ABC: Bible Meditation for Me!: U Is for Understanding/Upside Down!

ABC: Bible Meditation for Me!  U Is for Understanding/ Upside Down!

ABC: Bible Meditation for Me!  Bible Meditation Vs. Eastern Meditation

Introduction:  This is a lesson in a twenty-six part ABC series created for parents, grandparents, kids, and youth leaders.  Please share these lessons.  Scroll back for B, D, L, O, Q, R, V, X, and Z.

U Is for Understanding

U is for understanding
when one lifts a voice
to discern good and evil-
to make a wise choice.

Meditation Verse for Contemplation

"My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding."  Psalm 49:3

This is a "W" and "U" verse,  for often you will find wisdom and understanding are paired together.
Mark the verse "M" for meditation; and "W" and "U."  Look for other verses like it!

Our Own Understanding

Proverbs 3:5 tells us to: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding."

Another verse that mentions "our own way" is found in Isaiah 53:6.  It says that like sheep we often want to go our own way, rather than trusting in the Lord Jesus as our Savior.  Have you met the Savior, the Good Shepherd, who wants to change you to from wanting your own understanding to wanting God's understanding?

Our Own Way

Like a sheep
we go astray
always wanting
our own way!

From Isaiah 53:6

Solomon's One Wish

King Solomon was King over Israel.  One night he had a dream.  In it, God came to him telling him that he might have anything he wanted or wished.  Wow!  What did Solomon ask for?  Did he ask for a long life? lots of riches?  peace from his enemies?  No, Solomon told God he felt just like a small child not knowing what to do with all the people in his kingdom.  Therefore, he asked God if he might have an understanding heart, so he might judge the people to discern between good and bad so as to lead them in the right way.

Did God grant Solomon's wish?  Yes, for God was pleased with him, that he didn't want a long life, many riches, or punishment for his enemies.  So later God gave him all those things too.  And the Bible says there was no man before, nor after Solomon, that had such a wise and understanding heart.  Read the story here:  I Kings 3

Question Mark Book Marks

Cut two oversized question marks with big circles at the bottom.  Write on the ? marks:  "Which will it be?"  On one circle bottom write:  "God's understanding!"  or "My own understanding!"

Happy Is the Man!

Proverbs 3:13 tells us how to be happy.  It says, "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding."  Make a happy and sad face; cut out.  Tape to a straw or popsicle stick.  Listen to statements below, or others a parent makes up.  Hold up a happy face if its a wise choice, or a sad face if an unwise choice.  Discuss.

1.  I should lean to my own understanding.
2.  I should try to find wisdom.
3.  I should always meditate or think about God's word.
4.  I should believe evil is good, and good is evil.
5.  I should understand things aren't always as nice as they look.
6.  I should realize some say things aren't religious when they are.
7.  I should say dark is light, and light is dark.
8.  I should try to shut out my thoughts to calm down.
9.  I should meditate to try to relax and find peace.
10.  I should turn to God and ask him for his help.

Eastern Meditation

U Is for Upside Down

It's upside down to say evil is good and good is evil.
It's upside down to say light is dark and dark is light.
It's upside down to say sweet is bitter and bitter is sweet.
It's upside down.  It's not right!  From Isaiah 5:20

Man's Way to Meditate

In Eastern Meditation do people ask God for things they need?  No, they want to fix things themselves and to try to calm themselves doing it their own way.  And their way is to fixate on their breath, to fix their fingers in mudras, and even to fix their bodies certain ways.  They hope this might help them relax and be less stressed.  They hope inside them they will get inner peace.  Sadly, they don't know the God of the Bible from whom they can get help, hope, and salvation.

ABC: Mindfulness for Me Review

There's a book called ABC: Mindfulness for Me which your dad/mom looked at.  It had some things in it that made one know they were red flags. It had pages where you could see a little Buddha figure.  If you saw this Buddha, what would you know?  What verse could you say?  It also had a page where it said to "thank the earth" for one's vegetables.  What is wrong with that?  It had a little lotus flower pictures too.  Do you remember what that symbol was about?  If you see it, what should you think?  It had kids sitting lotus meditating.  Is that the Bible way?  If you see a book like that, will you be wise and understand its false teaching?  Will you be wise and understand that is not something for you to read or to do?       

Everything Is Always Upside Down!

When God says listen to my words to get peace and help, Eastern meditators repeat their own sounds and words when they chant. When God says have no other god before me, they believe in many gods. When God says love me, they love themselves instead.  To them it does not matter what God says. They do just the opposite--for they have it backwards or upside down!

Parental Suggestion: 

Wisdom from Proverbs for Parents

In this lesson kids were taught that understanding comes from the Lord, whereas our own understanding takes us away from the Lord.  The mantra of the world is to "believe in yourself" or "have it your way."  While the mindset of a Christian is to "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5)

Instead of running to such worldly teachers as John Kabat-Zinn, the Dalai Lama, or Thich Nhat Hahn we are to read the Word and follow God's wisdom if we truly desire understanding that gives life, happiness, and peace.  And the book of Proverbs is the perfect place to begin.  

Therefore, become a Proverb parent and study the book, highlighting and meditating on all the "wisdom and understanding verses."  Share them with your children.  As Proverbs 9:10 reminds us:  "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy is understanding."