In another translation, we are told not to listen to philosophies based on “cosmic” powers. To me this can refer to a lot of things but what came to mind was astrology. I am not a reader of horoscopes but I certainly know people who are. I also know that there are those who trust psychics. It can be fun to read the menus in Chinese restaurants that give you your horoscope based on the year you were born. But we can all run into problems if we take all this to heart. I think that by the Chinese years, at least one of my children is on the enemy list! Who are we supposed to trust to lead us in the right direction? How about the Holy Spirit? How about the philosophy of love and fidelity that Jesus preached? We don’t look to the stars in order to know how to live our lives, we only have to look to Jesus. We don’t need to talk to a psychic to know that there’s an afterlife, we just need to trust Jesus. If we want to talk to those who have gone before us in faith, go ahead because if they’re in heaven with God, then they can hear us and they can pray for us and ask God to answer our prayers. This is why we call those in heaven, saints! Let us not be led astray. We don’t need fancy mantras to meditate either. Meditation is actually a very early method of Christian prayer. We can meditate on a prayer, we can meditate on a passage of Scripture, or on an early phrase of faith such as “Lord, have mercy.” Why depend on philosophies outside of our faith, when we already possess what we need?
And we pray:
Thank You Father for providing all we need. You are our Source, Hallelujah!!! ALL glory is Yours and we raise our hands in worship. Your Essence is beyond Amazing and Awesome. You are our EVERYTHING, Amen. Your Spirit brings to our remembrance Your Word as we strive to live as Jesus – Your Word did here on Earth. Keep us steady as we live and look to You for blesses provisions. Touch us, fill us, renew us each and every day we ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.