How can we enter the Secret Place of the Most High? How can we go into the silence and dwell in the Shadow of the Almighty? Matthew 6:6 says that we should go into the closet and pray in secret and the Father will reward us openly. We can deliberately plan to spend time alone with God by scheduling our alone time with God every day the same as we schedule any other important appointment in our life. We choose to commit at least 15 minutes every day to be alone with God.
The time we decide to schedule for our appointment with God depends on our personal situation. If we have other family members around, we need to select a time when we can be alone and have quiet. Perhaps early in the morning before others wake up, before bed, or both. We also need a comfortable spot to rest with God, so picking a spot ahead of time is a good thing. If there is a place to make a sanctuary for quiet time with God, make one. If not, we can use a comfortable chair or sofa. We can also sit or kneel on a throw pillow on the floor. Whatever works best and feels comfortable and peaceful.
Praying is a good place to begin. Ask God to join us in the Secret Place of the Most High; Tell God our desire to spend time alone with Him in His presence; Tell God we will wait on Him. These are some good ways to begin.
Sitting quietly, focus on a favorite verse of Scripture, or on Jesus, or on God's love, or some other aspect of God that brings peace. Breathe in deeply with that thought and breathe out deeply with that thought, deeply from the depth of the gut, waiting patiently, focusing on the verse or the aspect of God and breathing in and out. Do this for 15 minutes, or 30 minutes, or more. We can do as much or a little as we choose. If we are not currently spending any alone time with our Father God, even 15 minutes may seem like a long time. If focusing on a verse of Scripture or an aspect of God doesn't work, try focusing on a simple word like "one" while breathing in and out. Something to hold the attention.
As we do this thoughts will probably pop in and out. Put them aside until after the quiet time. The more we do this, the easier it will get to put thoughts aside that try to invade our quiet time with God. As the mind gets clearer and calmer, we can be still and know God. We can rest in the peaceful communion, silently alone in His presence. We can sit in the stillness and calmness in the innermost part of our being, alone with our Father God in the Shadow of the Almighty.
As we get more proficient in this particular type of communion with God, we will learn how it feels to rest in the Shadow of the Almighty and we can take that feeling with us all throughout the day. Once we have this feeling it will help us practice the presence of God as we go about our daily tasks and duties, keeping our minds tuned into God's presence moment by moment.
Entering the Secret Place of the Most High is something we do alone. We go into the closet and shut the door. (Matthew 6:6) We don't need to talk about it or discuss it to make it a valuable experience. Going unto the Father is the value. Spending time with Him alone, dwelling in the Shadow of the Almighty is the value. 15 minutes a day may seem like a lot, but committing to a relationship in the Secret Place of the Most High is more precious than silver, gold or diamonds.
If you enjoy this blog, please share a link to it with others! Terrie
© Copyright 2011 - http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com/
Friday, June 17, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
With the Measure You Use, It Will be Measured to You
In the way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Matthew 7:2)
Do we get upset when others judge us? How about when we judge others? Is there quick judgment in our mind when someone cuts us off in line or makes a remark about something? Perhaps there is more than a quick judgment in our mind. Perhaps we dwell on the incident in our mind, or even spend time talking about the incident to others. How about when we cut someone off or make a remark. In the way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. This is God's simple law of cause and effect.
In the face of conflict, how do we respond? In the face of trouble, how do we respond? Do we ever take a look at our own responses to life and ask the question why are we responding the way we do? Are we responding in active faith? What is the motive for our response if we are not responding in faith?
We all have gifts and talents. Perhaps we have developed them into wonderful blessings for our lives and the lives of others. But have we taken the time to develop active faith filled responses in times of trouble and conflict?
Active faith and the law of cause and effect are like an acorn. The acorn carries all the properties of the mighty oak tree. We can't see the oak tree in the acorn, but it is there. So we go ahead and plant the acorn knowing that with care the oak tree will grow from it. Active faith is like the blossom of a rose. The blossom carries all the properties of the fully opened bloom. Even though we can't see the fully opened rose in a bloom, we know the rose is there. Likewise, we can be full of fear, anger or bitterness - poisonous like the hemlock seed which has all the properties of the poisonous hemlock plant. The poisonous hemlock plant grows and blossoms the same as the acorn and the rose. Do we react with active faith?
Give and it will be given to you...for by your standard of measure it will be measured to you. (Luke 6:38) Do we give active faith in all situations or do we react with anger, bitterness, judgment, or fear? When others react badly to us, how do we react? Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you...bless them which use you. (Luke 6:27-36) More than doing the right thing, this is the law of sowing and reaping - the law of cause and effect.
God's law of nature brings forth the tree from the seed. The fruit of the seed shows very clearly what seed has been planted in the soil. The fruit of life bears forth visible evidence of what seeds have been planted in thought, word and deed.
The good news is that we can live by grace and not by law through Jesus Christ. We can renew our mind, body and spirit by giving them up to God and allowing the body, mind and spirit of Christ to dwell in us. We need to decrease and he must increase. (John 3:30) We must do as John the Baptist did, allow Christ to increase. Christ must increase in us and our human ego must decrease.
When we realize our error, we may not be able to immediately control our thoughts, words and reactions or use active faith. Our human will may be weak. We all have bad human habits. But we can let go of our will and take the yoke of Christ upon us, his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Once we let go of our ego and let Christ take over our body, mind and spirit the Father within will begin taking over our thoughts, words and reactions. The Father within will do the work. (John 14:10) Jesus said that we will do the things that he did and even greater things in his name. (John 5:30) With the body, mind and spirit of Christ we are one with the Father. We can claim the same things Jesus did.
Do you put a lamp under a bowl? Whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you and more. (Mark 4:21-25) Deliberately practice active faith and love. Forgive quickly and release people and events and let them go to the good God has waiting for them. I will arise and go to my Father.
If you enjoy this blog, please share a link to it with others! Much love, Terrie
© Copyright 2011 - http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com/
Do we get upset when others judge us? How about when we judge others? Is there quick judgment in our mind when someone cuts us off in line or makes a remark about something? Perhaps there is more than a quick judgment in our mind. Perhaps we dwell on the incident in our mind, or even spend time talking about the incident to others. How about when we cut someone off or make a remark. In the way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. This is God's simple law of cause and effect.
In the face of conflict, how do we respond? In the face of trouble, how do we respond? Do we ever take a look at our own responses to life and ask the question why are we responding the way we do? Are we responding in active faith? What is the motive for our response if we are not responding in faith?
We all have gifts and talents. Perhaps we have developed them into wonderful blessings for our lives and the lives of others. But have we taken the time to develop active faith filled responses in times of trouble and conflict?
Active faith and the law of cause and effect are like an acorn. The acorn carries all the properties of the mighty oak tree. We can't see the oak tree in the acorn, but it is there. So we go ahead and plant the acorn knowing that with care the oak tree will grow from it. Active faith is like the blossom of a rose. The blossom carries all the properties of the fully opened bloom. Even though we can't see the fully opened rose in a bloom, we know the rose is there. Likewise, we can be full of fear, anger or bitterness - poisonous like the hemlock seed which has all the properties of the poisonous hemlock plant. The poisonous hemlock plant grows and blossoms the same as the acorn and the rose. Do we react with active faith?
Give and it will be given to you...for by your standard of measure it will be measured to you. (Luke 6:38) Do we give active faith in all situations or do we react with anger, bitterness, judgment, or fear? When others react badly to us, how do we react? Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you...bless them which use you. (Luke 6:27-36) More than doing the right thing, this is the law of sowing and reaping - the law of cause and effect.
God's law of nature brings forth the tree from the seed. The fruit of the seed shows very clearly what seed has been planted in the soil. The fruit of life bears forth visible evidence of what seeds have been planted in thought, word and deed.
The good news is that we can live by grace and not by law through Jesus Christ. We can renew our mind, body and spirit by giving them up to God and allowing the body, mind and spirit of Christ to dwell in us. We need to decrease and he must increase. (John 3:30) We must do as John the Baptist did, allow Christ to increase. Christ must increase in us and our human ego must decrease.
When we realize our error, we may not be able to immediately control our thoughts, words and reactions or use active faith. Our human will may be weak. We all have bad human habits. But we can let go of our will and take the yoke of Christ upon us, his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Once we let go of our ego and let Christ take over our body, mind and spirit the Father within will begin taking over our thoughts, words and reactions. The Father within will do the work. (John 14:10) Jesus said that we will do the things that he did and even greater things in his name. (John 5:30) With the body, mind and spirit of Christ we are one with the Father. We can claim the same things Jesus did.
Do you put a lamp under a bowl? Whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you and more. (Mark 4:21-25) Deliberately practice active faith and love. Forgive quickly and release people and events and let them go to the good God has waiting for them. I will arise and go to my Father.
If you enjoy this blog, please share a link to it with others! Much love, Terrie
© Copyright 2011 - http://bodymindandspirit2.blogspot.com/
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