Sitting Quietly at Jesus' Feet

Sitting quietly at Jesus' feet is a tremendously healing endeavor. We cease from our labors and listen to His voice, feel His hand stroking our head, breathing in unison with Him as He listens to our troubles and trials, and receives our praise.

His presence fills us with His peace and joy in spite of circumstances. His ministry to our spirit by His Spirit makes a lasting impression on our soul as He calms the raging sea within our thoughts and emotions.

It is easier to keep busy than to sit quietly and still. We rush headlong into life and ignore the deep recesses of our soul that need healing; but these unresolved conflicts tear us down every day for the rest of our life - until we are willing to sit quietly and listen to our soul.

We feel vulnerable when too much of our inner self is exposed to the light of day. Satan's condemnation, the world's expectations and the negative self-talk in us from years of input by significant others in our life, make us uncomfortable with confronting our fears and insecurities.

It is important to pause during the day to prop up our feet, drink a cup of tea, do a craft, watch a wholesome show or movie, play a video game, paint a picture, learn a musical instrument, etc. This gives our soul a much needed chance to play and experience a time of abandon and creativity.

Proven scientific studies show that meditation decreases our negative attitudes and neurosis, as well as increases our feelings of control and security. Meditating on God's Word heals these psychosomatic issues and decreases their effects on our life.

                                                                  

God's Spirit is sanctifying our soul little by little and day by day. Our carnality is decreasing so that He may increase in us and through us. We do not attempt to perfect our self (Galatians 3:1-3), but we surrender to God's work within us (Romans 8). 

We pray without ceasing by consulting God each moment of our day (Proverbs 3:5-6) and we walk in the Spirit rather than fulfilling the former, diminishing, carnal desires of our flesh (Galatians 5:15-25; Colossians 3:3-4). We live in victory and fulfillment with His ceaseless peace and joy.

Prayer:

Father God, You draw us to Your heart through our wounds, scars and brokenness. You accomplish Your most powerful miracles through those of us who turn toward You in our weakness, rather than blaming You and turning away from You in our distress. You plant a seed for a miracle in every trial.

You use our brokenness to prove Your love for us and that You are sovereign in our life. You call us by name and give us treasures from our darkness and riches in the midst of the secret places of grief in our soul (Isaiah 45:3). Thank You for setting us free from worldly concerns and for reminding us to stay focused on You and Your will throughout our day.

Thought for the Day:

When we walk in the power and anointing of Christ in us and fulfill God's will for our life, we see the lasting fruit both of God's sanctifying work in our soul and of our spiritual endeavors in the lives of those God brings into our life; this causes us to rejoice constantly in God's faithfulness and goodness. 

The Truth About Anger

Anger is a God-given response to protect us when we feel threatened or insecure. Some people in our life arouse anger in our soul more than others. God advises us to go ahead and be angry, but not to sin in our anger (Ephesians 4:26). Resentment at not being given a choice about what happened in my life turned to anger and bitterness.

Those in authority over me would not listen when I expressed what I wanted and needed, and I felt like I did not matter. I usually kept quiet, rolling with the punches, internalizing my feelings for as long as I could. However, some small slight eventually unleashed all of that pent up emotion.

When I exploded in anger to express my displeasure at what I was being forced to experience, the unsuspecting victim of my outburst looked at me like I had two heads and wondered about my sanity. The eruption was quick. However, my volcanic anger left emotional scars in others, which were as destructive as volcanic lava.

I eventually learned that my pent up anger from unresolved issues in my childhood was added to those current feelings of anger. This caused my emotional outbursts to devastate those around me. My anger over the events of my past increased the expression of my anger over the issues occurring at the moment.

God eventually set me free from the pain of my past by revealing its source. He exposed Satan’s lies, spoken to me during negative experiences, which held me in bondage to fear and insecurity my whole life. Then He revealed His truth to replace those lies. (www.theophostic.com)

Negative emotions are actually red flags. When I first start feeling them, I examine my beliefs and the actions, which cause them. I look for an idol, which God is exposing, or I separate my self-worth from the opinion of others. Now, rather than to allow my negative feelings to pile up inside of me, I quickly repent of my idol or firmly appeal to my authority to consider my feelings.

Prayer:

Father God, You advise us not to allow the issues of this life to trouble our soul. We can bring everything to You and make our requests in prayer. You help us to live in quiet expectation of Your purpose for the trials we experience. Your peace, which transcends all human reasoning, will guard our feelings and thoughts. We lift up our soul to Your safe keeping (Philippians 4:6-7; Psalm 25:1).

Thought for the Day:

Attentiveness to our troubled soul can allow us to find peace in our heart by expressing our feelings before they escalate into anger.

He Loved Me First

Read: 1 John 4:18-21

“What great nation ever had their gods as near to them as the Lord our God is near to us whenever we pray to him?” – Deuteronomy 4:7

Our love for God comes as a result of Him first loving us (1 John 4:18-21). We can trust and not be afraid, because the Lord is both our strength and our song. He is our salvation now and forever (Isaiah 12:1-3). God showed us His love by giving us eternal life in Jesus Christ, His Son (1 John 5:11).

We can be assured that He is listening when we talk to Him to make our requests known to Him (Jeremiah 33:3). We can have confidence that He will always answer our prayers (1 John 5:6-15). Overwhelming victory is now ours through Christ who loved us enough to die for us, and nothing can ever separate us from His love (Rom 8:37-39). I believe God when He tells me that He loves us dearly, because I feel and see His love in so many ways throughout the events of my life.

We can rejoice when we run into problems and trials (James 1: 2), for we know that He is working them out for our good (Romans 8:28). We feel His warm love within us, no matter who we are or where we are, because God has given us His Holy Spirit to fill our hearts (Romans 5:5). This causes me to confidently and joyfully look forward to surrendering my life to Him and to allowing Him to mold me into being all He created me to be. His Spirit replaces all of my negative personality traits with the fruit of His Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, meekness, self-control and faith (Galatians 5:22-23).

With God’s love in our life, we have no need to entertain any fears, anxieties nor insecurities, because even if the world blows up, and the mountains tremble and crumble into the sea, and the oceans roar and foam, He is always within us (Psalm 46:1-3). We lie down and sleep in peace and awaken safely, for the Lord watches over us (Psalm 23).

If enemies surround us or circumstance crash down around us, we do not need to be afraid (Psalm 3:6). We merely need to cry out to Him, and He will come to our rescue (Psalm 3:5-7). When troubles come, He hides us and sets us upon a high rock out of harms way (Psalm 27:4-6). God is our refuge and strength, a sure help in any time of trouble (Psalm 46:1).

We can expect God to act on our behalf; because we have so many reasons to praise Him for all that He has already done, is doing and will do for us, in us and through us. He is our help and our mighty God (Psalm 42:11). He never leaves us nor forsakes us (Hebrews 13:5). He who began a good work within us, will keep right on helping us to grow in His grace until His work within us is finally finished on that day when He returns to claim His bride (Philippians 1:6).

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I spend every day of my life delighting in Your incomparable provision and guidance for me. I bring You my body as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1) and I totally surrender my life to you. I sing your praises with joy in my heart. I am sure that You love me; I know this for certain (John 3:16-18). When You come to claim Your bride, I will be like You, as a result of my seeing You as You are (1 John 3:2). I have full assurance of my place in Your Kingdom now and always, because of Your sacrifice on the cross for me (John 3: 16-18).

Thought for the Day:

No one shows greater love than when he lays down his life for his friends. - John 15:13

Alone in a Crowd ~ Part One

Read: Ephesians 3:16-19

“So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.” Colossians 2:10

I know so many people ~ single and married, young and old ~ who all suffer from the blight of loneliness. Even people who work in a crowd all day still experience the scourge of loneliness. Their virtually invisible existence gives them a ghost-like quality. No one notices them. They wander through a crowd, purposely bumping into others, just to see if anyone cares!

The loneliest times occur when we have no one with whom to share our intimate feelings, experiences, dreams, fears and goals. In this technological age, we have computer chips that connect us instantly to everyone and anyone in the world. Yet, we still feel isolated and secluded. People sit for hours in front of a computer screen emailing and instant messaging their family, friends and associates. The problem, though, is that they never feel the touch of a human embrace. Sometimes, all we need is a hug.

***

My husband told me a story about a dog that was not adoptable. He went from home to shelter to another home and back to another shelter too many times. He cowered in the corner of his cage and snarled and snapped at anyone who tried to touch him. He ate little and was not much more than skin and bones.

Over time, he went to yet another veterinarian for another adoption check-up. During the course of her examination, the vet gave the little dog a hug. The dog backed up and looked her in the eye, then he inched forward and she hugged him again. The tiny animal raised his head and gazed adoringly into her face. As the veterinarian watched the transformation going on in the little fellow’s mind, her heart melted. That afternoon “Tiny” found a forever home with one of the veterinarian’s friends, and Dr. Gomez remained his vet for the remainder of the little dog’s life.

***

God created Adam and gave him all of creation to enjoy. Yet, He realized that Adam remained incomplete. So, God fashioned Eve to intimately share Adam’s experiences and feelings. When He finished, God sat back and exclaimed, “Hey, now this is really good!”

This example proves to us that from the beginning, God designed each of us to get to know one another, to understand what impacts each other’s lives, to care about our deepest concerns, as well as our physical and spiritual needs. Many caregivers pour out their lives to needy friends and family, yet encounter no one to care for them in return. The Good News for this malady of loneliness came in the person of Jesus Christ.

Intimacy with God Himself is our most nurturing resource. Whether married or single we can experience a personal relationship with the God of the Universe through His Son Jesus Christ. This occurs when we sincerely ask for forgiveness of our sins and request Christ to inhabit our lives. Then His Holy Spirit moves into our spirit. Christ within is the most intimate of all relationships, because it is the only bond that comes from within. God knows our deepest thoughts and our most intimate needs. He made us and knew us before He formed the world itself. God continually promises in His Word, the Bible, to care for us in every way.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, we can trust You with our whole life. You work all things out for our good. You assure us that eternal life starts from the moment of our connection with Your Spirit, and that we share this miracle with the whole Body of Christ everywhere.

Thought for the Day:

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. - 2 Corinthians 4:8-9