The Burden of Worldliness

“The world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave.” (1 John 2:16-17 NLT)

 

In our town, there is a consignment store called Stuff Etc.  People take bags of unwanted clothes, accessories, and household items to this store. Most of the ‘stuff’ was originally bought with anticipation and craving, but by the time it is dropped off, its value to the owner has faded. A few minutes’ drive from the consignment store are long rows of storage units. People rent these garages to store things they no longer want but are unwilling to relinquish. If you drive a few minutes south of town, there is a huge junkyard full of old cars. At some point, these were highly prized possessions that represented novel experiences, luxury, comfort, achievement, and status.  Now these vehicles are part of a scrap pile. 

 

Worldliness is a wasteland in the making. It pulls us down into the muck. Like pigs in mud, we spend our lives wallowing in materialism and indulging in sloppy hedonism. The craving for physical pleasure, for everything we see, for the pride in our achievements and possessions, is insatiable and unfulfilling. It is only a matter of time before the latest fashions become outdated, our possessions become burdens, our dream cars become scrap, and our amusements become passè. There is so much more to living than the temporary highs offered by worldly cravings. Unfortunately, most of us only realize this in hindsight. 

Commitments

“Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.” (Proverbs 16:3 NLT) 

 

I find that commitments are easier to keep when I have accountability. The first step of any intention is to entrust everything to God. I ask for wisdom, direction, motivation, and adaptability. By putting the Lord in charge, my burden is lightened. Then, I recruit at least one human to check in with me periodically and help me stay on track. Writing down my goals is another way I remain dedicated. 

 

Five months ago, I started thinking about running another marathon. Due to the pandemic, I didn’t know if any scheduled races would actually take place. All of the races I had signed up for in the past year have been run virtually. A virtual race is where you run by yourself in a location of your choice and submit your distance and times through a GPS device. Without the cheering crowds and camaraderie of other runners, a virtual marathon is even more monotonous and grueling than an in-person race. 

 

Since it takes several months to train for such a long distance, I had to make a decision without knowing the outcome. I committed my plans to the Lord. I asked for accountability from a few people. My husband agreed to run with me. We signed up for a race and paid the registration fees. I wrote down a detailed plan. For the last twenty weeks, we have been training intensely toward this goal. Due to the recent surge in Covid infections, we have had to make a difficult decision. We have opted to run this marathon as a virtual race. 

 

Now it may seem like my plans fell through, even though I committed everything to the Lord. Although I am disappointed in the way things turned out, I am at peace. By handing everything over to God, including the outcome, I was free to focus my energy on what I had to do. I reaped all the benefits of training for the last five months. My legs are muscular. My lungs are powerful. My heart is healthy. My mind is resilient. Most of all, my confidence in God is strong. 

Blessed Thoughts

“May the LORD bless you and take care of you; 

May the LORD be kind and gracious to you; 

May the LORD look on you with favor and give you peace. 

And the LORD said, ‘If they pronounce my name as a blessing upon the people of Israel, I will bless them.’” (Numbers 6:24-27 GNT)

 

The practice of saying ‘God bless you’ when someone sneezes originated during the bubonic plague. Sneezing was one of the symptoms of the disease. The practice was started by Pope Gregory in the sixth century. Centuries later, we reflexively bless complete strangers when we hear a sneeze. And the sneezer will respond ‘thank you’ without further thought. 

 

The current pandemic has prompted me to say blessings over people who express any sign of distress. When I hear from those who are unwell, I immediately pray for them. I do this silently, because most people seem defensive about their need for Divine help. Their immediate response is to explain that they do not have Covid and how their symptoms are related to some other issue. Thus, I keep these blessed thoughts to myself and pray secretly. I am counting on God’s promise that blessing others in His name has power, even when it is inaudible. I am hoping they sense God’s goodness, healing, and peace. 

 

May the Lord bless you, take care of you.

May the Lord be kind and gracious to you. 

May the Lord look on you with favor and give you peace. 

Holy Simplicity

“During the entire time that they are dedicated to the LORD as Nazirites, they will be holy.” (Numbers 6:5 GWT)

The Bible describes Nazarites as those who take a vow for a certain period of time. Nazarites consecrated their lives to God. They embraced austerity as a way to holiness. They chose to be set apart. Their unconventional lifestyles reflected their values. They pursued purity, simplicity, and sanctity. 

Early Christian communities practiced asceticism in their pursuit of spiritual goals. They moved to the deserts and abstained from sensual pleasures. Some of them sold their possessions and gave everything to the poor so that they could follow Jesus unencumbered. 

Followers of Christ are directed to be holy. A consecrated life is steeped in discipline, dedication, and devotion. The pursuit of pleasure, power, and wealth might be the aspiration for most, but it is antithetical to the teachings of Christ. Simplicity paves the way to sanctity. 

Night Vigils

“Be still upon your bed and search your heart before him. Pause in his presence.” (Psalm 4:4 TPT)

Do you find yourself getting drowsy while praying? Do not fret. The Spirit of God can commune with us even when we are unconscious. Unburden your cares and stress. Relax in His presence. Invite  the Lord to cleanse your heart and fill your mind with peace.

Do you find yourself unable to sleep in the middle of the night? Do not fret. The Spirit of God is always waiting, especially for us insomniacs. Be still upon your bed and search your heart before the Lord. Pause in His presence. Keep the night vigil. Lift up all concerns and thoughts to God. Pray for every person that comes to mind. Ask for directions and clarity. Give thanks for every blessing. Wait for the dawn. 

Prayerful Writing

“Like a river bursting its banks, I’m overflowing with words, spilling out into this sacred story.” (Psalm 45:1 TPT)

When I was a child, I was taught to say my prayers out loud. By the time I was a teen, I switched to praying silently.  It wasn’t until adulthood that I discovered the power of praying through writing. 

Like a torrential river, my mind is always overflowing with thoughts and words. Writing creates channels of expression and understanding. It calms my mind, turning into a peaceful stream. 

Prayerful writing allows me to gather up the unruly impressions that run wild like horses through my head. Arranging these abstractions into sentences feels like harnessing all these horses and hitching them to a chariot. It gives power and direction to my prayer life. My communication with God becomes tangible, tethered, substantive, intentional, and grounded. 

Prayer Is Awareness

“Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it!” (Genesis 28:16 NLT)

Knowing and awareness are not the same.

How often do you think about the air that surrounds you? You know that it is there, but you are not consciously aware of it most of the time. Do you pay attention to your breathing? Whether you are awake or asleep, your lungs inhale and exhale continuously. An average person takes over 20,000 breaths a day. It happens in the background while you go about your business. You know that respiration is essential to life, but it happens unconsciously. When are you most likely to notice air and your need for it? If there is smoke, or you are drowning, or if your airway is obstructed--you suddenly become hypervigilant. You do not become aware of air until you are desperate. 

God’s presence is around you and within you. Perhaps you have always known this, but you have not been consciously aware. You go about your business, heedless of God’s constancy. Until something goes wrong. Then, in your desperation, you gasp for God. 

Prayer is paying attention to God’s presence. This goes beyond an intellectual knowing of religious dogma or doctrine. It is more than words, rituals, and tradition. It is focused awareness of all the ways God is working within you and around you all the time. 

Prayer is awareness of God 

Inhalation of the Spirit 

Exhalation of trust

Conscious absorption in gratitude  

Saturation in Grace. 

Gradual Training

“Demonstrate Your ways, O Eternal One. Teach me to understand so I can follow. Ease me down the path of Your truth. Feed me because You are the True God who has saved me. I wait all day long, hoping, trusting in You.” (Psalm 25:4-5 VOICE)

Dog training requires a lot of time and patience. It has taken me a whole year to train my dog to ‘settle’ or sit calmly in one spot. First, I would sit next to him and feed him little treats every time he remained still. After a few months of this, I would walk a few steps and come back to feed him.  Now, I can actually walk away for a few minutes. As long as he can still see me, the dog will remain still. 

Similarly, training my spirit to ‘settle’ has taken some time and patience. I depend on the Lord to show me, teach me, feed me, and ease me down the path of Truth. It has been a gradual learning process. At first, I could only focus for a few seconds before I got distracted. I would need frequent rewards to remain motivated. It took some practice, but I have learned to remain still in God’s presence. I wait as long as it takes, hoping, trusting in God. 

How to Deal with Bullies

“Get rid of a conceited person, and then there will be no more arguments, quarreling, or name-calling.”  (Proverbs 22:10 GNT)

When I was in high school, there were two girls who bullied me. They teased and taunted me whenever they had a chance. I didn’t know what to do, so I just tried to hide from them. I wondered what they got out of bullying me. If I had known what they wanted, I would have given it to them. I just wanted them to get off my back. I didn’t stand up to them. I didn’t fight back. Instead, I put up with the torment until they moved on to other targets. 

I wish I had known then what I know now. 

Bullies are basically extortionists who want to feel powerful and superior. You can identify them by their conceit, insults, arguments, and animosity toward others. First, they just push a few buttons to see how you react. They make condescending remarks and scoff at your ideas. If you shrug this off, it emboldens them. They will demand that you do things their way. If you go ahead and do their bidding, hoping that will satisfy them, you are mistaken. Giving in to their manipulation spurs them on further. You have to stand your ground. Surrendering to their whims fuels their sense of dominance over you. Get away from bullies if you can. If that is not possible, be resolute in your principles. Do not be ambivalent or deferential. Stand firm in your truth.  

Hold on Firmly

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promises.” (Hebrews 10:23 NLT)

The airport trains that link terminals rarely have seats since the ride lasts only a few minutes. Instead, they have poles and handrails to which passengers can hold on. Most people choose to lean on their luggage or against a wall while checking their phones. Sometimes, couples just hang on to each other. While this may look cavalier and  cool, it also leads to falls. When traveling on a moving train, it is wise to hold on firmly to something immovable and secure.  

Life moves fast and unpredictably. Leaning on our own strength, on others, or on our possessions is unwise. It leads to stumbles and falls. We need to cling to the One who is immovable, secure, and trustworthy. The Lord is dependable. He keeps His word. We can be confident in Him. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm. 

Greed

“Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!” (Ecclesiastes 5:10 NLT)

I love chips. No matter how many chips I eat, I never feel like I have had enough. I justify my bad habit with various excuses: Chips are made of vegetables, so that should make them okay, right?  I exercise, thus I should be able to eat whatever I want. Compared to others, my diet is not so bad. I indulge in these unhealthy snacks, because I am seeking comfort, but I end up feeling bloated and uncomfortable the next day. 

Food is essential for survival, but excess calories can lead to weight gain and disease. Although most of us understand this concept, we continue to eat more than we require to fuel our bodies. Our craving for comfort leads to discomfort. We seek satisfaction in futile ways. 

Similarly, money is a necessary part of life. Money can be exchanged for food, shelter, clothes, and other essentials. However, studies have shown that a person’s quality of life does not go up significantly after a certain amount of wealth. 

While most of us have experienced the discomfort of gluttony, we might not understand the harmful effects of greed. Greed is insatiable. It leads a person to imagine that more money will bring more comfort, happiness, worthiness, and security. This fallacy drives people to pursue every avenue of avarice. They exploit people and nature without remorse. At the end of the road, they find meaningless misery and dissatisfaction. 

Divine Interruptions

“We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it.” (Proverbs 16:9 MSG)

I have a two-year calendar notebook. It has pages for monthly, weekly, and daily planning. Every morning, I write out my to-do list on the appropriate page. I use a pencil rather than a pen so that I can erase easily. I know from experience that unexpected contingencies may come up. I used to get bent out of shape when I didn’t get everything done on my list. These days, I have learned to anticipate Divine interruptions.

For example, I got a message yesterday from someone that required me to change my schedule. Some plans had to be erased in order to make space for the unexpected. Yet, since my plans were conditional upon God’s will, I was unfazed by His redirection. I saw it as an opportunity to be used by the Lord and work with Him. 

 

God Willing

“The reality is you have no idea where your life will take you tomorrow. You are like a mist that appears one moment and then vanishes another. It would be best to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will and we live long enough, we hope to do this project or pursue that dream.’ But your current speech indicates an arrogance that does not acknowledge the One who controls the universe, and this kind of big talking is the epitome of evil. So if you know the right way to live and ignore it, it is sin—plain and simple.” (James 4:14-17 VOICE)

I used to volunteer at a local food pantry with a Lebanese Christian woman. We talked about our faith quite often while we stocked the shelves. She had a habit of saying “inshallah” after every intention. Since I had always assumed this was some sort of Islamic phrase, I was surprised to hear her use it so frequently. I finally asked her about it. She explained that it stood for ‘God willing’ and that Arabs of all religious backgrounds used the phrase to remind them to include God into their hopes and plans. 

None of us has any idea where our life is headed. We are as insubstantial as the morning fog that dissipates in the heat of day. No matter how talented we are, no matter what we accomplish, our impact is transitory. Any plan or pursuit that does not factor God into the equation is futile and arrogant. Thus, it is prudent to preface every project, every hope, every venture with God’s will in mind. Acknowledge the One who controls the universe in everything you do.  This is the right way to live. 

Virtue Fatigue

“Keep up your guard and don’t let unprincipled people pull you away from the sure ground of the truth with their lies and misunderstandings.” (2 Peter 3:17 VOICE)

Do you ever get tired of being good?

For example, if you are on a diet, and if everyone else around you is eating whatever they want, do you feel peeved? Or if you are on a limited budget, but others around you seem to spend excessively, do you feel annoyed? 

In a culture of self-indulgence, virtuous living can seem dull, lonely, and exhausting. None of us wants to be an extremist. We desire to fit in and be accepted as part of the in-group. Those who go against the herd often get trampled; thus, we keep doing what we need to do to get along with the crowd. How can we change this mindset? 

Keep up your guard. Don’t let unprincipled people pull you away from the sure ground of truth with their lies and misunderstandings. Examine your motives carefully. Notice the values and beliefs of those who surround you. Are they congruent with your core principles? Don’t get pulled into popular traditions or cultural behaviors. All of this can feel exhausting. Don’t give in to the fatigue. Stand your ground in truth. 

Dead Props

 “For the wisdom of the wise will keep life on the right track while the fool only deceives himself and refuses to face reality.” (Proverbs 14:8 TPT)

The movie, Weekend at Bernie’s, is about two employees who discover the body of their dead boss. They decide to pretend the boss is still alive so that they can enjoy his mansion for a weekend. They prop up the dead body and carry it around with them while hosting parties at the mansion. The guests don’t notice, because they are too absorbed in their own indulgences.

While this movie makes for some wonderful comedy, it also reveals some insights about human nature. Those who do not want to face reality often use deceit as a tool. Pretense can lead to self-deception. Lies are often overlooked by others, because they are absorbed in their own pretensions. 

I’ve been auditing my life for ‘dead props’--misbeliefs, acquaintances, prejudices, aversions, and obsessions that are no longer viable, but that I still carry around as if they are reasonable. It is difficult for me to face certain realities. I used to operate under presumptions that are currently invalid. I would rather pretend this is not true for several reasons. I don’t want to admit prior mistakes. Thinking too deeply is uncomfortable and inconvenient. I can get away with dead props in my life, because others are too absorbed in their own charades to notice. None of this makes it right.

Delaying Reactions

 “Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent.” (Psalm 4:4 NLT)

I was mistreated by an acquaintance. Each time I indulged her whims, her expectations escalated. I felt angry and confused. I was uncertain on how to handle the situation. I did not want to appear unchristian, but I also didn’t want to be a part of this drama. The opinions of others influence the way I see myself. I waited and thought about it overnight. The next day, I made some changes. I admitted that I had allowed this person to bust through my boundaries, because I didn’t want to seem unkind. I realized I needed to put a stop to the relationship, even if it ruined my self-image. 

Anger should neither be ignored nor suppressed. Pay attention. Dissect your emotions to see why you are bothered. Don’t distract yourself or avoid dealing with the issue. When you are upset, your reactions and actions are not rational. Thus, it is wise to take some time to cool off before you speak up or make changes. Don’t let your anger control you. Delay your reactions until you have time to think things through, but don’t put off difficult decisions indefinitely. 

Hard Hills

 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NIV)

I don’t like running up hills. It slows me down and tires me out. When I map out routes for long runs, I try to avoid hilly areas as much as possible. After my long runs, I drive through hills without a second thought. Elevation changes feel challenging when running, because I am depending on my own strength. Hills are hardly noticeable when driving, because I am using the car’s horsepower. 

In this world, we will experience troubles and challenges. We may try to avoid them as much as possible, but we can’t go very far in any direction before we encounter trials. When avoidance is not possible, we attempt to manage by controlling the situation. All of these coping mechanisms are exhausting. As long as we continue to operate under our own strength, we will be overwhelmed by hills of life. However, even mountains become mole hills when we rest confidently in God. 

Personal Escort

 “The LORD replied, ‘I will personally go with you,’” (Exodus 33:14 NLT)

There is a grocery store in my town that is known for its personal service. If you ask the employees where something is located, they don’t just give you directions; they personally escort you to the product. It doesn’t matter if what you are looking for is in the next aisle or at the far end of the store; they walk with you. While I appreciate this level of service, I also feel a bit embarrassed. I don’t want to be a bother by interrupting a worker. Also, I don’t want to commit to what I am looking for. What if I change my mind? Or maybe I spot something more interesting on the way. Or what if the product ends up being more than I want to pay? I don’t want that kind of pressure!

I feel similarly about the Lord personally escorting me to a purposeful life. I am thankful, but I am also self-conscious. To be honest, I would rather  have a few vague directions and be left to my own devices. I want to keep all my options open. What if I change my mind halfway? What if I spot something more interesting? What if the Lord is leading me to something that is too costly? I still haven’t found what I’m looking for, because I’m not fully committed to finding it. 

“You broke the bonds

And you loosed the chains

Carried the cross

Of my shame

Oh my shame

You know I believe it

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for.” (Song Lyrics by U2)

Creativity

 “He has gifted them and made them expert engravers, designers, and embroiderers using blue, purple, and scarlet thread on fine linen. They are master weavers, skilled craftsmen, and expert designers.” (Exodus 35:35 VOICE)

I’m one of those people who favor productivity over creativity, practical over aesthetic, useful over decorative. I rarely take the time to doodle before I start typing. I only read nonfiction. I grow vegetables, not flowers. I don’t decorate food. I was raised to believe in efficiency; creative pursuits were deemed frivolous.

My austere stance was recently put to the test while watching the reality show The Big Flower Fight.  On this show, teams compete with each other to create floral works of art. They spend days making elaborate creations that would start wilting shortly after they finished. Everything they designed was decadent, inefficient, and sumptuous. Their work may not change the world or even be noteworthy. Yet, they were enjoying the act of creation. 

God designed the earth and every living creature. He made the stars, planets, and comets. His Creation is extravagantly good. Humans are made in God’s image; thus, we are made to be generative, artistic, and innovative. Creativity opens our imagination and awareness. It allows us to  dive into our subconscious and deepen our understanding.  The creative spirit within us seeks expression. When we share our gifts, talents, and skills, we become image-bearers of God. 

Tired and Vulnerable

“Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree.” (1 Kings 19:5 NLT)

The prophet Elijah was exhausted. Queen Jezebel’s bullying and badgering had worn him out. He sensed his own vulnerability, so he retreated to the wilderness. 

During busy seasons of life--especially when others are depending on me--I rarely pause for breaks. Any sort of retreat feels weak. I sense that I am off-kilter, like a bird standing on one leg. It wouldn’t take much to push me over. Mental fatigue lowers my resistance to manipulation. There are times when I am in this state of exhaustion, but I refuse to acknowledge it. Instead, I fixate on staying busy and preoccupied by all that is left to be done. I fail to accept that I am a sitting duck--susceptible to predatory machinations. 

I pray that I may have the discernment of Elijah--to recognize when my brain is not functioning on all cylinders, when I am imbalanced, and when my spirit is drained. Lord, teach me to withdraw and rest until I am restored. 

Mulch

“Foolish dreamers live in a world of illusion; wise realists plant their feet on the ground.” (Proverbs 14:18 MSG)

Spreading a layer of mulch in your vegetable garden can improve your yield significantly. A blanket of mulch insulates the soil, cuts down on weeds, and reduces erosion. Bags of store-bought mulch can get costly. With a little ingenuity, you can make quality mulch from materials that you have on hand. Broken branches and shrubbery can be put through a wood chipper to make mulch. Grass clippings, pine needles, leaves, and straw can be scattered between rows of plants. Compost made from kitchen scraps can add nutrients to the soil. A lot of what we think of as useless waste may have value. 

Over the years, I have pursued many dreams and illusions. These experiences, achievements, desires, and possessions appeared important at the time. Now, they seem foolish. Yet, even what I think of as useless waste may have value.

Everything can be processed and used as mulch. The detritus from the past can be worked into current thoughts and choices. This insulates against impulsivity, cuts down on gullibility, and reduces recklessness. It enables us to plant our feet on the solid ground and grow in wisdom. 

The Practice of Solitude

“After the crowds dispersed, Jesus went up into the hills to pray. And as night fell he was there praying alone.” (Matthew 14:23 TPT)

There is so much to unpack in the above verse:

As the crowds dispersed... 

Jesus was surrounded by people most of the time. He attracted crowds. He was a popular minister and teacher. He traveled with a group of friends. He was not lonely. 

Jesus went up into the hills to pray... 

The crowds mostly remained at sea level. Climbing hills took effort. Jesus went up into the hills to pray. He intentionally sought out solitude. 

And as night fell he was there praying alone...

Daytime is associated with busyness and productivity. After dark, we rest and relax. Jesus shows us that solitary prayer can be restful. 

“Solitude well practiced will break the power of busyness, haste, isolation, and loneliness.” (Dallas Willard) 

The practice of solitude can unshackle us from hustle and hurry. It is a voluntary distancing from the pack. It is a time to wonder, untangle, discern, and commune. When we intentionally seek out seclusion, feelings of loneliness, isolation, or boredom are replaced with curiosity, contentment, and calm. The body feels grounded. The mind feels quiet. The soul feels settled. We discover that being alone with God can be amazingly rejuvenating.