Author: pauldeary11

When We Rest: Finding God’s Peace in a Busy World

In our fast-paced culture, rest often feels like a luxury we can’t afford. Yet Scripture reveals that rest isn’t just beneficial—it’s essential to our spiritual growth and relationship with God. When we rest, we make room for God to work in our lives and discover the peace that comes from trusting Him completely.

What Does the Bible Say About Rest?

Jesus himself extended this beautiful invitation in Matthew 11: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

This isn’t just a nice sentiment—it’s a promise. God wants to give us rest, and He’s modeled it for us from the very beginning.

God’s Example of Rest

Rest is Built into Creation

From the very beginning, rest was part of God’s design. Genesis 2:2-3 tells us: “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”

If God—who never grows tired or weary—chose to rest, how much more do we need it? Rest isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s following God’s own pattern.

Rest as Deliverance

When God delivered Israel from Egypt, part of their freedom was freedom from the endless work cycle. The fourth commandment—to keep the Sabbath holy—wasn’t a burden but a gift. It was permission to stop, to trust that God would provide, and to remember who was really in control.

How Can We Practice Biblical Rest?

Rest as a spiritual discipline involves four key elements that can transform how we approach our relationship with God:

1. Stop

The first step is simply to stop. This means creating a day without “have-to’s”—a day when you’re not rushing to complete your endless to-do list. As Psalm 23:2 says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.”

Stopping doesn’t mean you’re done or giving up. It means you’re choosing to trust that the world will keep spinning even when you’re not powering it. This can feel unnatural at first, but it’s essential for experiencing God’s peace.

2. Rest

True rest goes beyond just stopping—it’s about restoration. Psalm 23:3 says, “He restores my soul.” This kind of rest allows God’s rhythms of grace, mercy, and peace to calm our hearts and minds.

Think of the difference between a speed walker and someone who strolls leisurely, noticing the beauty around them. Sabbath rest is like that leisurely walk—unhurried, observant, and peaceful.

3. Delight

Psalm 34:8 encourages us to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” Rest should include things that bring you joy and help you appreciate God’s goodness. This might be:

  • Enjoying good food with people you love
  • Pursuing a hobby that refreshes your soul
  • Spending time in nature
  • Listening to music
  • Engaging in activities that make you smile

I read a Pastor who shared how making chocolate pancakes with his children became a sacred Sabbath ritual. His daughter once told him, “Dad, you’re different on pancake day. You look happy.” Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is make space for simple joy.

4. Contemplate

Use part of your rest time to reflect on God’s goodness and faithfulness. This isn’t about worrying or planning—it’s about giving yourself permission to notice how God has been working in your life.

One woman practices writing down every blessing she noticed during the week, setting a timer for just 10 minutes. She discovered that slowing down helped her see God’s faithfulness in ways she’d missed Him when moving too fast. She realized God was orchestrating a beautiful picture of His faithfulness and provision around her – one she could see once she’d slowed down to take it in.

Why Is Rest So Difficult?

Cultural Pressure

Our culture equates busyness with importance and rest with laziness. We’re conditioned to believe that if we’re not constantly productive, we’re somehow failing. But this mindset contradicts God’s design for our lives.

Trust Issues

At its core, rest requires trust. When we rest, we’re declaring that God is in control and that our worth isn’t determined by our productivity. This can feel scary, especially if we’re used to earning our value through achievement.

Fear of Missing Out

We worry that if we step back, we’ll fall behind or miss something important. But rest actually makes us more capable of living well, not less.

What Happens When We Rest?

We Become Less Reactive

Regular rest helps us respond to life’s challenges with greater peace and wisdom rather than reacting from a place of stress and exhaustion.

We Gain Perspective

When we slow down, we can see God’s faithfulness more clearly. We notice blessings we missed when we were rushing through life.

We Experience God’s Love

Rest reminds us of three crucial truths: we are loved, we are safe, and we belong to God. These aren’t things we need to earn—they’re gifts to receive.

Starting Your Rest Practice

Begin Small

You don’t have to transform your entire schedule overnight. Start with small steps:

  • Choose one day (or part of a day) each week for intentional rest
  • Turn off notifications and avoid checking emails
  • Engage in one activity purely for joy
  • Spend a few minutes reflecting on God’s goodness

Make It Personal

Your rest might look different from someone else’s. For some, it’s being outdoors; for others, it’s reading quietly indoors. The key is choosing activities that restore rather than drain you.

Remember the Purpose

Rest isn’t about being lazy—it’s about making space for God. It’s about remembering that your identity and security come from Him, not from what you accomplish.

Life Application

This week, challenge yourself to practice biblical rest. Choose one day (or even just a few hours) to stop, rest, delight, and contemplate God’s goodness. Give yourself permission to slow down and trust that God is holding everything together.

As you practice rest, ask yourself these questions:

  • What am I trying to control that I need to surrender to God?
  • How has God been faithful to me this week, and what blessings have I overlooked in my busyness?
  • What activities truly restore my soul and help me connect with God’s love?
  • How can I make rest a regular rhythm in my life rather than something I only do when I’m exhausted?

Remember, Sabbath rest is God’s weekly reminder that you are loved, you are safe, and you are His. In a world that constantly demands more, God invites you to simply come and rest with Him.

When We Give: the spiritual discipline of giving.

Generosity is one of the most powerful spiritual disciplines that can transform our relationship with God and reshape our hearts in profound ways. When we understand giving as a pathway to experiencing God’s love rather than earning it, everything changes.

What Does Jesus Say About Giving?

In Matthew 6:2-4, Jesus makes a striking assumption. He doesn’t say “if you give” but “when you give.” This isn’t a suggestion—it’s an expectation for those following Christ. Jesus instructs us not to announce our giving with fanfare like the hypocrites, but to give quietly, trusting that our Father who sees in secret will reward us.

This passage reveals something beautiful: generosity is meant to be a natural overflow of a heart that has encountered God’s incredible generosity toward us. We’re created in God’s image, and there’s no one more generous than our Heavenly Father.

Why Is Giving So Difficult?

Money represents more than paper in our lives. It symbolizes security, control, status, and safety. When God asks us to give, He’s confronting these deep-seated attachments that can become idols in our hearts.

Unlike other spiritual disciplines like prayer or Bible study, giving confronts us in a uniquely tangible way. We can read Scripture and feel surrendered to God, we can pray and sense His presence, but when it comes to opening our wallets, something different happens. That resistance reveals how tightly we can grip what we think provides our security.

How Does Generosity Develop Surrender?

Generosity is a spiritual discipline that accelerates spiritual maturity unlike any other. When we give, we’re surrendering a piece of our control to God. We’re declaring that He is our provider, not our paycheck. He is our source, not our savings account.

Proverbs 3:9-10 teaches about first fruits: “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops. Then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” God doesn’t ask for our first fruits because He needs them—He asks because we need the reminder that He is first in our lives.

There’s an old story about a farmer who had a beautiful apple orchard. One year, the harvest was especially good. The apples were huge and perfect — the kind of fruit that could bring in the best prices at the market.

When he gathered the first basket of apples, he looked at them and thought, “I’ll set one aside for God — my first and best apple.”

But as he picked, he noticed some bruised apples, some smaller ones, and he thought, “Maybe I’ll give one of these instead. God won’t mind.”

Later that evening, he sat at his table, looked at the basket of apples, and realized what had happened. He had started with the desire to give God his first and best, but along the way, his heart started to protect what he thought was his own.

So, he quietly took the biggest, reddest apple, polished it on his sleeve, and placed it in a basket by the door marked ‘For the Lord.’

He didn’t know how much that one apple mattered — but something changed in his heart.

Every year after that, his first act of harvest was to give.
And over time, that one small discipline taught him to surrender not just his apples, but his whole life to God. It guarded his heart from being consumed with his wealth.

How Does Giving Build Trust in God?

Generosity expands our level of trust in our Heavenly Father. When we give, we’re not just trusting God in our minds—we’re trusting Him with our hearts and our hands. We’re saying, “God, I trust You to provide for me.”

George Mueller’s story illustrates this beautifully. In the 1800s, he ran orphanages in England completely by faith, never asking for money but trusting God to provide. One morning, he woke to find the orphanage completely empty—no food, no milk, nothing for the children’s breakfast. Instead of panicking, he gathered all the children in the dining room with empty plates and cups and thanked God for the food He was going to provide.

Moments after the prayer, the local baker knocked at the door, saying he couldn’t sleep and felt God telling him they needed bread. Minutes later, the milkman’s cart broke down outside, and he offered his milk that would spoil if not used that morning. Every child ate a full breakfast that morning. What an incredible unexpected blessing from God revealing His faithfulness and provision.

What Peace Does Generosity Bring?

The world tells us that peace comes from having more—more money, more comfort, more security. But Jesus teaches that the kingdom comes through giving our lives away, through seeing that life is spent on eternal treasure, not ourselves.

When we live generously, when we surrender and trust God with our resources, anxiety loses its grip on our lives. We discover that we’re stewards, not owners, of everything we have. This realization brings a supernatural peace that transcends understanding.

Philippians 4:6-7 promises: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Can Everyone Participate in Giving?

Absolutely. Jesus highlighted this truth when He drew attention to a widow who gave her last two pennies in the synagogue. While others gave large amounts with fanfare, she gave out of surrender, offering everything she had. Jesus used her as an example because generosity isn’t about the amount—it’s about the heart behind the hand.

Everyone can participate because generosity isn’t about what’s in your hand; it’s about what’s in your heart. Whether it’s your tithe (10% of your income), a love offering, or a sacrificial gift, every act of generosity is a doorway to encounter God more deeply.

Life Application

This week, challenge yourself to practice first fruits giving or budget towards honoring the Lord with your finances.

Ask yourself these questions: What am I holding onto that represents security, control, or status in my life? How can I practice surrender by giving generously this week? Where do I need to trust God more deeply as my provider? What would change in my heart if I truly believed I’m a steward, not an owner, of everything I have?

Remember, we don’t give to earn God’s love—we give because we are already completely loved. We don’t give to get from God—we give to know God and encounter His life more deeply. When we give, we step into the beautiful rhythm of surrender, trust, and peace that marks a life yielded to our generous Heavenly Father.

When You Read: The Power of Hiding God’s Word in Your Heart

In a world filled with distractions and competing voices, one of the most powerful spiritual disciplines we can develop is reading and internalizing God’s Word. Just as Jesus relied on Scripture during His most vulnerable moments, we too can find strength, direction, and protection through the intentional practice of hiding God’s Word in our hearts.

How Did Jesus Use Scripture in His Darkest Hour?

Before Jesus began His earthly ministry, He faced 40 days of fasting in the wilderness. During this vulnerable time, Satan tempted Him three times – with performance, possessions, and popularity. In each instance, Jesus responded not with His own wisdom or strength, but with Scripture from the book of Deuteronomy.

This reveals something profound about Jesus’ relationship with God’s Word. He was “soaked in scripture” – so saturated with God’s truth that it became His natural response to temptation. When the enemy tried to derail His mission, Jesus had already hidden God’s Word so deeply in His heart that it became His defense system.

What Does It Mean to Hide God’s word in Your Heart?

Psalm 119:11 provides our foundation: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” This verse reveals five powerful truths about engaging with Scripture.

1. Intentional Engagement

The word “hidden” suggests more than casual reading. It implies intentionality, memorization, and meditation – a deliberate effort to internalize God’s truth. Just as someone hides a valuable treasure for safekeeping, we’re called to safeguard God’s word within us.

Think of it like a cow’s digestive process. Cows have four stomachs and repeatedly chew, swallow, regurgitate, and rechew their food. Similarly, we need to take God’s Word, reflect on it, let it resurface in our minds, and continue processing it until it becomes part of who we are.

2. The Heart’s Domain

In biblical terms, the heart isn’t just the organ that pumps blood – it’s the core of our being, including our intellect, emotions, will, and conscience. When we hide God’s word in our hearts, we allow it to inform our thoughts, shape our feelings, direct our decisions, and guide our moral compass.

God’s truth becomes the lens through which we view the world and ourselves. It rewires our inner life and helps us remember who and whose we are called to be.

3. Protection from Sin

The explicit purpose given in this verse is protection: “that I might not sin against you.” This isn’t just about following rules – it’s about yielding ourselves to God’s ways rather than the direction of culture.

When temptation arises, when doubts creep in, or when the world tries to pull us away, having God’s word hidden in our hearts provides a protective barrier. It’s enough to not do something simply because it’s a sin against God, even when family, friends, or culture might approve.

4. Understanding Sin as Offense Against God

The verse reveals an innocent truth: we avoid sin not primarily because of natural consequences, but because it offends our loving God. There may be sins available to us that no one would know about, but that doesn’t mean they won’t lead to destruction in our lives.

God does His best work in the privacy of our lives. Much of our healing and transformation happens in the secret place, where He lovingly convicts us and invites us to yield to His ways.

5. A Lifelong Practice

This is an ongoing discipline of receiving God’s word and letting it take root. It’s not a one-time event but a continuous practice of allowing Scripture to shape our lives day by day.

Where Should I Start Reading the Bible?

If you’re wondering where to begin, start simple. Download a Bible app and commit to reading the verse of the day. By this time next year, you’ll have encountered 365 verses. Consistency brings quality, even in small doses.

Another great starting place is the Gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). You’ll read about Jesus life, ministry, and teachings. This is the best starting place – especially if you have the time and focus to enjoy a few chapters of Scripture at a time.

Remember, quality often trumps quantity. Whether you read 10-15 chapters or just 10-20 verses, the key is letting Scripture sink deep into your understanding and affections.

Why Does God’s Word Endure?

The Bible has remarkable staying power. His Word will always stand, and His love for you will never fade.

If you’re holding onto a promise from God that seems under attack, remember that His word remains faithful. Though other things may fall apart, the testament to God’s goodness, heart, and generosity toward us will stand forever.

Life Application

This week, commit to hiding God’s word in your heart through intentional engagement. Start with just one verse – perhaps Psalm 119:11 itself. Read it, meditate on it, and let it become part of your inner dialogue. When faced with decisions or temptations, allow this hidden Word to guide your response.

Consider these questions as you begin this practice:

  • What areas of my life need the protective power of God’s word?
  • How can I move from casual Bible reading to intentional hiding of Scripture in my heart?
  • What verse or passage is God calling me to memorize and meditate on this week?
  • How might my responses to temptation change if I were “soaked in scripture” like Jesus?

Remember, this isn’t about earning God’s favor or having everything together. It’s about receiving God’s love letter to you and allowing His truth to transform your life from the inside out. As you hide His word in your heart, you’ll discover the same protective power that sustained Jesus in His most vulnerable moments.

When we pray: practical helps for your prayer life

Prayer is one of the most fundamental spiritual disciplines, yet many of us struggle with how to approach it consistently. Rather than viewing prayer as something we must do to earn God’s favor, we can embrace it as an opportunity to grow deeper in relationship with Him.


What Are Spiritual Disciplines Really About?

Before diving into prayer specifically, it’s important to understand that spiritual disciplines aren’t about earning God’s love. There’s nothing you can do to make God love you more than He already does. He calls you beloved and sees you as His child right now.
The purpose of spiritual disciplines is to step into a greater dimension of God’s love – to encounter and experience Him more fully. These practices help us partner with God in our spiritual growth, not to gain His approval, but simply to know Him better.


Why Do People Pray?

Prayer is remarkably common, even among those who don’t consider themselves religious. Statistics show that 58% of Americans pray at least once a week, and surprisingly, 46% of people with no religious background still pray. This suggests we were created for communication with God.
The disciples recognized this need when they asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11). They had watched Him pray and wanted to learn this vital spiritual practice for themselves.


Moving From Fear-Based to Love-Based Prayer

Many of us begin our prayer lives trying to earn something from God – His favor, His blessing, or His attention. This fear-based approach can lead to spiritual pride and a sense of striving that misses the heart of prayer.
When we shift to love-based prayer, everything changes. Instead of praying to earn God’s favor, we pray because we want to know Him better. We approach Him not out of obligation, but out of genuine desire for relationship.


The PRAY Method: A Practical Framework (credit: Pete Greig & 24/7 Prayer Movement)

Using the acronym PRAY, we can develop a simple yet profound approach to prayer:
P – Pause

Before rushing into our requests, we need to pause. This means taking time to center ourselves in God’s presence, moving from restlessness to rest. In our culture of constant motion and distraction, pausing is revolutionary.
Pausing might look like:

Taking 30 seconds in your car before driving to center your mind on God
Sitting quietly for a few minutes when you wake up
Going for a peaceful walk without distractions
Simply being still and knowing that He is God

The Psalms use the word “selah” over 70 times – a musical instruction to pause and reflect. We can apply this same principle to our prayer lives.


R – Rejoice

The Lord’s Prayer begins with “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name.” This is worship – acknowledging God’s holiness and celebrating His goodness. When we rejoice, something happens in our hearts. As one psalm says, “As the praise goes up, His presence comes down.”
Rejoicing involves celebrating God’s faithfulness, His goodness, and all He has brought us through. It shifts our perspective from our problems to His greatness.


A – Ask

This is often our favorite part of prayer – bringing our requests to God. The key principle to remember is: if it’s on your heart, it’s on His mind. Nothing is too small or insignificant for God.
Our asking includes two types of prayer:

Personal petitions: Our own needs, concerns, and desires
Intercession: Praying for others, our communities, and regions

God wants to know what’s weighing you down, what you’re carrying, and what you’re journeying through. He invites us to bring everything to Him.


Y – Yield

Perhaps the most challenging aspect of prayer in our culture is yielding – surrendering control to God. This means acknowledging that His thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His ways are higher than our ways.
Yielding doesn’t mean being passive; it means actively choosing to trust God’s wisdom over our own understanding. It’s like approaching a yield sign while driving – we slow down, assess the situation, and proceed according to what’s safest, not just what we want to do.


Developing Consistency in Prayer

Every time you pray – whether it’s a simple “help” or a longer conversation with God – you’re taking a vote for the type of person you’re becoming. Over time, these moments accumulate, and you gradually become a more prayerful person.
The goal isn’t perfection but consistency. Whether you pray when driving to work, during your morning routine, or while taking a bath, the key is developing regular rhythms of connecting with God.


Coming to God As You Are

You don’t have to clean up your emotions before approaching God. You can come angry, disappointed, or confused. The Psalms are full of honest, raw prayers from people who brought their real feelings to God.
If you’re mad at God, bring that anger to Him. If you’re discouraged because He hasn’t met your expectations, tell Him about it. God can handle your honesty, and He’d rather have your authentic heart than your polite pretense.


Life Application

This week, commit to implementing the PRAY method in your daily routine. Choose a specific time each day – whether morning, lunch break, or evening – to practice this four-step approach to prayer. Start with just 5-10 minutes: Pause to center yourself, Rejoice in God’s goodness, Ask for what you and others need, and Yield your plans and concerns to Him. Remember, you’re not trying to earn anything from God; you’re simply growing in relationship with Him.


Questions for Reflection:

Am I approaching prayer from a place of love or fear?
What would it look like for me to pause more regularly in God’s presence?
What specific things do I need to yield to God’s control this week?
How can I make prayer a consistent vote for the person I’m becoming rather than just an occasional cry for help?

Towards an abiding relationship with God

This past Sunday I preached from a passage out of the story of Israel from Exodus 33. The portion of Scripture is a favorite story of mine found in the Bible. It is one of the many conversations between God and Moses. What draws me into the story is how Moses is captivated with the presence of God – so much so that Moses is going to call off his part in the story if God’s Presence does not go with them. Here we have Moses intimately talking with God, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” Exodus 33:15-16. For Moses, God’s Presence was a distinguishing characteristic for the people of Israel. And, as one who has been grafted in to this story through the victory of Jesus Christ the story has tremendous implications for me, and for any Christ follower. We are invited to live as a person of God’s Presence. The Israelites weren’t called out by Yahweh to simply become His namesake in the sense we might interpret. It’s the same for the Christian. We weren’t called out of darkness, set apart, and forgiven to simply indue a title [Christian] but rather inherit a relationship. You are created for life in His presence – an abiding relationship with God.

Author and Speaker Gary Smalley who created the 5 Love Languages gives us a greater depth to this area of relationship with God. Smalley says that Quality Time is one of the 5 Love Languages and is a crucial way people give and receive love. I’d discern that Quality Time is also an important dynamic of how we give and receive love from God. There are dimensions of relationship with God that are only to be found in the Quality Time arena. There are Holy whispers, nudges, directions, and strength that come when we quietly wait on the Lord. When we pull away from the busyness of life and seek God – as Moses did throughout the Exodus. We may be wired more to give and receive love through the other love languages such as: physical touch, gifts, serving or words of affirmation, but we must make priority for quality time for any healthy relationship – and especially with God. There is a knowing of God that only comes through an abiding relationship with Him.

An abiding relationship with God is a slow process. For all those seeking more of a knowledge of God the process is always worth it. On Sunday, I took a moment to expose three hurdles we may find to beginning an abiding relationship with God. They are: pace, perspective and patience. I share about them below.

PACE

Slowing down to be in God’s Presence isn’t easy when we live in a world that is obsessed with busyness.  Our pace of life happens so quickly that we get caught up in a culture which has an attention deficit disorder.  We have to move from problem to problem.  Fix this.  Fix that.  Create this.  Create that.  Play this.  Play that.  Etc.  It can be exhausting.  All the while Jesus invites us “come to me all who are weary, and I will give you rest.”  Most days we pass by this invitation.  We’d rather be weary if it means we get to stay connected to our social media accounts and news stations.  All the while the living God longs to meet with us.  Almighty God longs to speak to you. 

The Gospel story was announced to a pace much different that our current one.  People walked, rode donkeys, and took boats for travel.  They didn’t have cell phones, televisions, radio’s, Spotify, text messages, email, snail mail…while all those create tremendous positives, they can also keep us wired.  They can keep us online 24/7. People had moments throughout the day to pause, contemplate, and prayerfully consider their interactions.  

Ever wonder why God speaks to you in the shower or the bathtub?  Ever wonder why He speaks to you in the restroom?  You’re not plugged in.  It’s quiet.  It’s still. 

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

PERSPECTIVE

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”  A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy

Another hurdle I’ve encountered is that of perspective.  Occasionally people have a skewed view of their relationship with God.  They believe that Jesus was obligated to die on the cross and that He doesn’t want much to do with them.  God is angry. Jesus appeased this anger. And, now God somehow endures our presence. He may love us out of necessity but He surely doesn’t like us – so the thinking goes. Instead, it would be wise to see that Jesus willingly laid down His life.  It would be good to know that God’s love for you far outweighs your daily mistakes and missteps.  He longs to walk with you daily.  He cares to lead you to a place where His Kingdom is unraveling in the intricacies of your life.  His mercy suddenly moves through you to others.  But if you have the wrong perspective you could be tempted to think that God is enduring your presence – and it becomes an obligation instead of an invitation.  He longs to be with you. 

As the A.W. Tozer quote above states, our impression, thoughts, and perspective of God dramatically implicates our desire to be in His presence. If you hold a low view of God’s presence you’re not likely to want to spend time with Him. If you hold a low view of yourself, equally so, you’re not likely to want to spend time with Him for fear that He wants nothing to do with you. Yet, if you can instead see your Heavenly Father as Jesus reveals Him you’ll desire to spend time with Him. Jesus revealed God in such a way that we can know Him as love. Reread the Gospels. Catch the glimpse of God’s ridiculously generous love towards you. You are the apple of His eye. Chosen, set apart, and created from eternity.   

PATIENCE

A critical hurdle one must overcome is patience.  Cultivating an abiding relationship with the living God takes time.  It takes discipline.  It takes baby steps and missteps and plops and falls along with a resolve to meet with God.  Patience with oneself is key.  We are like baby’s learning to walk in the Kingdom of our Heavenly Father. Be patient with yourself. Stay determined. Stay consistent. Remain patient.

We have the gift of a lifetime on our hands to know God in greater measure. I believe the greatest gift you have for the world comes through your abiding relationship with God. My prayer for you is that of St. Paul from Ephesians 3:16-19, “16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

Sincerely,

Four directions for your soul

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“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”  Proverbs 4:23

Four activities to care for your soul during this season:

1  Pray (Talk to God)

Tend to the garden of your soul by praying.  Participate in prayer as you consider the difficulties you are personally facing, as well as the difficulties others around you are journeying through.  Don’t let the needs be bottled up but pour them out before the Lord.

The Bible App, Unite 714, as well as other resources have strategic prayers to pray during this season.  Keep a personal journal of prayer needs you are praying.  This will help keep the needs of others in front of you.

In my daily prayer liturgy I have a portions of prayer entitled: Family, Intercession (others needs), and Sitting with Jesus (personal problems or obstacles I’m facing).  In each instance I’m taking needs to the ultimate Source of life, wisdom, and supernatural power.

2 Silence and Solitude (Listen to God)

Peace partners with stillness.  If you want more peace be still more often.  Anxieties often shroud themselves in busyness.  Productivity can be a great deception for the soul.  Don’t believe the lie that busyness = more peace.  I often fall into the trap that peace is just on the other side of this or that errand,  to do list, project, or ministry proposition.  No.  The truth is peace is available right here and right now.  It is the by product of my stillness and resting before God.  It’s in that place that He can whisper to my soul the words of eternal life that transform the world around me.

Just this morning before our house was awake the Lord could find me.  I was quiet, reflective and still.  He was able to whisper a couple statements that were timely for my heart to hear.  Do you have a place and a designated time where you sit still?  Don’t let your quiet life before God be overwhelmed with books, posts, Bible plans, or spiritual activity.  Enjoy those but also make sure you sit still with no screens, books or ear buds.  I can find that instead of stillness I begin consuming material and my mind begins racing in other directions.  There is something Holy to quieting oneself entirely and receiving the peace of God.

3 Worship (Sing to God)

There is nothing like pointing our affection, emotion, and voice towards God Almighty.  I love worship.  Take a couple moments each day to let gratitude rise up.  Lift your hands.  Kneel down.  Sing out loud.  Worship is a gift from God.  It always reinforces my allegiance to Christ and strengthens my resolve in and through the trials, tribulations, and tests of life.

Paul and Silas began singing hymns while they were in prison in Philippi.  They chose worship.  They chose joy over their circumstances.  Worship is a choice.  Chances are, like me in moments, you’ve made circumstances large and the power of God little.  Worship reverses our idolatry and leads us back to the Throne of God.  He is all powerful, always present, and full knowledgeable of what we are walking through.  The right songs lead our hearts to the right perspective.  Worship matters.  Worship is critical in these days we live.  Take a few moments each day to worship.

4 Scripture (Growing in God)

Scripture is the greatest source to grow in our knowledge, experience and love of God.  It is the glorious unfolding of God’s Story and reveals to us the Word (Jesus Christ).  Take moments each day to spend time in Scripture.  Read the Gospels.  Discover the revealing of God through the Old Testament.  Encourage your soul through the Psalms.  Develop a mind of wisdom through the Proverbs.  I cannot emphasize more the reading of Scripture.

Be wary of only reading Bible Plans or Devotional Books.  Those are wonderful resources!  I utilize them.  But, also couple those books with your own personal study and reading.  Scripture unlocks the doors to a greater knowledge of God.  This is a season to discover the goodness and greatness of God.

I had fun writing this and hope it helps lead your soul in four healthy directions today, and in this season.

Sincerely

 

 

 

 

 

A weary world rejoices

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“O holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
The thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.”

All around the world a weary people are rejoicing.  They are singing of their Savior.  They are revisiting, remembering and rehashing all the Scriptures about Jesus Christ the Son of the living God.  There are millions the globe over abuzz with celebration as they remember how their souls were before life with Jesus: broken, worn out, exhausted, less than, struggling for hope, fumbling forward in the dark, characterized by missing the mark, and in need of saving.  The people wearied by a fractured and broken way of living have found Life…and are now rejoicing.  Christmas is a celebration of the new King and the new Kingdom He invites us to live within.

This week I’ve been reflecting on an invitation set forth by Jesus for all those weary of the weight of the world and sin; those struggling to keep up with the principalities and powers of earth:

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

We are all familiar with being weary.  I remember a few years ago upon finishing my first marathon.  I was beyond weary.  I was utterly wiped out.  Mentally exhausted, physically strained, and barely able to walk.  I was in need of a recovery.  For the next several days almost my entire body was strained.  I was stiff in every muscle and my joints were in agony.  Through rest, healthy eating, and plenty of liquids my physical body recovered.  Step one, of course, was recognizing the need for recovery.  I had to recognize I was in need of rest.  Things had to slow down.  And, I didn’t get back to running for over a week – and not nearly at my previous pace. In a similar way Christians are familiar with recovery that comes from following the ways of Jesus.  His teachings, His Spirit, and His ways of living lead us into an eternal way of living even now.  In fact, life is no longer the way it used to be.  We remember how suffocating life under the old regime was.  And, in this season of Christmas we rejoice because Messiah has come.  He has freed us!  He has broken the bonds of the principalities and powers of the enemy and given us new life.  He has met the weary world and all it’s pining for hope, joy, peace, and rest.  God has given us Himself!

If you are tired, weary, broken or breaking down Jesus invitation still stands.  Christmas is the celebration of God’s insistence of coming INto the atmosphere and dwelling WITH us.  Jesus, the son of the living God, has made a way for us to know peace and live life with God.  He invites each one of us to take up His way of living that He has made available and accessible to us through His love.  He willingly laid down His life on the cross and wrought victory over sin, death, and the powers and principalities of darkness.  You can call upon His Name even now and be saved.  You can whisper His Name even now and He will draw near.  His love will bring peace, hope and joy.

My prayer for you this Christmas season is that you would know the hope of Christ!  His story would unfold in your heart and into your life in unprecedented ways.  Pause this season.  Take a moment here and there to reflect on the gravity of this season – God loves you.  He came for you.  You were part of His grand Story.

Many blessings this Christmas,

Paul

 

Grace

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Photo by Vinícius Vieira Fotografia on Pexels.com

“To the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:6 NRSV


Grace as Unmerited favor. 


You are a person of unmerited favor.  The absolute goodness and mercy of God gifted to you without any striving on your end.  The forgiveness of God.  No matter what’s been done or undone, how far you’ve run, and no matter how long you’ve been keeping the distance – God loves you wholly and completely.  There hasn’t been a day when you have not been on His mind.  There hasn’t been a moment where He was not working for your good.  There hasn’t been a season when He was not longing to reveal the weight of His kind love towards you.

This week I read a story of a young man who had served his country in Iraq.  One evening in the middle of the night as he was filling large gas tanks one caught alight and subsequently caught him on fire – moments later he woke up on his back quite a distance from where he was working.  He was saved by two Iraqi civilians who did not have jurisdiction to be on the property or on the base.  They came to his rescue when he was alight and rolled him in the dirt till he was clear of the fire and flames.  He survived because of their willingness to enter his gravest moment.  What a visual image of God’s grace.   The mercy and grace of God has rescued us from our own undoing.  Each of us has created our own circumstances which have landed up burning us in some way or another.  God’s unmerited favor has saved the day.  His love, through Jesus (the Beloved in the Scripture at top) came for us and knocked us away from the fire, saving us and restoring us to relationship with God.  Each of us received something we couldn’t strive towards or earn in our own strength.  As the solider was saved by the generous hearted civilians willing to get in and near the fire themselves – so Jesus entered our pain and entered our mess.

Take a moment today to reflect on the sheer generosity of God toward you.  The beauty of His mercy and love.  The generosity of His heart towards you.  He loves you right now where you are with what you have.  He loves you generously in the midst of life’s pain, fears, anxieties and despair.  God’s love was perfectly timed and perfectly displayed with the gift of Christmas Season: the Son of God Jesus.  Immanuel: God with us.  This great love is not only an intellectual or logical sense of knowing but an experiential, deep rooted relational knowing in the heart (Ephesians 3:16-19). May God’s good grace be ever present for you in this season and the seasons to come.

For those who feel far from the heart of God in this moment – I can empathize with your pain, hurt or apathy.  My prayer for you is that you can trust again, lean in again to His presence and return to the love your heart once knew.

In Christ,

Paul

 

The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing. – Blaise Pascal

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24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.  25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”  But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”  26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them.  Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”  27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands.  Reach out your hand and put it into my side.  Stop doubting and believe.”  28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”  John 20:24-29

The account of Thomas’ doubt resonates so deeply with many of us that it has led us to identify Thomas as doubting Thomas.  Interestingly, by most Gospel accounts Thomas is actually more devout than full of doubt (see John 11:16; 14:5-7).  Yet, the doubt Thomas experienced and expressed has been such a consoling story for many within the Christian faith that, unsurprisingly, it is this particular story that rises to the forefront of many people’s minds when they consider Thomas the apostle.

Each of us on our journey with Jesus has moments of great devotion as did Thomas.  But, we are also prone to moments of doubt as was Thomas.  This past Sunday I shared some thoughts when walking with doubt (no matter how long or short the season).  Here is what I see from Thomas and his 7 day doubt account found in the Gospel of John.

Thomas remained in community – while he doubted

In verse 26 we read “A week later his [Jesus] disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them.”  This may seem small but it speaks volumes.  Thomas was with the disciples.  Evidently his doubt was not intimidating to his friends and family.  He was not shunned or separated from community but continued to operate within this gathering of the disciples.  The disciples did ask him to remain in the hallway – but, he was in the room.  I absolutely love this.  Doubt is not intimidating to the earliest followers of Jesus.  You see doubt mentioned in Matthew 28 as well of all things.  Disciples had gathered at Jesus ascension and many worshipped, but some doubted.

Something must also be said of Thomas himself.  He didn’t leave community because of his doubt.  He didn’t let it become an obstacle for himself.  He kept showing up.  Kept breaking bread.  He kept himself in community.

I see many a Christian who stands to learn something from Thomas.  Instead of letting doubt drag one away may the account of Thomas encourage you to stay and remain.  Equally so, may it encourage those of faith to embrace and be patient with others during their doubt.  We see lessons all the way around for those willing to see.  What a blessing this account of Thomas can be for the body of Christ.

Thomas remained devout – while he doubted

A brief historical study, as well as reading of the Book of Acts, will reveal the devotion of the disciples and their rhythms of worship.  Even before their encounters with Jesus they were devout in prayer, and other spiritual disciplines.  We have absolutely no reason to think otherwise of the disciples during Thomas week of doubt as well.  Simply put: Thomas was devout during his doubt.  Far too many remove themselves from the practices of prayer, Scriptures and worship when they are walking through doubt.  This is far too easy.  It is an unhelpful approach.  I encourage people to continue with their spiritual disciplines even with the doubt.  Why?  Well, doubt isn’t a label over our lives but rather a moment or a season.  There is no other area we would seek to throw off discipline simply because of convenience or we “felt like it.”

Several years ago, during a season of doubt in my own life I remained devout within the disciplines of faith.  I went to church.  I went to chapels at my college.  I read Scripture.  I prayed.  I didn’t feel much like doing any of them.  But, I remained.  One foot in front of the other.  May I encourage you to do the same.

We live in days where I believe that spiritual disciplines are critical.  Doubt is a real thing.  It is a feeling.  It is a thought.  It can wrap around us like a blanket on a cold day.  It can seep into every fiber of our being.  It can have feel like paralysis of the soul.  And yet, we don’t have to give it the reins of control of our present nor our future.  We can remain hopeful, focused, and disciplined.

Thomas was transformed by the presence and person of the Resurrected Jesus Christ

Thomas’ confession, “My Lord and my God!”  is the testimony of all who’ve encountered Jesus Christ.  He truly changes everything in our lives.  I cannot express enough how vital Thomas’ encounter with the Resurrected Christ was.  My prayer for everyone is that they would encounter and experience the living God.  Ephesians 3:16-19 which Paul penned is the beautiful encounter prayer he prayed for his flock in Ephesus.  Reason and logic are vital and lead us so far.  But, when we encounter the presence of God we are changed.  As Blaise Pascal would say, “The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing.”  Encountering Jesus does and will happen for every doubting heart.  But, as I mentioned above there are ways to walk with doubt.  Do not yield to your doubt, but let the doubt yield to your spiritual discipline(s).  God is at work.  He is on the move in ways you may not even realize yet.  He will find you.  He will lift you up.  He will lead your heart to the ways of life – the ways of His life (John 10:10).

 

Easter Sunday

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14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).  John 20:14-16

“Woman, why are you crying?”  The crucifixion was difficult enough to swallow.  The weight of it all still heavy on her heart.  And now, in an attempt to take care of his body knowing the smell of death well as she had been there when her brother died… she is now left heartbroken with flowers and perfume and oils.  The tomb is empty, and she is convinced: someone has stolen the body of Jesus.

Mary’s crying represents a disappointment and sadness within each of us.  The picture of Mary is a picture of humanity.  THE ACHE OF HUMANITY.  Now, it’s not merely a surface level let down but rather the ache of the human soul. We somehow feel let down.  We feel somehow the world is not quite as it should be. We sense within our soul that there must be something more.  We seek. We search.  We attempt to gain a foothold of understanding somewhere along the line of life.  And, somehow, we sense the letdown.

Mary had been let down by the principalities and powers of this world.  One of the trademarks of Mary Magdalene was her deliverance from 7 demons. 7 is the number of completions in Scripture – it is a picture of wholeness.  Her broken state had been made whole by Jesus.

We aren’t given specifics of her freedom from the evil spirits.  But, we are made aware that she was able to have built wealth though we know not how.  She must’ve been able to hide her brokenness well enough.  Hide the pain well enough.  Hide her inner ache well enough.  And, somehow after she was delivered from Jesus her wealth became a means to fund the ministry of this Rabbi Jesus and his disciples.

We know that she was bound by pain.  Aching for a freedom.  And, it was Jesus of Nazareth who set her free.  As only He can!

“Who is it you are looking for?”

This second question that is asked by the Gardener is also an appropriate question each one of us can ask ourselves: who is it we are looking for?  Blaise Pascal a philosopher from centuries ago said that within each of us is a “God shaped hole.”  He was well aware of the attempt of humanity to find solutions, find hope, seek salvation in the feeble knowledge it had.

Many of us have led lives that the subplot could be summarized as a pursuit to fill this hole in our hearts. Fame has destroyed many a celebrity. Wealth has consumed many a man. Power has crippled countless dynasties. Chasing of the wind is common place for our desperate lives.

Each of us at one time or another have found ourselves following the wrong leadership – leadership that leads to anxiety, fear and a driven-ness that can be exhausting.  If we are honest, we didn’t quite know who we were looking for. But Jesus knows what and who we need!

“Mary”  In one swoop Resurrection entered Mary’s story.  Only Jesus called her name like that.  He wasn’t the Gardener!  He was the Savior!  It wasn’t over.  The plan hadn’t failed.  The weight of her pain, the sting of her disappointment, the fear swirling her mind was all erased with one word: “Mary.”

In one word we are drawn to the reality of God seen in and through Jesus of Nazareth.  The God who didn’t despise humanity but drew near.  The God who didn’t place upon humanity the wages of death but alleviated them by bearing them Himself on the cross.  The One who entered our grief, entered our pain, entered into the darkness and drove it away.  Conquered the powers, principalities, and schemes of the evil one through the victory of the cross.  Incredible!

So will I by Hillsong United 

“And as you speak, A hundred billion failures disappear. You lost your life so I could find it here. If you left the grave behind you…So will I.”

And, here it is that Jesus looks at each of us and calls us by Name.  He knows full well the pain we carry, He knows full well the weight of our actions and our attempts to eliminate ourselves from the frailty of life and the sincere power of sin, and He doesn’t give us a formula He calls us by Name.  He reveals His love for us through identity.