“Living within you is the Christ who floods you with the expectation of glory! This mystery of Christ, embedded within us, becomes a heavenly treasure chest of hope filled with the riches of glory for his people, and God wants everyone to know it!” Colossians 1:27 TPT

A meditation to help you be aware of Christ in you:

The following is the script for this meditation but I encourage you to practise this, listening to this audio file,  following the instructions from there:

Set comfortably somewhere with an upright and relaxed pose. 

Now close your eyes. Let your mind and body begin to settle into the practice of welcoming Jesus in you and noticing what your body feels like.

Focus your attention on your feet, recognising in your mind and seeing in your imagination, that Jesus’ feet are in your feet. 

Notice all the parts of your feet that are touching the floor. Jesus’ feet are also touching the floor with your feet. 

Notice your toes because that’s where Jesus’ toes are too.

Notice the middle of your foot because the middle of Jesus’ foot is there too. 

Notice your heel for Jesus heel is there too. 

Notice your ankle. Jesus’ ankle is with your ankle. 

Notice the whole bottom of your foot because that is where the bottom of Jesus’ feet are too. 

Notice your whole foot, inside and out, because Jesus’ feet are there too, inside and out.

Let your and Jesus’ feet sink into the floor, noticing the support of the earth and feeling it ground both of you.

Begin to notice your body sinking into Jesus’ body as you touch what you are sitting on. 

The back of your thighs into the back of Jesus’ thighs against your seat. 

Your back into Jesus’ back against the back of the chair. 

Your arms melding into Jesus’ arms relaxing into the chair. 

Your hands in Jesus’ hands relaxing on the arms of the chair. 

Let your body, hands and feet sink into the body of Jesus, supported by the chair and the floor.

Begin to notice your breath as you and Jesus breathe together. 

Just breathe easily for a few breaths, noticing where your breath goes as you and Jesus breathe in and out together. 

Notice the pause between your in-breath and out-breath as Jesus breathes and pauses with you. If your mind wanders – as it probably will, because that is what minds do – just notice where it goes for an instant and then slowly, gently, direct your attention back to breathing with Jesus. 

Notice your breath in your nose and Jesus’ nose going in and out. 

Notice whether the air you and Jesus are breathing in is hot or cold. 

Notice whether your and Jesus’ breathing is light or heavy and slow or fast. 

Notice your breath in your and Jesus’ chest as they rise and fall together with each breath, like a wave, moving up as you breathe in and down as you breathe out. 

Notice how your and Jesus’ chest expands and contracts with your breath. 

Watch the rhythmic wave in your and Jesus’ chest as you and Jesus breathe in and out. 

Continue watching yours and Jesus chests breathe together for a few minutes.

Now direct your attention downward to your belly. 

Put your hand on your belly to help you connect with a spot just below your belly button because Jesus is there too. 

This spot is at the very core and centre of your body and Jesus presence is there too. The centre of his body is in the centre of your body. 

Notice how your and Jesus’ belly moves out when you breathe in and how they move in when you breathe out. There’s no need to force or change your breath in anyway. And if your mind wanders, bring it back to your and Jesus’ belly kindly and gently. 

As you notice your and Jesus’ breath in your belly, notice whether your breaths change or stay the same. 

Notice the rhythm of breath in yours and Jesus’ belly. 

Notice how you and Jesus breathe together as one.

Begin to expand your attention outwards towards your whole body resting in Jesus’ body. 

Begin to notice your whole body and Jesus’ body working together as a single unit- breathing in and breathing out together in a slow, steady rhythm. 

Notice the waves of breath as they move in and out of your and Jesus’ body – feel your and Jesus’ nose, the back of your and Jesus’ throat, your chest and Jesus’ chest, your and Jesus’ rib cage, your and Jesus’ belly, and your whole body with Jesus’ whole body filling with fresh cleansing air. 

Notice how your breath travels through your and Jesus’ body refreshing and renewing every area it touches. 

Notice the rhythm of your and Jesus whole body breathing as one: first the in-breath, then the pause between the breaths, and finally the out-breath. You and Jesus breathing in and breathing out, as one, together. 

Slowly bring your attention back to the chair, your hands and feet. Slowly open your eyes and begin to notice the room around you. Take your time, and notice how your body feels now that you are aware of Jesus in you.

Feel free to make your own version of this to suit you.

 “Suddenly, a leper walked up to Jesus and threw himself down before him in worship and said, “Lord, you have the power to heal me . . . if you really want to.  Jesus reached out his hand and touched the leper and said, “Of course I want to heal you—be healed!” And instantly, all signs of leprosy disappeared!” Matthew 8:2-3 TPT

Imagine you were in the crowd following Jesus that day: 

I had been on the mountain top to hear Jesus’ teaching. And although what he said was more demanding than anything I had ever heard before there was a power in His words that stirred my heart and made me want to follow Him, made me want more. 

So as Jesus went down the hill side towards Capernaum, I followed Him because that was where my heart wanted me to go. 

I wanted to see what He would do and hear more of what He had to say, so with the rest of the crowd I followed Him that day.

As Jesus reached the bottom of the hill I saw a leper approaching him. A man clearly disfigured, clearly ill, who should’ve been keeping clear of everyone, should’ve been ringing a bell and shouting “unclean!” so all would keep away. For the law of God proclaimed him as an outcast, one who should keep away from the temple and God’s people, so his disease would not spread to others. Everyone would’ve seen him as one cursed by God and as he drew near the crowd drew back, some even shouting at him to go away. 

But Jesus did not seem to hear them, did not seem afraid or worried. He just kept on walking towards Capernaum, and towards the leper, leaving others to make their own decisions.

Suddenly the man walked up to Jesus and threw himself down on the ground, worshipping Jesus like he was God. The crowd around was horrified, drawing back further to save themselves. There were voices of anger at the man’s boldness and condemnation that he had disobeyed the law. But in the eyes of some who were silent that day, tears formed for his pain, their hearts grieving his loss.

Jesus had stopped as the leper began to worship and turned his love and gaze on the man. And finding more courage, the man spoke up saying, “Lord you have the power to heal me…. if you want to.” 

Clearly the man had heard of Jesus reputation. Clearly he had heard of Jesus power. Perhaps, from afar, he had even seen Jesus healing and freeing others from sickness, seen Jesus power and authority. For his boldness in approaching Jesus said he knew Jesus need not be afraid of his illness. He knew that Jesus power could overcome his sickness; Jesus power could take it all away. And a man with that sort of power had to be one sent by God so he bowed in worship to honour Jesus that day.

But the one thing this man could not be sure of was that Jesus would welcome his presence and petition, and choose to heal him with his power that day. For over the years so many people had condemned him, condemned him as a sinner, as one abandoned by God. They told him his sickness was God’s retribution and that he deserved the illness he got. So this man was not certain that he would be welcomed or even acknowledged by this man of God. But there must’ve been something in the stories he’d heard of Jesus, or something in what he had seen from afar, that gave him hope that Jesus might heal him, might save him with God’s loving power. So he spoke up and asked, asked for Jesus healing power.

Jesus would’ve known what this man had been through. He would’ve known he was an outcast, thought of as one cursed by God. He would’ve been aware of the crowd withdrawing and of the words of condemnation they spoke over this man. But Jesus heart saw a man who was broken, broken by sin and shame and condemned by illness to die. A man looking for hope, looking for healing, looking for a God who would be on his side. 

And in His first response Jesus showed he was on the leper’s side. Showed that He cared. For Jesus reached out a hand and touched the leper; touched the man that had been labelled by all as untouchable. You could’ve heard a pin drop in the collective gasp of air from the crowd. That one action shocked even Jesus’ disciples. But Jesus did not stop there. He continued looking lovingly at the leper and said, “Of course I want to heal you—be healed!”

And before anyone in the crowd had time to raise objection, the man was healed, right before our eyes! All the disfigurements that the disease had caused him were gone and he stood up straight looking at his body which was not just cleansed but whole again! The man was dumbfounded, speechless, with tears streaming down his face.

Jesus instructed him to speak to no one but to go straight to the priests and get his healing certified and make the offering demanded by the law. The man nodded, choking back tears of joy and saying, “Thank you!” quietly, over and over again. He got up and did as Jesus told him, the crowd parting in front of him as though they could not yet believe his healing.

I will never forget that day, never forget seeing Jesus love and power touch the untouchable man, never forget seeing Jesus heal and make whole the man all thought God had condemned. I will never forget because in that action I knew I had seen God’s saving grace in action in this world. And it was then that I realised that Jesus was the Messiah, the one sent by God to save us. And I decided I would follow Him wherever He went, decided I too would be His disciple.

As the now-healed-leper ran off, Jesus turned and looked straight at me. He saw the tears of joy streaming down my face, and smiled, nodding slightly in my direction. He knew what was in my heart and he was pleased. And like many others I continued to follow Jesus as he entered Capernaum.

“Jesus ministered from place to place throughout all of the province of Galilee. He taught in the synagogues, preaching the hope of the kingdom realm and healing every kind of sickness and disease among the people. His fame spread everywhere! Many people who were in pain and suffering with every kind of illness were brought to Jesus for their healing—epileptics, paralytics, and those tormented by demonic powers were all set free. Everyone who was brought to Jesus was healed!” Matthew 4:23-24 TPT

What would it have been like for those who are sick to meet with Jesus that day, imagine it. Dwell on the picture. Become part of the crowd.

Imagine someone with your pain or sickness seeing Jesus that day: 

See how he healed others with just a word or touch. No great dramas or show just loving words and simple touch. Moving gently along as each person is healed. Great authority and love in action revealed. 

See the joy the expressed by those who were healed. See them jump and dance, praising Jesus for what he had done. Rejoicing with family or friends over the change. Running to bring others for whom sickness remained. A lame man is pulled to his feet and now running. A leper is clean and whole and hugging his family. A once deaf and mute woman singing at the top of her voice. Children who were crippled beggars are dancing and playing with limbs and sight healed. So much rejoicing with tears of joy flowing freely.  

See the crowd swarm Jesus so each one could be healed. Hearing the words of amazement as Jesus power was revealed. Hearing gasps of amazement and wonder by all.

And imagine deciding that you’ll join the fray. Pushing your way towards Jesus for healing that day. Hoping against hope that He will touch you and bring healing and wholeness to your body again.

And just when you think maybe you will miss out. Jesus turns towards you with a smile on his face. “Be healed beloved, go in peace without sickness or pain.” He knew what you needed without you having to explain. 

You feel his power coursing through your body. The power of his love and his authority. The touch of his hand on your face says it all. His love and healing is for you as well.

Basking in that moment. Jesus touch and smile. His power and love focused on you now. Jesus loving you as God’s Beloved child. The gentle touch, the welcome in his eyes. And his powerful love sweeping all sickness aside. Peace, joy and wholeness enter into your body, filling the places pain and sickness used to occupy, becoming your new reality. For nothing can stand against Jesus authority. 

Rejoice, dance, sing and praise Jesus for His powerful love that brings healing and wholeness. Feel strength and freedom of movement in your body again.

Kneel at His feet in wonder and awe, our wonderful Saviour and loving Lord.