Mindful Rest

“As we enter into God’s faith-rest life we cease from our own works.” (Hebrews 4:10 TPT)

Amaryllis bulbs go through periods of dormancy between blooms. Fertilizing a bulb when it should be resting can be harmful to the plant. Stimulating new growth during hibernation leads to pale, limp leaves and an exhausted bulb. But you can’t completely neglect an amaryllis when it is  between blooming periods. The long leaves soak up as much energy as they can from sunlight before they return to dormancy. 

Whether we acknowledge it or not, each of us has phases of growth and dormancy. Rest is vital for both our bodies and minds. While it may be fun to pursue stimulating amusements during our downtime, this is not revitalizing. We must learn to distinguish between behaviors that drain us and practices that recharge us. Signs of unrest include continual striving, disruption, commotion, and volatility. 

As we enter into God’s faith-rest life, we cease from our own works. We let go of our desire for self-sufficiency. We recognize that busyness and restlessness are not always productive. We quit defining ourselves by our blooms of achievements. Divine rest is tranquil and rejuvenating. We are saturated in forgiveness, acceptance, and grace. We learn to absorb God’s light, soaking up as much energy as we can. Meanwhile, our roots reach deep into our consciousness, resting in communion with our Spirit. 

Optimal Pressure

“We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 TPT)

Regular pressure cookers can be a quick and efficient tool to cook dried beans. However, they have been known to explode when used improperly. An electric pressure cooker is much safer. They have microprocessors and sensors that take the guesswork out of the process. The cooker’s pressure and temperature are automatically regulated based on the program selected. The heating element constantly maintains a stable level of pressure, creating a positive feedback loop that results in optimal cooking conditions. Built-in safety features will cut off power to the heating element if unsafe conditions are detected. 

Maintaining ideal levels of pressure can lead to increased productivity in all areas of life. According to the Yerkes-Dodson Law, moderate amounts of stress can lead to optimal performance. For example, some nervousness may help you focus on an exam, but too much anxiety can be overwhelming. Too little excitement leads to boredom and disengagement, and too much leads to destruction. 

Times of tribulation are a normal part of every human life. BUT GOD screens and filters the severity, nature, and timing of every trial. He senses and regulates every circumstance. We don’t have to figure out everything on our own. Each challenge is an opportunity to trust Him more, for, along with every trial, God provides a safety valve that ensures optimal pressure and performance. When anxiety becomes overwhelming, release your concerns to the Lord and rely on Him confidently. 

An Uncontrolling God

“We know that in everything God works for good, with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 RSV)

Have you ever wondered why some prayers are answered miraculously while others are not? If God is in complete control, why would He allow innocent beings to suffer? Is grace arbitrary? Why does God’s love seem inconsistent? 

God is powerful, but He is not controlling. God works for good, with those who love Him, with those who follow His purpose. God wants our cooperation. We are the body, the physical manifestation of the Spirit. Our arms, legs, voices, and minds are essential to executing God’s will. When we choose to pursue other interests, when we opt out of participating with God, things go awry. 

Every living thing is connected, and our behaviors and choices have far-reaching ramifications beyond our comprehension. Generations to come will reap both the good and the bad of our actions. God cannot be responsible for our behavior or the indirect consequences of our choices. It is in His nature to love relentlessly, without coercion.  We have an uncontrolling God who needs our cooperation. We know that in everything God works for good, with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.

 

Release

“A right time to hold on and another to let go.” (Ecclesiastes 3:6 MSG)

Our dog has had some obedience training. He knows how to sit, stay, settle down, come when called, roll over, etc.  He has yet to master the ‘release’ command. This is when a dog gives up whatever is in his mouth when told to do so. Every day, I practice with my dog. I give him something he wants. He picks it up with his mouth. Then I say ‘release’--and if he drops it, I give him a treat. Animals are reluctant to let go of what they want--whether it is a dead frog on the road or a favorite shoe in the hallway. There are times when you need to get something away from a dog, because it may be harmful if ingested. Also, you don’t want your pet to chew up something that is valuable. Thus, the ‘release’ command can be useful. 

Humans can also benefit from learning when to hold on and when to let go.  Our instincts tell us to grasp tightly to our attachments. We are reluctant to relinquish our possessions, relationships, or viewpoints. There are times when God commands us to release things into His hands. He knows when it is harmful for us to hold on to something. Letting go requires faith and repeated practice. Every day, I hand over concerns, fears, irritations, questions, hopes, desires, and challenges to God. I wait for my treat of peace. 

Lord, I trust You. I know You have good intentions for me. You know things that I don’t. You are much more capable than I ever could be. Teach me when to hold on and when to let go. I release everything into Your hands. 

 

Growing Pains

“He joins and holds together the whole body with its ligaments providing the support needed so each part works to its proper design to form a healthy, growing, and mature body that builds itself up in love.” (Ephesians 4:16 VOICE)

Exercise builds muscle. The process of muscle growth is intricate. Resistance training leads to micro tears in muscle fibers. This damage activates a biochemical reaction that produces new cells which repair tissue and produce new muscle proteins. Muscle has to be broken down in order to be built up stronger. 

All seasons of growth--whether physical, mental, social, or spiritual--come with pain, damage, exhaustion, and recovery. The fibers of our being get torn down, repaired, and strengthened. The process can be grueling. BUT God remains with us through it all. He nurtures us and heals us through the trauma. Even when we feel like we are falling apart, He holds us together. He provides us the needed support so that each part works to its proper design. He builds us up in love to be healthy, growing, and mature.

 

Advance Team

“You know every step I will take before my journey even begins. You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way, and in kindness you follow behind me to spare me from the harm of my past.” (Psalm 139:5 TPT)

Politicians usually have an ‘advance team’ that goes ahead of them to each location they are about to visit. This ensures that everything is prepared before the politician arrives--security, publicity, scheduling, etc. Politicians are also known to have ‘fixers’ who clean up their mistakes and manage crises. These advisors guide and protect their clients. They stay behind the scenes, but they direct every move. 

Regular folks do not have these luxuries. We have to plan our own journeys, even when we don’t know what to expect. If we make mistakes, we have to clean up the mishaps ourselves. No wonder we are tentative about letting go of our past and moving forward!

What if we believed in a God who knew every step before we did? 

Scripture assures us that we have a God who goes into our future to prepare the way, who follows behind us and spares us from the harm of the past. The Lord of hosts is our advance team and our crisis manager. He protects us on all sides. We must trust this God to guide us--to direct our every move. Only then will we be able to confidently let go of all that holds us back and boldly move forward in wonder and strength!

With your hand of love upon my life, you impart a blessing to me. This is just too wonderful, deep, and incomprehensible! Your understanding of me brings me wonder and strength. (Psalm 139:5-6 TPT)

Incomplete Understanding

“We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete.” (1 Corinthians 13:8-10 MSG)

When watching foreign-language movies with English subtitles, my depth of understanding varies. My comprehension is directly proportional to my familiarity with the culture. For example, I may understand eighty percent of the plot in a Hindi movie, even though I do not speak the language. I have a passable understanding of the Indian culture since it is part of my ancestral heritage. However, I find it difficult to understand many of the jokes and nuanced expressions. Even though I cannot enjoy Hindi movies to the same extent as someone who is raised in that culture, I still watch them. There is an unexplainable curiosity within me to know more about my ethnic background. As I pursue my fascination, I am fully aware that my understanding will always be incomplete. 

Similarly, we are built with an innate desire to know ourselves and God intimately.  Self-awareness and spiritual understanding seem to be linked. Our curiosity about our identity and purpose often leads us to seek greater understanding. Yet, even a lifetime is not enough to plumb the mysteries of the soul or the depths of the Divine. Thus, we attempt to grasp at ephemeral truths. We share our partial concepts with each other. We try to shape our lives according to our beliefs. However, we must remember that we know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. 

 

To Know and Be Known

“Lord, you know everything there is to know about me. You perceive every movement of my heart and soul, and you understand my every thought before it even enters my mind. You are so intimately aware of me, Lord. You read my heart like an open book and you know all the words I’m about to speak before I even start a sentence!” (Psalm 139:1-4 TPT)

Have you ever played a game like Taboo where teams guess a phrase based on descriptive words spoken by one member?  You can always tell how well people know each other by the way they give clues and the way their partners answer.  Those who are used to intimate communication with each other can come up with references that seem odd to strangers, but make perfect sense to those who know them. 

The desire to know and be known intimately is built into all humans. This is what we seek in our relatives, our spouses, and our friends. Unfortunately, most of us are not tuned in to ourselves or others. Lacking self-awareness, we project false images. We give misleading clues and our partners respond from their own delusory frames of reference. How can we be understood and accepted for who we really are if we insist on being disingenuous? How can we know another person if we fail to pay attention? 

Fortunately, we have a God who understands each of us intimately. He perceives every thought before it enters our mind. He can read us like an open book. He can guess the words before we speak. He cuts through all the pretense, insecurity, and shallowness. He knows us better than we know ourselves. We will never be able to comprehend God in the same way, but we can pay attention. God created us for an intimate relationship. He wants us to seek Him. He wants to be found. He wants to be known. 

A God Who Is Present

“The Lord says, ‘I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me.’” (Isaiah 65:1 NLT)

One of my good friends called me out on a bad habit that I have: I do not turn my phone off when I am interacting with someone. Instead, I tend to check my phone whenever there is a notification or a lull in the conversation. I disengage from the current interaction and divert my attention elsewhere. I justify this practice by claiming it might be an emergency, which is rarely the case.  I have no problem putting my phone on the ‘do not disturb’ setting while I sleep or when doing something that I deem important.  Thus, I know deep within me that this is a weakness I need to overcome.

My addiction to distractions extends into my spiritual life. The Lord is always present. He makes Himself available. He is ready to respond whenever I reach out to Him. Yet, my mind wanders. I allow my attention to be diverted. I crave the immediate gratification of superficial novelties over that which is deeply meaningful. This reveals my true values. In my insistence to do things my own way, I have deviated from the path.  I need to turn around and change course. 

Lord, thank you for always being available. You are always near, ready to respond, constantly reaching out. Forgive me for prioritizing distractions above You. Teach me to be present. Help me to put on the mind of Christ.

Growing Gratitiude

“Never let evil get the best of you; instead, overpower evil with the good.” (Romans 12:21 VOICE)

A few months ago, in the middle of the pandemic, our region experienced a natural disaster. A strong storm wiped out power and cell phone towers. Homes and streets were damaged. Food, water, and fuel were scarce for weeks. During this overwhelming tragedy, the community came up with ways to overcome suffering with acts of kindness. People expressed gratitude for whatever little they had and shared their resources--whether it was food, shelter, tools, information, electricity, generators, abilities, time, or physical strength.

Social generosity creates a ripple effect. Communal giving can be uplifting to participants and recipients. It reminds each of us to be grateful for what we have and encourages us to focus on something other than our own pain. Our individual offerings might seem insignificant, but gathered together, we can make a difference. Gratitude fuels generosity, allowing goodness to  grow exponentially. 

“Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.” (Maya Angelou)

Get Up

“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’" (John 5:8 NIV)

When I am uncertain, hopeless, sad, or anxious, I tend to feel paralyzed. I cannot muster the motivation to do much of anything. My mind and my body feel stuck. I don’t know what to do next. I don’t know what the future holds. I just want to give up. 

Then, I remind myself of the simple command that Jesus gave to the paralytic: “Get Up!” 

Get up out of your chair.

Get up out of despair. 

Get up out of your funk. 

Get Up! 

Stir, stretch, clear off the cobwebs. The first step will be uncomfortable. However, it is the only way to get out of the ditch of self-pity. Powerlessness can feel paralyzing. You may not have control over much, but you can get up. You can pick up your mat of helplessness. You can take one step...and then the next. Overcoming inertia allows you to get started. In time, you will develop motivation and momentum. 

 

Word into Action

“Put the word into action. If you think hearing is what matters most, you are going to find you have been deceived.” (James 1:22 VOICE)

 A politician from Florida is known for frequently tweeting scripture verses. A recent response from one of his followers garnered much attention: 

“I challenge you to list three ACTIONS you have taken each day that are actually Christ-like.” (Asha Rangappa) 

This tweet gave me pause. I, too, like quoting scripture verses. I find them inspiring, comforting, and empowering. It is also comparatively painless. It takes way more thought and effort to actually take actions that are Christ-like. I have decided to incorporate the above challenge into my evening meditation. Before I drift off to sleep, I ask myself: “What actions have I taken today that are actually Christ-like?”

What kind of actions did Jesus take during His lifetime? He trusted God. He prayed. He thanked God for everything. He listened. He noticed. He showed interest in those who were considered outcasts. He fed the hungry, spoke up against religious hypocrisy, and healed the sick. He was comforting, compassionate, and forgiving. He revealed Truth. He taught those who wanted to learn. Jesus made God accessible to everyone.  

I challenge you to join me--to intentionally take at least one action each day that is actually Christ-like.

Noticing the Needs of Others

“For when you saw me hungry, you fed me. When you found me thirsty, you gave me something to drink.” (Matthew 25:35 TPT)

How does one know whether someone else is hungry or thirsty? I can’t even tell the difference between hunger and thirst in my own body. I often eat when I am dehydrated and drink when I am undernourished. 

It’s hard enough for us to identify our own needs and articulate them. It’s even more of a challenge to notice the needs of those around us. How often is a person willing to admit that he is hungry, thirsty, lonely, or helpless? Neediness is seen as weakness that must be overcome--preferably independently and privately so as not to make others uncomfortable. We learn to suffer alone and allow others to do so as well. 

It’s difficult to rescue a drowning victim when she is pretending to be fine. It is also important to be looking in the right direction consistently for a lifeguard to notice a person who is drowning. It takes courage to express vulnerability. When we share our emotions, others are more open to do the same. Most people are unable to clearly state exactly what they need. This makes it harder to know how to support them. Self-awareness and honest communication are vital. Attentiveness and solidarity are also essential. 

Identify Your Need

“Be direct. Ask for what you need.” (Matthew 7:7 MSG)

I have difficulty identifying and articulating my needs. I rarely ask for what I want--it feels selfish and needy. Instead, I like to pretend that I am completely self-sufficient. I want to be the helper, not the one in need of help. 

Other than the basic survival essentials that are common to all human beings, I am not sure what I need or want. I know some things bring me comfort while other things make me feel agitated. I wish for more of the former and less of the latter. Yet, I recognize that this is not the same as a need. Over the years, I have discovered some core necessities: meaning, purpose, truth, sincerity, authentic expression, respect, security, stability, reliability, and loyalty are a few of them.  

Identifying our personal needs is the first step. Articulating those needs requires us to be vulnerable. Asking anything for ourselves feels selfish and demanding. In order to mitigate our mortification, we drop indirect hints and hope others figure out what we want. We extend this practice into our communication with God. We pray for others but rarely for ourselves. Learning to be direct and asking for our needs is essential to having a true relationship. 

Lord, please help me clarify my needs. I ask for meaning, purpose, security, stability, and reliability. I seek sincerity, loyalty, and authentic expression in all my relationships. I shall insistently knock on Your door until you meet my needs. 

 

There is More

 

 “We don’t focus our attention on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but the unseen realm is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 TPT)

The Earth’s crust is the thin, outer layer on which we live. It accounts for less than 1% of the thickness of our planet. The interior of the Earth is very deep. Much of what we know about geology is limited to the parts that are accessible to humans. Our current information about the density of our planet comes from studying earthquakes, surface minerals, gravity, magnetic fields, and the flow of heat from inside the Earth. Humans are naturally more curious about the visible, even when it can only be seen through telescopes. Thus, we are eager to learn more about stars and galaxies light years away. We rarely think about the unknown parts at the core of our existence. 

Similarly, we spend most of our waking hours focusing on the visible world around us. We work, play, eat, drink, buy, sell, amass, and amuse ourselves. The cycle of production and consumption enslaves us. We seek affirmation of our worth from the community by following prescribed rules of behavior and comparing ourselves with others. We cannot imagine that there could be more to life than these tangible comforts. 

The Kingdom of God is much thicker than what is visible and tangible. There is more to life than the highs and lows of human experience. Heaven is not ‘out there’ beyond the stars. God dwells deep within the core of existence. It is good to focus our attention on the unseeable realms. We may never comprehend more than a miniscule part of all there is to know about God. Yet, it is good to acknowledge the depth and width and volume and density of the Almighty. 

 

Praying with Confidence

"We live in the bold confidence that God hears our voices when we ask for things that fit His plan." (1 John 5:14 VOICE) 

The above verse is a bit difficult for me to digest. If our prayers are not answered--is it because we did not ask with bold confidence? Or is it because they did not fit God’s plan? 

Several years ago, a good friend was diagnosed with cancer. She was much loved by everyone that knew her. We all prayed vigilantly for her healing. Although she received good medical care and spiritual ministry, she died within a few years. Currently, I have another friend who is terminally ill. His faith is an example to many. There is a dedicated group of people praying for him. My prayers for him are neither bold nor confident. They are submissive. I bring my concerns to the Lord. I lay them down. I pray: Thy will be done. 

Prayer is not meant to influence God to change His plan, but to align our minds to His will. Dearly-held beliefs may be dislocated; precious plans may be knocked down.  This process of melting and molding can be painfully wrenching. The powerlessness of surrender is hard to accept. 

Sometimes when I can’t comprehend a concept, I rearrange it in my head to see if I can gain some perspective. Like jigsaw puzzle pieces, I rotate and move them around until I suddenly see how things fit into the larger picture. Repositioning and paraphrasing the words in 1 John 5:14 helped me understand this verse better: It takes bold confidence to submit our concerns completely into God’s care. This is not self-confidence, but trust that stems from an intimate connection with God.  When we commit to God’s will, we start asking for things that fit His plan. And then, since we are aligned with God’s purpose, we can live with assurance that God hears our voice.

The Mystery of Peace

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

Like most young animals, my puppy is full of energy. He zooms around, jumps up and down, and is easily distractible. I am in the process of training our puppy to ‘settle’ down in my presence. Every morning, I have him sit on his bed for ten minutes. I will keep feeding him food every few minutes as an incentive. He has learned to remain still on his bed and watch my movements. Even if I leave the room, he knows it is just a matter of time before I come back and give him a treat. The rewards are part of the training, but the end purpose is to teach him calming behavior. I imagine the dog thinks of this as a transactional arrangement. He does what I want, and he gets what he wants. In reality, the whole exercise is meant for the dog’s benefit. 

Most mornings, I try to settle down in God’s presence. This quiet time is set aside for prayer, study, and contemplation. I often get insights that I use in my writing. By consecrating my time and attention, I may be doing God’s will, but it benefits me more than Him. The rewards are part of the training but not the end purpose. I am learning calm and trust.  As I fix my thoughts on God, I begin to understand the mystery of perfect peace. 

Odds and Ends

“Now go back and gather up the pieces left over so that nothing will be wasted.” (John 6:12 TPT)

Every few months, I will go through my house and get rid of stuff I don’t need. I set up two bags--one for donations and another for trash. I go from room to room, vigorously throwing things into bags: extra comforters, sheets, frisbees, clothes, decorative items, leftover yarn, craft supplies, old shower curtains, shoes, coats, pots, pans, water bottles, etc. If I spend too much time thinking about it, I won’t let go. Once I finish this cleaning purge, I feel better. However, there is an unfortunate side-effect to this process. There have been times that I needed an extra comforter or a frisbee or some leftover yarn. Just because I can’t think of a use for something at one moment does not mean it might not come in handy later.

I have had my share of experiences that seemed to have no particular significance at the time: strained relationships, broken promises, major mistakes, minor disappointments, stupid dead ends. I am eager to discard even the memories of these scraps of life. Yet, these odds and ends have value. I have learned to go back and gather up the leftover pieces, even when I don’t know what to do with them. The crumbs and crusts might come in handy someday.  Every experience, good or bad, important or silly, may be significant even though we cannot recognize it at the time. 

 

Fragmented Faith

“May you never reject me! May you never take from me your sacred Spirit!” (Psalm 51:11 TPT)

I started this blog on January 1st, 2012. For the last nine years, I have been sharing my thoughts through this medium. Even though sorting through my disordered thoughts in public has been uncomfortable, I have continued the practice for several reasons. Writing out my thoughts helps me process. Consistently posting my ruminations keeps me disciplined. I am not sure if my writing has improved over the years, but the nooks and corners of my mind have fewer cobwebs. 

My attempts at making sense of the intricacies of life are often messy. I am unable to come up with neat solutions to complex problems in a few paragraphs. I often feel like I am trying to put a pretty bow on a package, but my ribbon is too short. My fragments of faith are insufficient to wrap around the immensity of understanding God. Yet, I gather up the bits and pieces--a musing here, an insight there. I put my sloppily wrapped presents out there. I share my vulnerability in the hopes of helping someone else out there. 

Lord, bridge the gap in my fragmented faith. Help me to grow in wisdom and understanding. I am grateful for Your continual supply of teaching. If and when You want me to stop this project, let me know clearly. Keep me secure in Your presence. May you never reject me! May you never take from me your sacred Spirit!