from a mystical union with Him that transcends the rational thought process or even normal sensory experience.  This takes place through following the three stages of purgation, illumination and union; implementing the spiritual disciplines and most importantly, practicing contemplative prayer." [1]
 
Contemplatives admit that the means they use to commune with God can be dangerous as it invites demon oppression.  And for those who are not Christians, it invites demon possession! 
 
There are numerous passages in the Bible that condemn certain divination practices. These include Exodus 22:18, Leviticus 19:26-26; 19:31; 20:6; Deuteronomy 18:10-11; Isaiah 8:19 and Malachai 3:5. God forbade the Israelites from engaging in any sort of divination.  Period.  End of story.  Christians who flips through their Bible and place their finger on a verse to find God's will, or use eastern meditation techniques to go inward putting oneself in a passive mental state is engaging in Christian divination--and putting themselves on a path that leads to the occult.  "Meditation is a subtle death," said the late Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. "It is the death of you: of your mind, of your ego, of all that defines you. Only what is within, what is not mind, not the ego, remains - and that is pure consciousness."  Heed his words.
 
In order for Christians to mature in their faith they must read and study Scripture, meditate on it (this does not mean eastern meditation), then put its principles into practice.  We must put our Bibles before all the other books we're reading!  It's the only book that has God's direct message to His people. 
 
"I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word… Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law…Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors…I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws…Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight" (Psalm 119:16-35).
 
An important aspect of reading the Bible is knowing how to interpret Scripture correctly.  Paul said to Timothy, "[T]he things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. …  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" (2Tim 2, 15).  We must seek accurate interpretations--and correctly handle the word of truth!  That way we will not only know what the words say, but the intended meaning of the words.  Christian apologist and radio talk show host Greg Koukl makes this point: "Private interpretations do not yield accurate meaning…there is a particular truth--a determinate meaning--God intends to convey.  Individual, personalized interpretations that distort this meaning only bring danger." 

Stay out of the danger zone!  Applying esoteric meanings to Scripture is irresponsible!  Anyone who distorts God's Word does so "to their own destruction" (2 Peter 3:16).
 
I haven't forgotten about John and Tina.  Why haven't they received an answer from God on the Colorado question? A simple yes or no will do.  They're not expecting God to appear to them in a burning bush or through thunder and lightening as He did with Saul.  Why the silence?
 
We may think God intends to reveal His plan -- but what if He chooses not to?  What if He has no intention of sharing His plan with us?  Part of God's plan for Job's life was to allow ghastly things to happen to him.  What if Job had known in advance about the losses he would suffer, the pain he would have to endure?  The man would never have left his tent!  God's plan for Job was that he should suffer more than any man.  God never told Job about His plan.  Job never found out why he was made to suffer.
 
God still speaks to us today--but not through a burning bush! He speaks to us through the pages of Scripture.  If we read and study the Bible, we'll discover that His will for us is not hidden.  In fact, it's crystal clear. 

"The will of God is not meant to be a secret we must uncover," says John MacArthur, president and featured speaker of Grace to You, "God wants us to Next page                           

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