Meditation
I was talking to a patient not too long ago that was having anxiety issues with shortness of breath (she brought it up, not me). Sometimes God just plants people in the right place! I only had a very brief moment with her, and I suggested looking up breathing exercises on YouTube. When she left, I was immediately convicted that's how I left it and the breathing exercises would lead her elsewhere and never finding the peace of God.
I knew she was a woman of God from previous interactions, but just like the rest of us - we don't know it all and we don't always say the right thing in every moment. The next time she came into the office, we were able to talk more. She told me she started doing the breathing exercises and got lead to meditation from there. Well, that is exactly what I was concerned about.
She explained that she was just trying to find peace and wasn't finding it; things seemed to be actually getting worse.
We're all learning, unlearning, and growing in our walk at various paces. Praise God we are in the palm of His hand and He is patient while we learn and grow in our relationship with Him. May we all have the peace that surpasses ALL understanding!
I was able to speak to this woman briefly and tell her that yes...the Bible does tell us it's ok to meditate. But we meditate on HIS WORD.
We do not empty ourselves or our minds as this creates open doors for unwanted spiritual activity.
It blew her mind and made so much sense to her immediately what she was doing wrong. She was not meditating on His word (the Word is our sword in our spiritual armor Ephesians 6).
I am no expert on this by any means, but I do know what the word of God says and I know what I've seen in my research outside of the word of God.
I hope to share enough here that maybe you will do your own research; that's it. Test all things and hold fast to what is good! See all my disclaimers on my homepage.
The spiritual world is 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 and there is indeed a battle going on for your mind, body, and soul.
What does the Bible say about Meditating On Gods Word?
Yoga
I also mentioned Yoga up there in the title.
What in the world can be wrong with yoga? So many have found it to be a great way to stay in shape and trying to find some peace in a crazy, hectic world (a crazy hectic world that is pushed on us, by the way. It doesn't have to be like that! We choose the crazy. I digress.)
So, what I will share below, you can take it or leave it. At least pray about it and ask yourself why I would even put myself out there to share this knowing it will step on some toes.
I don't wake up in the morning trying to figure out what pot to stir. The Holy Spirit is Who prompted me to share as with anything else I share. Most people who know me know I am pretty reserved and can get along with most people and I am respectful of what you believe. I expect the same in my corner of the internet.
When it comes to spiritual warfare in a battle that is getting very fierce by design, I can't be quiet.
Here goes.
You cannot practice yoga as an exercise and divide it from the religion.
Every pose and gesture is a homage to their gods. The purpose of yoga is to yoke yourself to their spirits, their gods.
You cannot separate Hinduism from yoga. (Same with meditation).
Every pose is purposeful in achieving kundalini....the serpentine spirit coiling up the spine and opening your “consciousness”. This is spiritual tethering.
This may sound great to some of you, but if you are a child of the Most High, born again by the blood of Christ Jesus, some red flags should be going up.
When God Almighty has shown up in your life tangibly and made Himself known to you, you don't want any other gods.
Beware of all man made religion, practices, and beliefs. Some people think, well...Jesus is a religion. Um, no....He's not. I pray if you haven't figured that out, the Holy Spirit will speak to you on that.
No cults. No religion. No affiliation with ANY groups or movements. You can have it all. No thanks!
And yes. There are other gods. We are warned about them over and over in the Word of God. The spiritual battle is no joke.
All New Age teachings stem from ancient eastern mysticism and the ancient solar-lunar cults. Don’t mess with the unseen realm....because it will end up overpowering, and messing with you.
There are many many testimonies of this happening and you are no match for the spiritual realm apart from Christ.
I was told that I didn’t know what I was talking about, laughed at, and dismissed like I was an ignorant little bible-thumper.
Respectfully, these people are the ones that have absolutely no idea what they’re talking about.
They told me I was the one that was asleep, and they were awake. Oh the irony. I’m not being naïve and ignorant when say these things.
Go look it up yourself. I am presenting a starter kit of sorts by sharing some links.
It's up to you to decide if you want to truly search a matter out.
What you need to know about Yoga (their own words)
Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
Matthew 10:16
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:12
Extra reading:
I would like to thank my friend Veronica Zegrean. This young woman of God does tremendous research on everything under the sun. I am grateful to have friends that search out these matters.
If you found yourself reading to the end of this and don't agree with me whatsoever, well...praise God for free will and our ability to choose.
I will choose Him every single time because He showed up and showed out! Made Himself known to me. King of kings, Lord of lords. Creator of heaven and earth. Savior of mankind.
I pray you get to know Him. He's literally closer to us than our next breath.
The peace of God surpasses understanding of the carnal mind. The things of God are spiritually discerned as we worship Him in spirit and in truth.
May God bless you and keep you. May His face shine upon you!
I will add more below in the comments
as I come across it.