Spiritual Intuition

How can we be sure that God--whom we have never seen, or touched, or heard--will take care of everything?

My smartphone has lots of functions I don’t use. Most of us don’t use the full capacity of our brains either. Similarly, we are equipped with spiritual intuition, even though most of us rarely use it. We are accustomed to making judgments about things and people based on sensory data and personal experience. We have honed these physical senses through daily usage. Can we also fine-tune our spiritual senses by continual practice? I believe so. We need the Spirit to open up our spiritual eyes and ears so that we may perceive beyond our physical senses. We can develop our spiritual senses by continually operating from this divine sphere of influence rather than from our default earthly perspectives.

Our capacity for spiritual intuition enables us to transcend beyond our limited human understanding and sense the Unexplainable, the Ungraspable, the Unfathomable.

Committed Relationships

“Open up before God, keep nothing back; he’ll do whatever needs to be done.” (Psalm 37:5 MSG)

Committed relationships involve love, trust, faithfulness, acceptance, and openness. When you commit to someone, you close yourself off to other options. This is why commitment feels risky. We wonder if we are making the right choice. What if there are better options out there?

When we commit to God, when we go all in--holding nothing back--it feels scary. We are letting go of ourselves, our personal convictions, our visions, our individualism, and our independence. We are relinquishing our illusions of self-sufficiency and our reliance on worldly options.

Can we commit to God exclusively? Can we trust Him to do whatever needs to be done?

Listening to Voices

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG)

When I am running outside in my neighborhood, I wear sunglasses and headphones. When I see someone I know, I take off my sunglasses and ear buds, even if it is just to exchange pleasantries.  I can see them just fine through my sunglasses. I can hear them if I turn my music off; I don’t have to take off my headphones completely. But I find it easier to connect with someone when they can see my eyes, and when they can tell that I am listening to them.  I think it is disrespectful to wear headphones while someone may be trying to communicate with you.  It’s a sign that you don’t want to engage or listen to those around you. When someone is wearing headphones, the message I receive is: Don’t bother speaking; I’m paying attention to something else.

When we pay attention to our own understanding, when we try to figure out everything on our own--we are essentially saying: God, don’t bother speaking; I’m paying attention to some other voices. Sometimes these voices are merely distracting; other times they are skewed messages that misdirect us. Listening to God’s voice requires us to shut off the other noises. It involves constant attentiveness and engagement. God’s Voice always speaks Truth. His intentions are good and pure.  He always directs us toward the right path.

Mind Storms

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you.” (Isaiah 26:3 NLT)

Have you ever had a bad dream from which you couldn’t wake up? Once you realize you are dreaming, you are more likely to be able to manage your thoughts. You can prod yourself into a semi-conscious state by reminding yourself that it is just a dream, and these thoughts are not real.  

During a mind storm, we are covered by dark clouds, whipped by our fears, and flooded by hopelessness. We can choose to stay exposed in this storm, or we can move to find shelter. Just like in a bad dream, once we realize that our thoughts are merely based on our current, limited perspective--we can prod ourselves into a state of higher consciousness.

God is the best shelter during every kind of storm. When we shift our focus to God, when we trust Him, we are lifted up into a state of perfect peace.  

Transparent Pain

Another morning of waiting for the sunrise. As I stare out into the dark sky, I notice the even darker clouds. All I can see are shadows. I see the outline of a rabbit stretching to gnaw a thorny rose bush. How do these little creatures make it through these harsh winters? I look away...partly in despair...partly in prayer.

The next time I look up, the sky is ablaze in a glorious shade of coral pink. I cannot take my eyes off of it. I don’t notice the mounds of snow in the foreground, or the shriveled vegetation, or that my circumstances have not changed.

I wonder if my experience of darkness has any value. Should I speak about the pain, or always stay positive? Should I only mention God’s glory?

God’s greatness becomes obvious when it shines through the dark clouds of suffering. Unless I share my struggles with pain, I cannot comfort; I cannot speak of hope; I cannot express God’s grace.

No-till Fields

Many farmers no longer plow their fields before planting. Special equipment is used to plant seeds directly into fields without turning over the soil. No-till farming is becoming more and more popular, because it decreases soil erosion and increases water retention while saving time and fuel. The main disadvantage of this method is that it uses more chemicals for weed control.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could also figure out a way to have undisturbed, no-till lives? Turmoil erodes self-confidence and saps energy.  We would prefer to grow without suffering. 

Yet, unplowed lives are easily taken over by weeds of worldly diversions. We try to promote growth through more and more artificial additives, but eventually realize it is fruitless.

“You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” (James 1:2-4 MSG)

Raised-bed Cultivation

“May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put together--spirit, soul, and body...”

(1 Thessalonians 5:23 MSG)

My husband and I are planning our vegetable garden for the spring. We are trying to decide between a raised-bed garden (topsoil is mounded up inside a frame) or just planting straight into the dirt in our backyard. We have tried both methods in previous years.

Planting straight into the ground requires less of an initial investment in new soil and materials for the frame. But once the plants start growing, weeds are much more prevalent. As you walk in between the rows to tend to the plants, the soil gets compacted as well. Raised beds require more work in the beginning. It seems like a waste to buy new topsoil when you have plenty of it in your backyard. But the plants seem to thrive better in raised beds--maybe because of better drainage and less interference from pre-existing  weeds and pests.

In our quest for physical, mental, and spiritual growth, many of us attempt to cultivate wholeness in earthly soil. We dig up a patch amidst our existing concerns and plant seeds. Yet, we notice that our efforts don’t yield much fruit. Worldly preoccupations compete with growth and wholeness. Sanctity is best cultivated in quality soil that is raised up and separated from daily worries. This detachment can sometimes be mistaken for indifference; in actuality, our concerns have merely shifted--to a higher plain.

What Matters?

“All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 2:21 NLT)

What matters to Christ?

God-Focus: Revealing the Father. Exploring God’s Truth. Expanding God’s sphere of influence. Living according to God’s intentions. Sensing God’s grace.

Love: God desires for us to have an intimate, experiential relationship with Him. Once we recognize God’s presence in others, we can extend this divine love to all God’s creation.

Trust: Faith is more than a belief in the existence of God. Trust is the realization of our own insufficiency, while confidently depending on God’s sufficiency.

Prayer is a shift in attention from ourselves to God. It allows us to sense what matters and provides us the grace and strength to live according to God’s intentions--which is our true purpose.

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” (Philippians 2:13 NLT)

Unconsciousness

“I have come as a light into this world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.” (John 12:46 NLT)

Imagery of light and darkness is used so often in the Bible, that I don’t even stop to think about it anymore. Light represents clarity, goodness, honesty, safety, and happiness, while darkness represents evil, sadness, confusion, danger, etc. It’s pretty straightforward...right?  

Night allows us to sleep, to rest from activity. Hormones released during sleep contribute to our growth and development. Winter brings a season of longer nights and shorter days. Land remains fallow. Productivity drops. We are reminded of our limitations and dependence.

Periods of darkness can lead to rest and internal growth. However, remaining in the dark too long can be harmful. Prolonged unconsciousness is equivalent to being in a coma.

A sense of God is like the first ray of light at dawn, or the first bud you notice in the spring. A gradual consciousness permeates your being. You grow to trust this intangible presence. You feel compelled to hang on to it,  even though you can’t grasp it. You welcome this light of consciousness, gathering and internalizing as much as possible--knowing that darkness will come around again.

Shades of Trust

“We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.” (1 John 4:16 NLT)

We have experienced God’s love. We can attest to its reliability and faithfulness. Thus, we should be able to put our trust in His love.

For the last 13 years, my family has lived in a house built by a certain builder. Our builder lives nearby, and we have become friends over the years. From our experience of living in our current house, we can attest to the workmanship of this builder. And since we have spent a lot of time around him, we can vouch for his character. If we were to ever build another house, we would put our trust in this builder. Our previous home was also solidly built. However, since we didn’t know that builder personally, we were not as confident in him.

Most of us have felt God’s love. Some of us are able to name the source of this goodness, while many don’t give it a second thought. Only a few of us maintain an intimate relationship with God. When we have experiential knowledge of God’s love and a personal relationship with Him, we are more likely to put our trust in Him.

Don't Veer for Fear

“Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly.” (1 Corinthians 13:13 MSG)

Those of us who live in rural areas are used to watching out for deer while we are driving. Some states post warning signs that say: “Don’t veer for deer.” Sudden changes may cause you to hit another moving vehicle which could cause even more damage. Since they travel in groups, even if you try to avoid one deer, you are likely to crash into one of its relatives. Even if a collision with a deer is unavoidable, don’t swerve. Instead, brake firmly, hold on to the steering wheel, stay in your lane, and bring your vehicle to a controlled stop.  

Similarly, when Fear looms in front of us, our first instinct is to swerve, to avoid confronting it.

Don’t Veer for Fear.  

Don’t react abruptly or make sudden changes. This may cause even more damage. Acknowledge the Fear. Stay alert and attentive for the relatives of fear--anxiety, worry, and despair. Brake firmly. Keep a firm grip on faith. Continue to trust God. Hope unswervingly. Stay on the course of Divine love.

On My Way

“Yes, I’m on my way!” (Revelation 22:7 MSG)

After a natural disaster, aid in the form of food, water, medicines, volunteers, and heavy machinery is sent to the affected areas. Even if these supplies are dispatched immediately, they might not be available to those in need due to logistical, political, and infrastructural issues. Food and water may get stuck in airports or stolen and sold on the black market. Medicines arrive before medical volunteers or vice versa. Heavy machinery is delivered, but no one knows how to operate it.

“But as for me, I am poor and needy; please hurry to my aid, O God. You are my helper and my savior; O LORD, do not delay.” (Psalm 70:5 NLT)

If you have called on the Lord for relief, but you haven’t received it yet--there are a few possibilities. Help is still on its way. Or, maybe the supplies have arrived, but it takes a while for you to unpack and use them.

Lord, come quickly to our aid. Provide us with what we need, and grant us the logistical support, strength, and wisdom to use what You have supplied.

Weathering Storms

Snowstorms can be scary. You are essentially stuck wherever you are. Hopefully you are home with your loved ones and not at work, school, an airport, or in a car. You have to make do with whatever food and drink you have. As long as you are healthy and the electricity and heat stay on, you can manage being snowed in for a few days.

“Sometimes you are in a cave, and no human action is able to get you out. There is something you can’t fix, can’t heal, or can’t escape, and all you can do is trust God. Finding ultimate refuge in God means you become so immersed in his presence, so convinced of his goodness, so devoted to his lordship that you find even the cave is a perfectly safe place to be because he is there with you.” (John Ortberg, If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat)

Trust is equivalent to seeking refuge. Is your safe place something other than God? Sometimes we construct inadequate shelters around our fears that allow us temporary comfort and security. It’s like being in a car during a storm--there is an illusion of control. It’s tempting to stock the car with essentials and drive away from the storm, rather than feeling stuck.

Being stuck can be therapeutic as long as we are immersed in God’s presence. When we are confident in God’s care and exist under his power and protection, we are safe. Even though we would never choose to be stuck in this cave, we can rest knowing that God is with us.

Entrust

“The believers there had entrusted them to the grace of God to do the work they had now completed.” (Acts 14:26 NLT)

“...launched by God’s grace and now safely home by God’s grace.” (Acts 14:26 MSG)

In the last Olympics, the runners on the U.S. relay team had trouble passing the batons. Unlike some other teams, who practice regularly together, the U.S. runners are often picked at the last minute before the relay race. Even though they are some of the fastest runners, they have not practiced passing the baton to each other.

Trust is difficult, especially if you don’t practice regularly. When you consistently practice handing circumstances over to God, when you become more familiar with His timing and His grip--then, you are able to trustingly let go and let God run with it.

Lord help me to trust YOU completely and have peace. I want to entrust everyone and everything into your care. You have taken care of all of us thus far. Even when we didn’t completely trust you...You forgave our lack of faith. Every day, I shall practice--handing over everything into your care. I will trust you to launch us at the right time, by Your Grace, and finish safely by Your Grace.

Eclipse

An eclipse is the temporary obscuration of light. During a lunar eclipse, the earth’s shadow obscures the reflection of sunlight that usually illuminates the moon. During a solar eclipse, the moon’s shadow blocks (or occults) the sun’s light. Solar eclipses are thus more accurately classified as occultations--when one object is hidden by another object that passes between it and the observer.

We commonly use the term ‘occult’ to describe powers of darkness and paranormal activities. However, we fail to notice so many shadows that regularly block Divine Light in our lives. We routinely allow human experiences to eclipse the Spiritual light within us.

“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” (Pierre Teilhard de Chardin)

The realization that we are actually spiritual beings having temporary human experiences is enlightening.  Yet, the human experience is essential--for it is the only way to process, access, and express our spiritual nature.

Full Expression

“May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 3:5 NLT)

God is part of us and we are part of God. We must be led to a full understanding of our oneness with God before we can fully express His love.

We were created as an expression of God. Yet, self-will disconnected us and resulted in separation. There are many barriers that prevent us from recognizing God’s presence within us. Christ leads us back to oneness and wholeness. However, we have to tear down the barrier of self-will before God’s light can shine through. This work is too difficult for us to do alone. We need patient endurance--which is a gift of the Holy Spirit.  Then, we can fully express the Divine Love within us.  

Lord, may we continually turn and focus on You. Remove all barriers that prevent us from recognizing Your personal presence. Enter our lives and make us brighter.  

Myopic Love

“This is what the Lord says: ‘I remember how eager you were to please me as a young bride long ago, how you loved me and followed me even through the barren wilderness.” (Jeremiah 2:2 NLT)

I remember being a young bride. My life was consumed by my husband. If he thought something was a good idea, I went along with it. We moved seven times in the first 11 years. We traveled a lot, even though we didn’t have much money. I was willing to go out of my comfort zone, because I was eager to please him.  Even now, after 24 years of marriage, I would follow him anywhere. However, now I speak up when I have concerns about his ideas. In the early years, my sphere of vision was almost completely filled with my husband. Now, I am not as myopic--I look at other things in the periphery as well.

Could I ever love God with such a narrow, focused attention? Will my love eclipse all other concerns? Will I be able to follow him unquestioningly out of my comfort zone? Can I become so consumed by Him, so eager to please Him, that I am willing to go wherever He leads, do whatever He wants, and become the person He intends me to be?

Digging

“The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive.” ( Proverbs 20:27 NLT)

Humans have been digging for valuables since the dawn of civilization. We dig for water, minerals, gems, petroleum, and natural gas. Most of us know it is useless to just go into our backyards with a pickaxe and shovel and dig in random places. We have invented instruments to determine where to dig and tools to efficiently penetrate layers of earth.

Discovering valuables such as Truth, Meaning, Purpose, and Goodness require some excavation as well. Yet, randomly digging using our own wisdom and strength is inefficient and unproductive. It is best to expend energy where we are divinely directed. The Holy Spirit penetrates our subconscious minds, bypassing any and all impenetrable layers, until what is truly valuable is revealed.

Lord, may all our efforts be directed by Your light and powered by Your might. Holy Spirit, take over.

Billionaire

Recently, I heard a TV celebrity wishing to have a billion dollars.  His current net worth is only 85 million.

Wealth is associated with power, influence, control, success, importance, security, and prestige. So it is natural for humans to assume that more wealth brings more happiness.

Our ambitions might be different. We might wish for more health, beauty, love, financial security, peace--for ourselves and our loved ones. We eat right and exercise; we moisturize our skin and drink filtered water; we buy homes in safe neighborhoods and send our kids to good schools; we read books on marriage and parenting; we invest in businesses; we work hard for promotions; we save for retirement--all of these actions are seen as acceptable, because we are merely being good stewards of the opportunities we have been given. We might even justify our motives as altruistic since we are doing all this for the welfare of others.

“We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God’s purpose prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21 MSG)

Most of our ambitions are motivated by a desire to retain control of our lives. We strategize and work hard to achieve self-sufficiency. We might become billionaires, look youthful and successful, have long, healthy, productive lives, and be honored by everyone. However, unless our plans are aligned with God’s purpose, they all just amount to busywork that has no lasting value.

Caritas

Deus caritas est. (1 John 4:8 Latin Vulgate)

God is love.

Caritas--divine love infused into the will--not an emotion. Divine Love for God and for man--self and others. (Thomas Aquinas)

God’s love for us is unquestionable and incorruptible. However, how can humans reciprocate this Caritas?

I imagine it is similar to a parent teaching a child how to sing, dance, or play an instrument. My husband is a wonderful musician. When our son was younger, my husband patiently taught him how to play guitar. At first, our son’s attempts were merely goofy imitations. After a few years of practice, my son started to despair--realizing how inferior he was compared to his dad. Yet, his dad continued to encourage him--telling him: “I know you have it in you.” (My husband could sense that the musicality that was within him was also in our son.) So, they continued like this for years--Dad teaching and encouraging, Son imitating, progressing, regressing, despairing, practicing, developing his own techniques--until finally, our son could fully express what was in him all along.

So, don’t despair. We may not be able to reciprocate Divine Love...yet. But our Father knows that the same Caritas that is in HIM is also in us. As we follow, obey, imitate, and practice--we will get better and better at expressing this Divine Love.