Phil, is there any evidence to indicate that some of the authors of books in the Bible got the material that they wrote about through meditation or other mystical experience? ... Thanks

Generally, the recipients of revelations and experiences of God in the Bible were just living an ordinary life and then "God showed up."

Of course, prayer is emphasized throughout, and people do have dreams and visions that prove to be significant, but revelation is never considered to be the fruit of one's spiritual discipline. It's totally a matter of grace.

Hi Phil,

That was true for me. Sure, I'd been meditating for ~20 years when the Illumination experience occurred, but it was wholly by grace. No way one could anticipate something of that magnitude.

Peace...
Les

I agree by way of experience. An ordinary evening just "minding my own business" and the Spirit swept me off my feet (so to speak). Had been searching for a deep, meaningful prayer relationship with the Holy for years, unable to attain it at will.....until, as Phil says, "God showed up". Timing is not up to us.

Welcome, Debbie, and thanks for sharing your experience.

I suppose we could make some distinctions between "ordinary" and "extraordinary" experiences of God, the latter being referenced more in this discussion. But the "ordinary" seems to be the way it goes for most -- the daily opening to God, with peace and guidance sustaining us.

Thank you, Phil. Whether one's experiences are viewed as ordinary or extraordinary, it still remains that any encounter with the Holy is by grace and not our own doing.

Yes indeed, Debbie. Thanks.

Forgive me if I am taking this in a direction not intended, but isn't the "extraordinary" often found in the "ordinary"?

Debbie, can you give an example of what you have in mind, here?

There is a sense in which the ordinary is really quite extraordinary. Is that what you mean?