Contents Introduction. 11 Why Meditate on Scripture? . 20 Part One: What Does God Think of Me? 1 Knowing God as Love 21 2 Sought After, No Matter What 26 3 Knowing I Am Loved . 30 4 God's Compassion for the Rebellious 34 5 God's Compassion for the Outwardly Compliant . 38 Meditation Is Different from Application. 42 Part Two: Who Am I and How Do I Fit In? 6 Blessed with Every Blessing . 43 7 One in Whom Christ Dwells . 48 The "Sanctified" Imagination.
52 8 An Identity Completely Changed . 53 9 Life in the Spirit . 58 10 Blessed to Be a Blessing . 63 Scripture Study and Meditation Work Together . 68 Part Three: Living in the Reality of God's Kingdom 11 Relying on the Kingdom of God . 69 12 Relying on the Kingdom, Illustrated . 74 Openness to the Spirit. 80 13 The Hidden Yet Powerful Kingdom of God .
82 14 The Hidden Yet Powerful Kingdom of God, Illustrated . 87 15 The Good and Peaceable Kingdom of God . 93 Am I Hearing God or Making Things Up?. 98 Part Four: Being Transformed into Christ's Likeness 16 Abiding in Christ . 99 17 From Gangster to Giver (. 105 When Your Mind Wanders. 109 18 Letting Go of the Old Self . 111 19 Embracing the New Self .
116 20 Dying to Self . 121 A Huge Maturity Gap . 127 Part Five: Facing Fears, Frustrations and Discouragement 21 Finding Courage in the Storm . 128 Diving Board Lectio . 133 22 Moving Through a Fearful Journey . 134 23 Seeing Jesus in Anger, Grief and Mercy . 140 24 Moving from Cynicism to Hope . 145 What If Nothing Comes to Me?.
150 25 Hearing God in the Midst of Discouragement . 151 Part Six: Healing Life's Wounds 26 Being Freed from Infirmities . 158 27 Knowing That God Hears Me . 163 28 Are You Willing to Be Healed? . 169 Writing Your Prayers. 173 29 Moving from Mourning to Dancing . 174 30 Receiving Jesus' Words to Caregivers . 180 Part Seven: Having the Heart of Christ for Others 31 Loving Others in Truth and Action .
185 32 Moving from Self-Absorption to Humility . 190 Meditation Leads to Transformation. 196 33 Loving the "Stranger" . 197 34 Choosing Relationship over Judgment . 203 35 Stepping Out in Compassion . 209 Part Eight: Partnering with God in Ministry 36 Cooperating with the Power of God. 214 37 Responding to the Passion God Puts in Our Hearts . 220 38 Relating to God in Failure .
226 39 Drinking the Cup of Suffering . 232 40 Doing Nothing on My Own . 237 How to Meditate on Your Own. 242 Acknowledgments. 243 Notes . 245.