The Spirit and the Beast

“Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day.” (Galatians 5:16-18 MSG)

We all have both a Spirit and a Beast within us. We choose which one has control. The Beast is the animalistic, pleasure-seeking side of us. The Spirit is the part of God that is placed in each of us.

When the Beast is allowed to dominate us, our thoughts and actions are contaminated by pride and self-interest. When the Beast is chained up, it will cause quite a commotion--clanging its chains, demanding to be released. If that doesn’t work, it will wait for the next stressful situation and prey on our weakness. The Beast will try every trick to influence us. It will whisper: Unchain me. Feed me. I can make you feel better. The Beast cannot solve problems, but it can provide temporary distractions. Do not feed the Beast. It will just get stronger and more dangerous.

On the other hand, when the Spirit is in control, our life is saturated with goodness, and our actions are influenced by love. When we feed the Spirit, we are strengthened in faith and trust. We are no longer enslaved by our compulsions. Self-indulgence is replaced by virtue.

The Spirit and the Beast cannot both be in control. We cannot release one and chain up the other according to our whim. We have to make a decision and commit to it.

Feed the Spirit; starve the Beast.

Lord, animate us and motivate us through Your Spirit. Protect us from our inner Beasts.

The Purpose of Praise

“Praise him for his acts of power, praise him for his magnificent greatness.” (Psalm 150:2 MSG)

Praise is defined as the act of expressing approval or admiration. We praise each other for various reasons.

Flattery is insincere praise. It is often used as a form of manipulation. It isn’t difficult to ingratiate oneself with others by stroking their ego. Unfortunately, many of us confuse flattery with praise. We even use worship as a tool to influence God to do our will.

Praise can be a form of encouragement. It provides us an opportunity to fortify and build up others who have extraordinary qualities and behavior. Praising and thanking God reminds us of His power and greatness, thus  bolstering our own faith.  

Praise allows us to give honor where it is due. It allows others to know we recognize and appreciate them--that we don’t take them for granted. As we notice the wonder of God’s ways, praise wells up inside us naturally. Expressing these emotions is the purest way to honor and worship God. 

Lord, I praise you.

Homemaker

“A wise woman builds her home.” (Proverbs 14:1 NLT)

I am at the bank. I need to answer all sorts of questions before I can open an account. I don’t mind most of them, but one makes me feel small:

Banker: “Are you self-employed?”

Me: “No, I’m just a homemaker.”

I haven’t had a paying job for over twenty years. Instead, I have chosen to devote myself fully to taking care of my family. My husband has been very supportive. Yet, I always diminish my role...just a homemaker.

What is a homemaker anyway? The things we do may seem insignificant in the eyes of the world. We make meals and wash the dishes. We go to the grocery store and put things away. We wipe the counters and mop the floor. We unclog sinks and toilets. We homeschool. We change diapers and wipe runny noses. We wash loads of clothes. We grow vegetables. We manage household finances and taxes. We fix the vacuum cleaner and the lawn mower. We walk the dog. We talk to bankers and electricians. We raise children. We help our husbands. We pray.

“She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.’” (Proverbs 31:27-29 NIV)

Lord, help me be more confident in my role as a homemaker. May I espouse Your ideals instead of worldly standards.

Centering Prayer

“We want to see.” (Matthew 21:33 NLT)

God sees and knows everything. So, why pray?

Most of our prayers are self-referential. We place ourselves in the center and look at things from our perspective. How things affect us is our primary concern. When we intercede for others, we try to identify with their pain and plead with God to relieve their suffering. Thus, even in intercessory prayer, our ego is still in the center.

“True contemplatives surrender some of their own ego boundaries and identity so that God can see through them, with them, and in them—with a larger pair of eyes. It is quite simply a higher level of seeing; it is deep consciousness.” (Eager to Love, Richard Rohr)

God is and always will be in the center. Centering prayer acknowledges this and moves to the inner core where God is present. Our egos are laid aside, and we become as trusting as a little child approaching a loving parent. We ask our Father to lift us up in His arms so we can see from His perspective. He scoops us up in His strong, caring arms. We become less afraid. Words become unnecessary. We see at a higher level. We share in a consciousness deeper than our own.

Lord, lift us up in Your arms, so that we may see and experience the larger reality from Your perspective.

Conveying Christ

“They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it.” (Matthew 21:7 NLT)

The colt was chosen to carry Jesus through the crowds. He was picked for specific reasons: he wasn’t flashy like a horse, he was available, and he was yielding.

What are the requirements for those of us who are called to convey Christ to 0thers? We must be humble, accessible, and willing. We can’t be skittish or stubborn. We must maintain a low profile, so as to keep the focus on God.

Carrying Christ to others can be intimidating. The crowd can turn unruly at any moment. People are fickle. One week they will be full of praise and acceptance; yet, the next week they may be filled with complaints and accusations. Remain calm and confident. God’s got your back. May each step be unhurried and unworried as you move forward with Christ. 

Lord, train us to be humble, willing, and available as we convey Your message to others.  

The Power of Influence

“God’s kingdom will be taken back from you and handed over to a people who will live out a kingdom life.” (Matthew 21:43 MSG)

Every day, we are given the opportunity to influence our environment. Some are in powerful positions, and, thus, their impact may be widespread. Others may only be able to affect a few neighbors and friends. Either way, this power needs to be wielded carefully and thoughtfully.

God’s kingdom is His sphere of influence. Like a tenant farmer, we are given the right to plant, grow, and harvest on God’s land. We are allowed to inspire and encourage those around us.  Do we use this opportunity to impress others and get what we want? Or, do we live out the kingdom life--tending to those whom God has placed in our lives, helping them grow deeper and more fruitful? 

Lord, thank you for allowing us access to your sphere of influence. Help us to use this influence according to your will, not ours. Show us how to grow deeper in your love, producing abundant fruits of the Spirit.

Holy Audacity

“When we trust in him, we're free to say whatever needs to be said, bold to go wherever we need to go.” (Ephesians 3:12 MSG)

We are usually bold in areas where we feel competent but timid about tackling things that are beyond our abilities. Human boldness is linked with pride. Pride makes us depend on ourselves. It makes us care what others think. It is driven by our desire to express our strengths and viewpoints. Holy audacity is different. It is not pride based. It doesn’t care what others think. It is driven by the need to express God, not ourselves.

“One of the most essential qualities of the faith that is to attempt great things for God, and expect great things from God, is holy audacity. (Streams in the Desert)

Holy audacity is fueled by trust in God. This trust emboldens us to speak up, even when it may bring condemnation from others. It gives us the courage to step up to challenges that are beyond our capacity. It allows us to attempt great things for God and expect great things from God. 

Lord, make us bold. May we say what you place in our hearts. May we do what you direct us to do.