Make Room

Silence, solitude, prayer. The roadmap to joy or a recipe for a meltdown? Achievable without moving to the wilds of Idaho?

Do the math with me.

Add time. Yes, you can do this. Stop. Breathe. Hush those thoughts. Breathe again. Be still. You do have time for this. You were made to worship the One who made you. You were not made to scramble and hurry and worry and wiggle and jiggle. Breathe. You belong to Him.

“Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10

The God of the universe sees you and loves you. Amazing! Sit. Rest in that for a moment. Let your heart worship Him.

“My dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the crevices of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.” Song of Songs 2:14

Subtract stuff. There is a lot to get rid of. Remember the parable of the sower? The seeds that fell on thorny ground produced plants that got choked. Jesus explained that worries and deceitfulness of wealth can prevent us from becoming the person God wants us to be. We have to root out the things that hold us back from His best. What is keeping us from living in that place of peace and connection? God, please show it to us and help us to walk away.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:45

God is the priceless pearl. Don’t let lesser things keep us from Him.

The Great Divide (AKA I Surrender). This is a little like subtraction, but yet different. There are so many internal things that we need to relinquish, but really can’t get rid of without divine power. Things like worry, our own expectations, the need for control, etc. We open the door and allow our Savior to empty us of these thoughts and feelings that steal our experience of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We humble ourselves and cast our anxieties on Him because He cares for us! (I Peter 5:6-7)

“Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I do not get involved [or I get uninvolved] with things too great or too wondrous for me,

Instead, I have calmed and quieted my soul like a weaned child with its mother; my soul is like a weaned child.

Israel, put your hope in the Lord, both now and forever.” Psalm 131:1-3

This is where we take our very bad news letter (like King Hezekiah in 2 Kings 19), spread it out before the Lord, and pray.

Multiplied. All this math makes room for the presence of Jesus. Where Jesus is, we can’t help but worship. To experience His nearness, His love, connection to Him, brings us to our knees in adoration and empties us of ourselves while filling us with His Spirit. This spills out onto the people around us.

“Whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again. In fact, the water that I will give him will become a well of water springing up in him for eternal life.” John 4:14

I will make room for You, Jesus. Oh, how I love You. More of You, less of me.

Leah

Surrounded

We aren’t doing much camping in northwest Ohio these days. And truthfully, even when the temperature isn’t in the single digits and there isn’t snow on the ground, camping isn’t a frequent occurrence for most of us. I have been reflecting on this Bible verse, written during a time when camping was much more common:

“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and rescues them.” Psalm 34:7

This camping is not like a vacation, it is like a reverse siege – surrounding for the purpose of keeping an enemy out. I love the visual of God’s protection and rescue, and the idea that it is for the long haul.

I’ve been needing this reminder. God is in control. He hears and answers prayer. In case I am slow to catch on, it’s repeated at least 5 times in this very chapter (Psalm 34):

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me…”

“This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him…”

“…those who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing…”

“…his ears are open to their cry for help.”

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,”

Many years before this psalm was penned, a servant and his master were being hunted down by a powerful king. Overnight, a massive army surrounded the city where they were staying. After getting up early and discovering the situation, the servant asked his master, “What are we to do?”

His master reassured him that they didn’t need to fear. “Those who are with us outnumber those who are with them.”

Then his master prayed, “Lord, please open his eyes and Let him see.” When the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, he saw that the mountain was covered with horses and chariots of fire all around. And not only did God surround Elisha and his servant that day, He also rescued them.

I do believe that God surrounds me, that God surrounds His people, that He is near to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18).

“Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion. It cannot be shaken; it remains forever. The mountains surround Jerusalem and the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever.” Psalm 125:1-2

Today, I choose to remember God’s faithfulness, His nearness, His strength, His promises of protection. I pray that all of us will have our eyes opened to see God’s power and love at work in our lives.

-Leah

Sigh

Of course we sigh.

Things aren’t how they are supposed to be, and we know it. Life is hard. Sometimes the hard is big like cancer. Sometimes smaller difficulties gnaw away at us like termites, and we are more inclined to scream than to sigh. Whatever we face and however we express it, we all sense that there is an unending uphill climb. We are never quite where we were meant to be.

Of course we sigh.

Did Jesus sigh? I never thought about it until reading Day 21 of Only Jesus: 40 Days with the Son, which highlights Matthew 7:34:

“He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, ‘Ephphatha!’ (which means, ‘Be opened!’).”

People brought a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment to Jesus. Jesus sighed as he healed. Author Max Lucado interpreted the sigh as Jesus grieving the existence of deafness and suffering. It makes sense that Jesus, who experienced all the emotions common to humans (Hebrews 4:15), would feel the inward groaning sometimes expressed as sighing.

I have found myself sighing a lot this last week. There have been some heavy things to carry. Big emotions, stormy weather, you get the picture. Want to walk with me through a Bible passage that has been an encouragement?

2 Corinthians 4:7 through 5:7

Choose your side

A friend and I have been reading a book Satisfy My Thirsty Soul by Linda Dillow. She took the info from 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 and made a table like this:

afflicted	BUT	Not crushed
perplexed	BUT	Not despairing
persecuted	BUT	Not forsaken
struck down	BUT	Not destroyed

She pointed out that the descriptions on both sides were true of Paul. He could decide if he was going to emphasize the language of suffering or victory. It’s about perspective – the struggle is real, but so is the protection and support we have from God! This is why recalling who he is and what he has done is such a powerful way to change our sighing into worship.

So that…

Thanks to a dear friend I am always on the look out for the “so that’s” in the Bible. There are so many! This occurs so that that will happen. It is so encouraging to know that God is using events to bring about his purposes! It reminds us that circumstances are not random and gives us endurance. This passage of scripture has 4 “so that’s” that I found. Look for them in 4:10, 4:11, 4:15, and 5:4. There are a few other “because of this” references also. Ponder them yourself. The point is, whatever you are going through, whatever is making you sigh, it is all for a reason, and it is a good reason. Your good, the good of others, and God’s glory!

“For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:15

Do not lose heart

Let me encourage you. You are not alone. You might be sighing and sagging and sobbing, but hold on! Don’t lose heart. Reach out to God. Encourage yourself with the promises in the Bible. Reach out to a friend, to a pastor. (If you think you don’t have anyone to reach out to, reach out to me.)

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16

Preparation, perspective

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,” 2 Corinthians 4:17

OK, we might beg to differ with the description of affliction as light and momentary, but remember that this is Paul describing his own affliction. He had a LOT of afflictions, and they were not mild or brief by any standards with which we are familiar. Using the comparison of heavenly glory, however, they do dwindle substantially. We can take this same approach – remind ourselves that what we are going through, when compared with eternity, is a tiny drop in a huge ocean, and in some way that we don’t understand, suffering actually brings about glory.

Full circle

Read these last few verses of the passage.

“”For while we are still in this tent[body], we groan[sigh], being burdened – not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:4-7

Of course we sigh.

We are living in an imperfect world, dealing with our own sin and suffering and walking alongside others who are hurting. We need the Holy Spirit – he’s interceding for us with groanings/sighs too deep for words (Romans 8:26). God is preparing us and holding us, extending his mercy and grace to us and through us. We sigh, but we do not lose heart.

In Him,

Leah

Near to God

There is so much going on in the world these days. Words, actions, spin, reactions, disasters natural and not-so-natural, tragedies globally and locally. It’s overwhelming. And terrifying. And surprisingly mesmerizing.

Have you found yourself caught on the hamster wheel of scrolling for much longer than you are willing to admit, reading comments, feeling outrage and horror, wondering what the world has come to? It makes me sad to say that I have been there.

When I mentioned her uncharacteristically normal/low blood pressure at her visit last week, one of my patients showed tremendous insight. She had been watching a political reel as the medical student and I entered the exam room, and I assumed that would increase, not decrease, her blood pressure. She said the opposite. “As upset as it makes me, I kind of like it.” For some reason we are often captivated by bad news and conflict.

Over the past few weeks (maybe even months, but it seems to have been escalating), I have been letting the bad news edge out the GREAT news of Jesus’ love, in the arenas of my thoughts and conversations and down time.

I’m going to take a stab at walking you through the gentle but persistent way God has brought this lesson home to me over the past week.

Sunday: scrolling through Facebook, saw a friend’s post about a young lady I recognized. Read her words about vulnerability and praising in the face of cancer treatment. I wasn’t aware she had cancer – was sad to learn that. I typically don’t have sound on when looking at FB, so didn’t hear what she was singing.

Monday: skipped devotions but made it to the treadmill before work. Listening to worship music, and remembered the post, so pulled it up to hear what Devan was singing. Beautiful voice, singing words that I have known for many years, brought tears…

Shout to the Lord all the earth, let us sing

Power and majesty, praise to the King

Mountains bow down and the seas will roar

At the sound of Your name

I sing for joy at the work of Your hands

Forever I’ll praise You, forever I’ll stand

Nothing compares to the promise I have in You

I was brought up short. Where had my worship gone?

Meeting with a friend later that day, we were talking about our struggles coping with the negative feelings around current events, and I shared my experience/thoughts about Devan’s song. My friend said, “It’s almost like we have a whole bunch of tests all day long. How will we respond?” Almost without thinking, I reframed it. “No, not tests. Invitations. God gives us invitations all day long.”

He says, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Tuesday: Would love to say that I got up early and had quiet time with God. I didn’t. I can see from reviewing screentime now that I was on FB for 12 minutes before work. My last patient of the day Tuesday was the one mentioned earlier, the one who’s blood pressure seems to be responding favorably to political turmoil.

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: some stress, missed invitations to be near to God

Saturday (today): FINALLY sat down to read Bible and connect with my gracious Father. Started by writing this in my journal, “God, my heart is prone to wander.” How I wish that were not true.

Next, I thought of the phrase from the Psalms “whom have I in heaven but you?” and googled the reference. It is from Psalm 73, right where my bookmark was, where I had left off reading. I copied these verses:

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.

But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.” Psalm 73:25-28

“…We give thanks, for your name is near…” Psalm 75:1

I need to be near God. Being far from Him is just like perishing. He sent Jesus so I can believe and not perish. When I wander, I choose unbelief.

This passage from James seemed very relevant.

“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, ‘He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us?’ But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:4-8

God, I’m sorry. Your majesty and Your nearness and Your glory and Your kingdom trump all else. Forgive me for getting mentally wrapped up in earthly things at the expense of eternal things. Help me to stay near to You and allow Your Spirit to fill me and to overflow on the people around me. My flesh and my heart do fail. Thank You for being the strength of my heart and my portion forever. I give thanks, for Your precious and unmatchable name is near. Amen

Over Thinking

Have you ever been accused of “over thinking?” Has a particular situation from the past or concern about the future run laps in your mind, achieving marathon distances?

I’ve been there. Just last week I found myself rehearsing what I had said at a meeting, fixated on how it had been received and if I should have spoken differently or maybe just kept my mouth shut entirely. It never seems to be the joyous or peaceful moments that are stuck on thought replay, nor imaginings of good times ahead, but rather musings on pain, uncertainty, difficulty, distress.

Tumult, turmoil, even angst are words that describe the state of mind during those times. But that is not the Jesus way. He is a storm calmer, and He said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27).

No more fretting? Wonderful! Thank You, Jesus! But…

Cast your cares

After realizing we are in a mental tailspin (which is a big first step, by the way), the next order of business is to let go. Surrender. Not an it’s-hopeless-I-give-up move, but a Jesus-take-the-wheel release.

Peter advises “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (I Peter 5:7). King David said it too: “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you.” (Psalm 55:22). We must consciously choose to give God the thing that is overwhelming our mind.

Ingredients needed

Relinquishing our worries (because let’s face it—worry is what we are really talking about here) to Jesus might be simple, but it is miles from easy. Why? What holds us back from receiving the peace and serenity we have been offered? Or, to focus on the positive, what do we need so that we can step away from our mental mess?

We need humility. We are I’ve-got-this, DIY kind of people. When we look deep within, we believe that we should be able to handle things ourselves. When we don’t live up to the expectations our pride has set for us or when we anticipate not being able to control circumstances or outcomes, the thought train goes off the rails. Peter knew this. He prefaced his “cast your cares on him” admonition with these words: “Humble yourselves therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.” (I Peter 5:6).

Many of the frustrations and fears that occupy our minds are self-focused. Cultivating a humble heart opens the door to offering our angst to God.

We need trust. While humility speaks to a right view of self, trust is about an accurate view of God. Can He really handle these troubles—past, present, or future? Has what I’ve said or done messed things up so badly that He can’t redeem the situation? Is He really a good Father with plans that are perfect and the power to carry them out? We think so, but we do wonder (AKA doubt). Jesus taught that even a little faith can move mountains. We can choose to let the faith that we have push away the doubt mountain. We can remind ourselves of who we know God to be and of what He has done, and we allow faith to arise.

Then sings my soul

Humbling ourselves and fanning our faith into flame, we notice that we are worshipping! We are declaring God’s goodness and faithfulness. We have brought our fretful, spinning mind as an offering to the One who knows us best and loves us most. We are giving all that we are, our turbulent thoughts included, as a “living sacrifice, … which is (y)our spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1). As we worship, we connect more deeply to God and experience His presence.

Draw near

When we next catch ourselves “over thinking,” let’s change our posture from bent under the weight of our mental turmoil to bowed in worship. Even a little movement toward God makes a difference.

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” (James 4:8)

God, I give You my worries and my anxious thoughts. Forgive me for wallowing, for pride and doubt. Thank You for Your steadfast love and for Your nearness. How great You are!

-Leah