Tag: promise

Suggestive Relaxation

In the oft recited 23rd Psalm there is a phrase I am learning to appreciate. David writes: The Shepherd makes or lets me rest in green meadows and leads me beside quiet streams. (vs.2). So which is it? Make or let?

I did a little research and the one thought that bubbled to the top was the Shepherd cannot make the sheep lay down. They won’t do that until all their needs are met. Therefore, because verse 1 is true, verse 2 is possible.

But sometimes I don’t know all my needs are met because I’m so hyper-focused on my wants. I’m stomping through the wilderness wondering about when my next meal is coming (next provision) and I practically trip right over it. I’m such a dumb sheep.

But there is also a rich gift here that I have only too recently begun to recognize and appreciate.

Last fall I began utilizing a program of hypnosis/suggested relaxation to address my food/weight issues. The first thing I realized was that I didn’t know how to relax.

I have often said that as the oldest child of alcoholics (albeit functioning ones) I learned early on to be hyper-vigilant. This was a must for self-protection and in my attempts to keep my siblings from upsetting the parents. The latter was not something I did very well. The residual effects of these behaviors has left me constantly busy and pretty good at reading an audience.

Relaxing has too often felt self-indulgent. It reminds me of a book title I saw once, “When I Relax I Feel Guilty.” Intriguing while it might have been, I didn’t have the time to read it.

But rest is something different. It is holy. It is gift. It will also be the topic of my next sermon series. I found a quote which caused me to pause and reflect on my need to make more room in my life for this holy gift. The quote is from Jerry Flora’s book, “Classic Friends (p. 15).”

“On relaxing: Once Abbot Anthony was conversing, with some brethren, and a hunter who was after game in the wilderness came upon them. He say Abbot Anthony and the brothers enjoying themselves, and disapproved. Abbot Anthony said: “Put an arrow in your bow and shoot it.” This he did. “Now shoot another,” said the elder. “And another, and another.” The hunter said: “If I bend my bow all the time it will break.” Abbot Anthony replied: “So it is also in the work of God. If we puts ourselves beyond measure, the brethren will soon collapse. It is right, therefore, from time to time, to relax their efforts.”

Once upon a time a pastor was chastised by a hard working peer when found engaged in a soul-feeding pastime. The peer proudly pronounced that since Satan never took a day off, neither would they. Clearly unimpressed, the resting pastor, compassionately responded with a clear redirection: My friend you are following the wrong example. Then went onto to point out that even God rested from creative labor.

I’m not sure what you’ll be able to take away from this. I hope that you can sense the provision, presence, and promise of the Shepherd…and that you find rest for your soul. There really are green pastures and quiet streams just for you.

20/20 Vision

In the first four chapters of Deuteronomy we find the account of the people of Israel poised at the edge of the Promised Land and their resulting fear. Several times Moses reminds them that God had promised them the land so they should act on the promise. The people lacked the faith to do so. Instead they asked Moses to send some scouts in to the land and come back to report what they saw. The plan seemed to make sense to Moses because he figured that the report would remind them of what they stood to gain and reinforce the need to act on the promise and take the land.

Reading about the tension that was rising between Moses and the people reminded what a difference perspective can make. Moses seemed incredulous that the people were so reluctant to move forward when God, the God of the universe, the God who had parted the Red Sea and cared for their every need in the wilderness, would fail to come through for them now. The people were equally mystified in Moses’ obvious lack of understanding regarding the impossibility of the situation. Sure, the land looked good, but the giants loomed that much larger. The two perspectives couldn’t be more diametrically opposed.

The whole thing sounded like the old proverb that you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. God can lead you to his promise, but he can’t make you believe it. The people were looking at the situation through the lenses of “what is” and it resulted in great fear. Moses was looking at the situation and seeing the great potential that awaited them.

What happens when you look at what is going on around you? When you consider the circumstances where you find yourself are you overwhelmed by what you see, or hope for what can be? In terms of MBTI, are you more of an intuitive or sensate? Are fixated on what you can draw from you situation with your senses, or do you find yourself stuck on the potentialities? Certainly we need balance in the two dimensions, but we will always more naturally lean to one response or the other.

So what about God? My first thought was that He must be a strong iNtuitive. After all, the grand quote about God is that with Him “all things are possible.” That, in fact, we can do all things through Christ (God incarnate) who strengthens us. Talk about potential!
But what about those of us who were born in Missouri? You know us, we are the descendants of Thomas: we need to see it to believe it. God created us with our wiring as it is, so there must value to be a sensory oriented person, one who makes decisions based on what ‘is’ not the illusive “what might be.” Here’s what I think. I believe that God created both ends of the spectrum not only so that we would balance each other, but so that we could be more balanced individually. One is no more valuable or “right” than the other. While understanding our personality is helpful to getting a handle on our behavior, it seems to me it would best to understand God better. We need to learn to take Him at His word, that we can trust Him to come through on His promises.

Here’s what I suggest you do if you find you’re coming up a little short in the trust department, if the task God is asking you to face seems full of giants. Flip to the end of the book. It’s okay. God won’t mind. When you read the end you find that we win. Now turn back to Romans, and catch how Paul describes your position: In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:37, NRSV) Oh, and here’s the one I really love. Find 2 Chronicles 20:20. Ezra leads up to this great verse by telling the people in verse 15: Do not fear or be dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God’s. Then he reinforces this with verse 17: The battle is not for you to fight; take your position, stand still, and see the victory of the Lord on your behalf. Then the 20;20 moment comes the next day when they get up and go out to battle, he tells them: Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed.

Our dependence on God results in 20:20 vision. So whether you more naturally get focused on what is right in front of you or you jump into all the potentiality of the moment, your vision will be perfect when you trust God and take him at His word. That’s the response that makes the most sense, because if you read on in Deuteronomy you’ll find that it really didn’t go very well for those who gave into their fears. For them it was back out into the wilderness and they never were able to experience the blessings of the Promised Land. And all the possibilities of that kind of experience make me want to be sure I’m holding onto God’s perspective. How about you?

Reflecting:
-Are you struggling with a difficult situation? Are the Giants closing in?
-What promises are you clinging to? What promises do you need to find to hold on?
-You may not feel like a winner right now, but keep reminding yourself that the battle is God’s and he sees you as more than a conqueror!