Selah

“People, always put your trust in God! Tell him all your problems. God is our place of safety. Selah.” (Psalm 62:8 ERV)

The Hebrew word selah is found in many parts of the Bible. The Amplified Bible translates selah to mean “pause and think of that.”

-When a particular verse or phrase tugs at my heart. Selah.
-Someone speaks words of wisdom. Selah.
-I look up from my morning prayers and notice the pink clouds preceding a sunrise. Selah. 
-The lyrics to a hymn drift into my mind. Selah.

I am reminded to pause and contemplate, to meditate on God’s trustworthiness. Even though my days are full of external and internal noise, I take breaks to share my questions, doubts, and concerns with the Lord. These retreats may only last minutes, but they are integral to my peace and sanity.

“Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.” (Psalm 4:4 KJV)

Listening Prayer

“And the LORD came and called as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel replied, "Speak, your servant is listening." (1 Samuel 3:10 NLT)

God is constantly communicating with us. Creation itself is an ongoing conversation. He speaks to us daily through the wonders of nature, miraculous signs, scriptures, people, books, songs, dreams, visions, physical sensations, emotions, thoughts, impressions, etc. The key is to pay attention.

How can we listen to God?

-Expect God encounters. Many of us never notice God, because we aren’t expecting Him to show up in our daily lives. If we are meeting someone in a crowded area, we know we need to be actively looking out for him. Become familiar with God. Learn to know what to look for.

-Avoid distractions and tune in to the Spirit. God often uses non-verbal communication. He may impart wisdom, strength, guidance, comfort, and correction through impressions on our spirit. Be patient. Be still. Focus.

-Ask God questions. If you lack understanding, if you need direction, go to the Lord first instead of consulting your friends, family, and the internet.

-Obey diligently. God can use us as a messenger, a mouthpiece, or a scribe. He can nudge us to reach out, be empathetic, speak truth, encourage, and guide others. This might involve speaking, writing, or being present in the lives of others. Submit to being used by God even when it is uncomfortable.

“God speaks in the silence of the heart. Listening is the beginning of prayer.” (Mother Teresa)

Flak vs. Abuse

“They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows.” (Psalm 64:3 NLT)

We have all known people who use their sharp tongues and bitter words as weapons of attack. Constant criticism and bullying can erode one’s dignity and sense of self-worth.

“We can learn to live with a little flack in the name of healthy self-care. Not abuse mind you. Flack.” (The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie)

The word ‘flak’ originally meant anti-aircraft artillery directed at combat pilots. These days we use the word metaphorically to mean criticism or hostility directed at an individual. When does flack become abuse? When it causes damage! If a plane is flying at an altitude beyond the range of the anti-aircraft fire, flack is just a nuisance. However, if the missiles are long range, or the plane is within reach, results are deadly. Similarly, words and attitudes can turn from noise to abuse depending on how close the source is  to the target. Condemnation and denigration from those who are supposed to care for us can eventually bring even the strongest of us down.

Your Territory

“I hope as you become stronger in your faith, we will be able to reach many more of the people around you. That has always been our goal.” (2 Corinthians 10:15 CEV)

Last month, I attended a training seminar for running coaches. We were all volunteers who signed up to coach school children in afterschool running programs all over the state. There were several seasoned coaches who shared their experience. They gave us training manuals and a duffel bag of supplies to distribute to the students in our programs. We all left with a new-found energy and enthusiasm about what lay ahead.

Whenever we gather together in the name of Christ, we share in His light and wisdom. This is not just meant for our own edification. Our faith is built up so that we may reach the people around us. We are called to go out into our own assigned territories and make an impact. Our region of influence might be our families, friends, workplace, school, church group, neighbors, prison, gym, country club, vacation destination, homeless shelter, grocery store, bowling alley, social media, etc.  Equipped with our training manual and all the other supplies that were handed to us, let us go forth with energy and enthusiasm.

“Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life...” (Matthew 28:19 MSG)

Carved Bowls

“You will suffer for a while, but God will make you complete, steady, strong, and firm.” (1 Peter 5:10 CEV)

I recently watched a time lapse video of a tree stump being carved into a wooden bowl.  It was fascinating! The woodworker found a tree that had been felled in a storm. He used an axe to make the initial cuttings and various smaller hand tools for the finer work. He made a small indentation in the flat surface and kept gently scraping away until the middle was hollowed out. After the bowl was shaped, every surface was sanded down smoothly. Then he poured a generous amount of oil onto the surface and rubbed it in with his hands. The oil was a type of varnish that seals and protects the wood from cracking while also bringing out its natural luster and depth. Everything was done carefully and methodically. Although it looked like a work of art, the woodworker mentioned that this bowl was meant to be functional--it would be used in his home as a serving bowl.

I have a friend who has been hollowed out by suffering. At first, it was hard to imagine that anything good or useful could come out of her hardships. Yet, God is a master woodworker. He took what looked like a stump and carved it carefully--sanding down every splinter. He sealed her with His anointing, methodically revealing her natural depth and luster. She has become a serving vessel that is used to feed and nurture others. God was not the cause of her pain, but He made sure her suffering was not in vain.

Dependable Caretakers

“It is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.” (1 Corinthians 4:2 NASB)

Our dog depends on us to care for her. She cannot feed herself, brush herself, or even get out of the house to potty without someone to help her. Thus, I consider her needs before I make any plans to be away from the house. I have often wished that I took care of myself as well as I cared for my dog.

Those who are raised in dysfunctional families often have trust issues. When you cannot depend on your caretakers to be stable and consistent and put your needs above their own--it’s hard to feel protected and comforted. This can lead to feelings of vulnerability and unworthiness. Even as adults who are capable of self-care, we may neglect our needs and leave ourselves unprotected.

The Lord cares for us. We can count on Him to be steady and stable. However, He has appointed us stewards of our own environments. We are called to be dependable caretakers. As adults, we have been entrusted with taking care of our own bodies, minds, and souls.  We can ask God to teach us how to do this properly and consistently.

Watch Out for Drug Dealers

“Stay alert; be in prayer so you don't wander into temptation without even knowing you're in danger.” (Matthew 26:41 MSG)

Imagine you have a friend who engages in risky behavior occasionally.  She may drink alcohol socially, use drugs recreationally, gamble when visiting casinos, or flirt with strange men while on vacation. It’s not like she is an addict. Her drug dealer is a personal friend. She is just having fun and releasing some stress. What’s the harm? Most of her behavior is legal, even if it isn’t necessarily beneficial. If you, as her friend, point out that she is playing with fire, she would think you are a prude. 

When you read the above paragraph, you might have thought to yourself: Well, some of those are completely harmless behaviors. You probably have engaged in them yourself.  Temptations are subtle; we are often oblivious of the dangers until it’s too late. Like fish that fail to see the hook hidden underneath the lure, we take the bait. 

One of the most inconspicuous forms of temptation is our desire for approval. It’s the gateway to many other addictions. Like other recreational drugs, it induces an altered state of consciousness--triggering pleasurable sensations and modifying our perceptions.  It makes us behave in ways that are incongruous with what we know in our depths to be true and pure. Our approval dealers may be strangers, coworkers, acquaintances, personal friends, or family members. We think they are harmless; they give us what we desire, and they are fun to be around. The opiate of admiration lulls us. We fail to notice the strings of approval and disapproval tugging at us. We become unconscious of the danger and get lured into temptation without even knowing it.