the first phrase: ‘Be joyful always.’ Repeat that out loud many times, then add the second phrase: ‘Be joyful always; pray continually.’ Again, repeat it a number of times before adding the third phrase: ‘Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances.’ Repeat the same process before adding the fourth phrase: ‘Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.’
Once you have said it all, say it over and over again until it becomes part of you. Why not try recording it again and again onto a cassette and let it play while you are doing other things? It helps to get it firmly implanted in the brain. Perhaps put it on a card or piece of paper and take it with you in order that you can review it during the day. It is worth noting, however, that just because you can say something once or twice doesn’t necessarily mean you have memorised it. It needs reviewing in order for it to be imprinted in your memory bank.
This weeks Exercise
Memorise Hebrews 12:2 ‘Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.’ What a great verse – full of the truth – it’s so important to fix our eyes on Jesus.
Once you have memorised it do repeat it to yourself during the week until it really is firmly in your memory.
19 October 2010
The paraphrasing workout
Here is another exercise that people shy away from, and yet when they experience it they realise how much it can help them get to grips with the Bible. Sometimes we pass over the more difficult parts of the Bible, and if someone were to ask us to explain what we have read, we wouldn’t know how to go about it. ‘Paraphrasing’ can really help you understand the meaning behind the words. ‘Paraphrasing’ is a fancy word for using your own words to express the meaning of the passage. We need to be careful that we don’t change the meaning of the passage but just express it in a different manner. After you have paraphrased a piece of Scripture, look up The Living Bible, which is a paraphrase of the Bible, or perhaps look up a commentary to see if you have altered the meaning at all. Try the following psalm and you will see how easy it is.
This week’s EXERCISE
Paraphrase Psalm 23
The first time I paraphrased this psalm God released a whole load of joy to my spirit. I hope the same happens to you.
12 OCtober 2010
HOW TO MEMORISE
The memorising workout
The best way to memorise is to break the verse into portions. Learn the first portion first, then the first and the second together, then the first, second and third together, and so on until you have completed the task.
Let’s take 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 as an example: ‘Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.’ These verses naturally fall into phrases. So, let’s take the first phrase: ‘Be joyful always.’ Repeat that out loud many times, then add the second phrase: ‘Be joyful always; pray continually.’ Again, repeat it a number of times before adding the third phrase: ‘Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances.’ Repeat the same process before adding the fourth phrase: Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.’
