Posted on Christian Practicing Yoga website, read here.
It's OK Not to be OK...
Ho-Ho-Oh-No!
“Ho-ho-oh……..no! I don’t think I have the energy to do the holidays this year. Wait! Yes! The holidays. Twinkling lights. Goodwill toward mankind, Hallmark Christmas movies. Snap out of it, Grinch! This is exactly what we need, especially after the trainwreck of 2020”.
“Ok, Ok, I can do this! I got this. I just won’t think about all that was lost this year. I won’t dwell on the fact Christmas may look different this year, in a year that old traditions would be comforting. The gatherings. Family……”
Cue the emotional breakdown.
”Screw it! I’m just going to sit on the couch in my jammies, guzzling eggnog and binging Christmas cookies. That’s all the holiday spirit I have!”
Welcome to the internal dialogue of my holiday prep talk; The Crash and Burn edition.
Entering into the holiday season is not all jingle bells and ho ho ho for everyone. To be honest, it can be a hard time of year for a lot of people.
Decorating, presents, cooking, and family dynamics. Now add the stress of the holidays in a COVID world, and we are dowsing gasoline on an already blazing fire.
According to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
1 in 5 adults experience mental illness in the US
19.3% of U.S. adults with mental illness also experienced a substance use disorder
Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S.
46% of people who die by suicide had a diagnosed mental health condition
17.7 million people in the US in 2018 have stated/admitted to a depressive episode
48 million people in the US in 2018 have identified with having an anxiety disorder
And 9 million people have stated to have PTSD
I can only imagine what those stats will look like for 2020.
The holidays can bring on anxiety and depression and/or trigger old wounds causing our mental health to take a nosedive.
In a sermon by Paul W. Powel, he states, “Depression is the common cold of our emotions. Eventually, it touches everyone, even God’s people”
Yes! No mask or social distancing can keep you immune. And all the Lysol in the world can’t eradicate it.
So if we can’t sanitize depression away, then how do we become aware of its effects on our lives and how do we live.
It’s Ok Not to be Ok
Take a minute to check in with yourself. Be honest. In the past days, weeks, or months have you had feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness that just won’t go away?
Do you recall any angry outbursts, irritability, or frustration over small matters that overrun your day?
Have you had a loss of interest/pleasure in most or all normal activities?
And then when you finally did something fun, did tiredness and lack of energy overwhelm you?
Are you noticing sleep disturbances, including insomnia and restlessness?
Or what about bouts of unexplained anxiety?
And are you having trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions, and remembering things?
Now, I am not telling you all of this to ruin your day. It’s OK, not to be OK sometimes. Just because you had a restless sleep last night, doesn’t mean your mental health is suffering. Maybe that is something to be aware of and keep track of OR maybe it’s your husband’s snoring that’s keeping you up! (I can speak to both situations!)
And I am not pointing these things out to make you feel weak-minded or suggesting that you should control these unwanted thoughts, feelings, and emotions.
When these thoughts, feelings, and emotions go unchecked, it can cause stress to our mental health. Stress that can trigger our nervous system into overdrive. And send our bodies out of whack.
Let me offer you some encouragement. What you are going through is real. You're not overreacting or making a big deal out of nothing. Take heart, it may be biological and/or situational. Or a symptom of living in uncertain times.
The Perfect Storm
The definition of a distressing situation:
o It was unexpected
o The person was unprepared
o There was nothing the person could do to stop it from happening
We live in a fallen world. Every day there are numerous distressing situations that we are unprepared for and there is nothing anyone could do to stop it from happening.
Along with our everyday stress, add the stress of hunting down toilet paper, the emotional toll of living during a worldwide pandemic, and the pressure of being a “perfect” Christian through it all; it’s the perfect storm for a mental breakdown.
With depression and anxiety so prevalent, what does it look like within the church constructs and how do we deal with it when “praying it away” or “holding every thought captive” is not working.
Depression and Anxiety Within God’s People
There’s often been a stigma attached to mental health within the church—as if having faith in Jesus makes you immune from suffering with mental illness. Or you’re still suffering because you have not prayed the right prayers, or there is some deep, hidden sin you are not confessing.
When we think God doesn't understand what we are going through or you feel you are the only person going through this difficult patch, all you have to do is open up the Bible and see that God has been “dealing with” people like you. Like me. Like us. For a very long time.
Let’s look at some spiritual giants in the Bible that struggled with some of the same things we are struggling with today.
Jonah was angry and ran away.
Job suffered great loss and physical illness.
Mose had feelings of anger and betrayal from his own people.
Jeremiah wrestled with great loneliness, feelings of defeat, and insecurity.
Elijah felt alone, afraid, worthless, depressed, and suicidal.
The poor guy couldn’t catch a break! He was called by God to be a prophet, but he was constantly mocked and condemned for doing the right thing. The last straw was when Queen Jezebel wanted him dead. Elijah was just on a spiritual mountain top, relishing his accomplishments for God and BAMM! Down into the emotional valley he slides.
He runs away from friends and family. He withdrawals from everything he knows and finds comfort in. He feels like a failure and cries out that he has had it! He is done. Elijah tells God, “take my life for I am no better than my ancestors” (1 Kings 19:4). He is emotionally spent and physically drained. And he sleeps for days.
Feel like throwing in the towel?
Can’t get out of bed.
Can you relate?
I sure can.
Still not convinced God can relate to your struggle? Let’s look at the poster child of mental anguish, King David as described in this article.
David was troubled and battled deep despair, sadness, depression, rejection, abandonment, and pure anguish.
David struggled his whole life.
He fought a giant ill-equipped.
He was betrayed by a close friend and mentor.
He made poor personal choices that resulted in some harsh consequences.
Dealt with a lot of loss in his life. Losing his best friend, a mentor, a baby, and an older son.
His children were rebellious.
Had a stressful job with the title of “King of God’s chosen people”.
And he faced extreme spiritual pressure being called “a man after God’s own heart”
Some of David’s Old Testament struggles are my present-day reality. And the laments of David in the Psalms resemble my private journal entries.
Psalm 69
“Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck
I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold.
I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me.
I am worn out calling for help, my throat is parched”
Sound familiar? I know I have called out like this more than once in my life
Heck, I have called out like that several times this week!
Don’t Minimize Your Pain
God didn’t make Elijah feel guilty for his emotions. No shame. God simply accepted where he was and listened. He held space for the prophet to verbally purge out his destructive feelings. And when the emotional storm was over, God ministered to Elijah in the stillness of the moment.
David acknowledged what he was feeling. He cried out to the Lord about this weariness, anger, and worry. David didn’t hide his thoughts, feelings, and emotions. He let it all out. And God listened every time.
So, what does this look like for you? Right now in this dumpster fire of 2020.
Can I offer you some encouragement and suggestions?
Give yourself some grace. Take heart that the greats of the Bible can relate to your situation. They had the same feelings of worry, anxiety, and depression that you are having
Be aware. Give yourself some time to acknowledge what is coming up, and don’t shame it away or minimize your pain. It’s real. Be like David and get it all out. Name it. Look at it. Don’t bury your feelings.
Take a deep breath. See what’s coming up and acknowledge it. Even if you can’t give a name to what you are feeling and why; acknowledge it. Be a witness for whatever is coming up. Bring what you are feeling into the light where shame can’t fester and grow.
Get it out. Perhaps, journal, move your body, go for a walk, sing, cry out to the Lord. But try not to zone out and detach. You know what I mean, endless scrolling on your phone. Do I need to say more?
And then when your thoughts are settled go to God, read His word.
You Are Not Alone
The greatest truth is this, we have a God who understands our pain, who knows about every weakness and hurt, and He still reaches out with compassion and hope.
He is a Healer. Redeemer. Restorer. And a faithful friend.
Don’t feel the need to try to hide your pain, or struggle on your own. Talk to a friend, pastor or counselor.
Let’s tear down the walls of shame we have built around our feeling of anxiety and depression.
Maybe this the revolution/revival the Church is in need of.
If you find yourself in dark places today, know that you’re not alone. Not ever. God knows your heart, you are made in His image, and He is with you always. He longs to mend your broken pieces into a beautiful tapestry.
Dear Jesus
Dear Jesus………………………Amen.
I have been feeling a lot like this meme lately. I simply don’t have the words for the feelings I’m having.
Too much going on in the world. Too much division. Too much hurt.
Where do I start praying? How do I pray? What do I pray for?
And what words do I offer when I don’t even understand what is going on?
However, I still feel the need to pray, so I start-Dear Jesus…..
Followed by silence. And ending in frustration
So, I try again-Dear Jesus……
This time incomplete words start to form in my head (hey, got further than last time) but stop there. And become overwhelmed by it all.
I am also saddened because feel like a failure. A fraud. The world needs prayer. People need our intercession. And all I can do is stammer a few Dear Jesus’ and stare blankly at the wall.
J.C. Ryle says, “Fear not because your prayer is stammering, your words feeble, and your language poor. Jesus can understand you.”
Oh, thank you, Jesus. You’re the best because I can’t make sense of any of it! Somedays it not even stammering but a heaviness within my heart followed by a groaning of my spirit.
Since March, every month has introduced a new reality and trauma that my mind can’t process. Covid 19, stay-at-home-orders, protests against racism, and riots. All this in the span of just 3-months.
I feel my words have decreased while the stammering and groaning have increased.
The Message version of Romans 26-28 reads, “If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves and keeps us present before God”.
God hears the groaning of our hearts. And the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf and makes prayers out of our wordless sighs.
Well, thank goodness for that! That takes the pressure off. So, I will continue to show up, and offer up my wordless sighs, aching groans, and feeble words. God will do the rest. And perhaps one day my thoughts and emotions can catch up.
Anyone else feel like this? At a loss for words but filled with emotions? Take heart, you are not alone. One day we will be able to process all 2020 threw at us. But right now we need to sit in the present moment with the wordless sighs and our aching groans and let the mending and healing process begin.
God is not in the chaos, but in the ever present peace and stillness of the moment.
1 Kings 19:11-13- The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. When a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
While the wind whips around you, and the rain drenches you from above, and the fire scorches from all directions and the earth quakes beneath you, God invites us to meet him in the silence. He’s that ever so small voice that whispers, I Am and I see you.
God is not in the chaos, but in the ever present peace and stillness of the moment.
And sometimes reveals himself in the ordinary to get our attention.
When Elijah was feeling alone, afraid, worthless and depressed, God got his attention by a simple, ordinary act and met him in the silence.
God passed by not as the wind, or an earthquake, or a fire, but as a gentle whisper.
The battle may be raging on, but God invites us into the silence by way of the ordinary.
Perhaps challenge yourself to look for God in the ordinary. (There’s a lot of ordinary going on these days!) And listen for what He has to say to you in the silence.
Target Run and Undone
I finally made it to Target during the pandemic. I felt like I was making a pilgrimage to a holy site. I donned my protective facemask, threw my Clorox wipes in my purse, and headed out.
Freedom!!!
Everything looked so foreign. I forgot what the streets and landscape looked like a mile from my house.
As I was driving to the Promiseland, I envisioned the aisles flowing with milk and honey.
But when I got there, it was flowing with masked people making a beeline to the paper goods aisle and splitting off to the cleaning aisle all the while trying to keep 6 ft apart.
The aisles had milk and honey, just not TB and hand sanitizer.
I went seeking some normalcy. Trying to regain a sense of my old routine. But all I left with was anxiety, guilt, and half the things on my list!
Anxiety because the masks covers people’s faces, but accentuates the fear and uncertainty in their eyes. Guilt due to the feeling I was endangering humanity when I wandered aimlessly throughout the store. And items forgotten because my mind was too busy focusing on telling my hands not to touch my face!
Target run undone by Corona.
What else has Corona undone these past weeks/months? I know, I know, "we should look at the blessings and the bright side of all this." Oh, I am. God uses all things for His glory, and I truly believe He is using this in big and unbelievable ways.
But I also believe this is a time to grieve what we have lost. Acknowledge what has been taken from us. And give witness to how it’s affecting us.
Surrender
The Practice of Surrender
“I am only here for Savasana” was my mantra during the first few months of my yoga practice. And boy, did I mean it! When I first began yoga, I couldn’t wait for the class to be over so I could lay down! I mean….get into savasana. At the time, I didn’t know the benefits of that final resting pose. My body was just tired and worn, and the “I get to lay down soon” was a great motivator to keep going.
Being a fan of savasana is totally against my personality. You would never catch me sitting on my couch binge-watching tv, let alone lying down in a yoga studio. But there was something about savasana that drew me in—something about the stillness, the quiet, and the surrender.
Oh, the surrender. The surrender of my will. Surrender of my anxious thoughts. And surrender of all doing.
At the end of class, when I could sense people around me getting up, I went deeper. Deeper into stillness. Deeper into surrender.
In that surrender is where I hear the voice of God. Where I feel the divine connection of my soul to His will.
Although I didn't know it at the time, my body and mind longed for the stillness and surrender. It was the only time I was not fighting an unseen battle—the battle of my mind and the battle of my will.
I didn’t know it at the time, but what I was experiencing was the yogi principle of Ishvara Pranidhana. Ishvara Pranidhana is the Niyama, or observance, of surrender.
In the book, “The Yamas & Niyamas,” Deborah Adele states, “Surrender invites us to be active participants in our life, totally present and fluid with each moment while appreciating the magnitude and mystery of what we are participating in."
My first tell of me not practicing Ishvara Pranidhana is my breath. It’s shallow. I hold it. I some how think not taking a full breath keeps uncertainty at bay. Or if I hold my breath, I can control the situation or keep the bad news from reaching my ears. With my breath restricted, my thoughts begin to run rampant and the crazy train starts to pull out of the station
I want to live a life of Ishvara Pranidhana. Not of gripping, or holding my breath and running scenarios in my head. But a life in full active surrender to the present moment and what that moment holds for me. And in that act of surrender I want to learn to appreciate the magnitude and mystery of what I am participating in. I don’t want to fear it, control it or try to make sense of it.
B. K. S. Iyengar states in his “Light on the Yoga Sutras," "Through surrender the aspirant's ego is effaced, and...grace...pours down upon him like a torrential rain."
Grace.
Pours.
Down.
B.K. you had me at grace…..
That is precisely how I feel in savasana. Laying there, soaking up grace into every cell of my body as it pours down and washes over me. Reminding me “Thy will be done.”
How do I take what I long for in Savasana and carrying that off my mat into the world?
How can I live a life of Ishvara Pranidhana during that hard conversation, cooking dinner after a long day or interacting with the checkout person who is asking me for the 1,0000 time if I want a Target credit card!?
I may not live every second of every day in total surrender. Still, at least I can approach my mat with an offering and mindset of Ishvara Pranidhana and see where my practice leads. And take my experience off my mat and into the world around me.
Felons, Convicts and Addicts, Oh My!
Originally posted at Dailyps.com
You do know you’re in a room full of convicted felons, right?”, Bill asked.
This little detail was news to me. “Oh,” I respond, wide-eyed. “Does that change the way you think of us?” I look down at the floor for a moment, awkwardly shuffle my feet and consider my response, “Actually, it really does!”
I look up and smirk. “Because now I know this place is really safe. ‘Cause none of you can legally carry a gun!”
Bill and I laugh. We hug. There’s an unspoken understanding between us. Here in this group, people are seen. Not judged.
Providence brought us together. Bill and his ministry partner, John, (names have been changed to protect the not so innocent) are two former alcoholics who were looking for space to conduct a meditation gathering for their 12 Step program. They reached out to a local pastor to see if the church had space for their meeting. Approval was granted. However, they had one more request. John asked the pastor, ”Do you know anyone that actually leads meditation because we don’t?” They had absolutely no idea how to lead meditation and they didn’t have any connections to find someone who did. The Pastor shook his head. Chuckled at their dilemma and said, “Yeah, I’ve got just the gal for you.”
Only God
I was that gal! For months now, I’ve been leading their meditation group. I’ve grown to love this rag-tag gathering. They come religiously to calm their minds and lighten their spirits. They also come for the community. Each week, we learn a little more about each other. We are building trust. We are making connections. And we are creating a safe place. Three things addicts never had. Or once did, but lost along the way.
The truth is most of us have been touched by addiction. It is not an isolated experience. According to Addiction Center.com:
Almost 21 million Americans have at least one addiction, yet only 10% receive treatment.Drug overdose deaths have more than tripled since 1990.From 1999 to 2017, more than 700,000 Americans died from overdosing.About 20% of Americans who have depression or an anxiety disorder also have a substance use disorder.
Those stats are staggering! On some level or another addiction impacts us all. Whether it’s a personal battle or the intense struggle of someone we love, our longings are the same. Each of us desires to be fully seen for who we are without being overwhelmed with shame and guilt.
Addicts need to be seen as more than their past addictions.
They carry regret around with them, and sometimes it’s simply too heavy a burden. They have not learned to forgive themselves. Often they feel society looks at them as dangerous, weak, and immoral. Some believe they don’t deserve good things to happen to them. Unfortunately, the tremendous weight of all that can often trigger them to use, and the cycle begins again.
Related Post: How To Experience Life Change Through Love
We are ALL recovering from something. It’s true. Whether it’s drugs, alcohol, overeating, abuse, trauma, mental health issues, or a slew of other possible addictions, we’re all susceptible. We all need grace. Grace from ourselves. From others. From God. Accepting that grace can sometimes be the biggest obstacle.
God sees you as one of His own. He longs to hold you, heal you, and hear from you. Jesus died to bring us into relationship with God. To wash away our sins so we don’t have to carry that burden. (Romans 6:18 NIV)
If you have an addiction, are recovering from one, or loving someone who is an addict, take heart! God will meet you exactly where you are.
Jesus isn’t afraid of what you’ve done. He was charged as a convict too, so He knows what you’re going through. Jesus knows your brokenness and He knows your shame and He took it all on when He died on the cross.
You are not alone. He has been there and He sees you. Just like He saw the convict/thief on the cross next to him, He didn’t view the thief as unworthy but as a child of God. Someone He came to save and who would have a place with Him in Paradise.
So, don’t continue to carry the burden Jesus died to take away.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1 NIV)
Every addict needs to be seen. Shame-free. Guilt-free. To be in community with Him and others. To know that addicts, yes, even struggling ones, are loved and welcomed into community. Into Paradise. Where we see a room full of sin and shame, God sees a room filled with His children. He knows our dark places and it doesn’t change the way He looks at us. He wants to mend us right where we are.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV).
How can you see yourself as God sees you? And more challenging, how can you see others as God sees them?
Give the Gift of Healthy Boundaries
The most loving word in the English language is a simple two-letter word that I didn't learn until I was in my 40’s.
That word is…
NO
I grew up in a home where boundaries were a foreign concept.
“No” was a word filled with guilt and uncertainty. Uncertainty on how it would be perceived and uncertainly regarding the response once the word was uttered.
And guilt always seemed to linger because a good daughter, sister, and friend ALWAYS says "yes," no matter the cost.
I seriously didn't know what boundaries were or how to use them until I read Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud. When I finished, I was woke! I walked around with that book in hand, asking people, “Do you know about these magical things called boundaries!?” I though them more beautiful and mystical than unicorns!
Here I was, a grown woman, shaking a dog eared, overly hi-lited book in people's faces. People must have thought ME as a person they need to enact boundaries with ASAP!
In learning how to use boundaries, there has been a learning curve. In the beginning, I felt like Goldilocks. Too hard, too soft, just right. I felt guilty for saying no. I was anxious that I would have to whip one out in the middle of Target. And sad when I realized I needed to use the most with those closest to me.
Boundaries are Good and God Honoring
I made peace with boundaries and learned how to use them when I realized they are good and God-honoring. Heck, Jesus models the use of good boundaries numerous times in the Bible.
Boundaries sometimes feel like taboo to Christians. Somehow we made the word “no” feel bad. We think if we say "no," we are being mean or not being Christ-like. Or have thoughts people will think of us as selfish or lazy. We hear that voice in our head, “Well, a good Christian would do this," or "A good Christian would help out more."
Yes, we are called to help and serve but with healthy boundaries set in place.
When we don't set boundaries, we take on responsibilities, issues, and roles that God never intended us to manage.
Jesus was great about setting boundaries with friends and family. (Well, He is God, so of course, He was good at it!) Jesus set a hard and fast boundary with Peter when he was trying to get all up into the business of John and Jesus's relationship.
Jesus also set a firm boundary with his mom on several occasions. He told her to chill at the Caana wedding and firmly said to her that them running out of wine was not his problem or responsibility (John 2:1-11)
And in the Book of Mark when His family tried to come to get Him, Jesus spoke truth in love when He told them no (Mark 3:20-21, 31-34)
Fence Around Your House
Think of boundaries as a fence around a house. It lets things in and keeps things out. You gotta’ keep up with the maintenance. Tend to weeds, overgrowth, and new sprouting’s within the perimeter. Be aware of what is outside the fence that may be infringing. And be ready to close the gate door at a moment’s notice!
A boundary is a dividing line that separates people from one another. There are areas in my life, thoughts, actions, beliefs, and values that belong to me, and there are areas in your life that belong to you. So, let’s keep it that way!
Boundaries define us. Define who we are and who we aren’t.
Boundaries are about taking responsibility for our own lives and about self-control.
From the SoulShepherding site. https://www.soulshepherding.org/jesus-set-boundaries/ “To know yourself and be secure that you are loved is essential to all relationships and activities. The better your boundaries of self-awareness and self-definition are, the greater your capacity to offer empathy and love to others. Good boundaries help you to care for others because you have a stable foundation to operate from and are not distracted or depleted by personal insecurities or blind spots."
Give the Gift of Healthy Boundaries
The holidays are a joyful time. However, they can put a strain on relationships and what is excepted from one another.
During this time of year, we need to reinforce boundaries-like Jesus did-to help others respect our lives and relationships. We can care for ourselves AND others by setting proper boundaries.
It’s ok to step back and have some time to yourself. It’s ok to tell your family in truth and love that their unsolved issues are not your issues. And it’s ok to keep friends and family out of the intimate details regarding your personal life.
Knowing how and when to use a boundary is mending the places that are torn and worn from years of improper use.
Each day gets easier knowing when to set a boundary and being aware of what should be inside our fence and become more aware of what should be outside. The process becomes more natural.
So, this holiday season, along with baking, decorating, and finding that perfect gift for Auntie Jan, give yourself the gift of healthy boundaries.
Early Morning Wake Up Call
If you see me awake before the sun rise’s and I am not sucking down some caffeine, run, don’t walk! Your life might be in danger. I have never been a morning person. I never understood “those people” who woke up before the sun was up to work out, to read the bible or to pray. I always thought there was something seriously wrong with them. There is plenty of time to do those things. Why wake up at the crack of dawn? Personally, I don’t want to hear from anyone before my first cup of Earl Grey tea, not even God. My personal opinion is, if He has something to tell me, the God of the Universe can surely do it around 2 pm. 2 pm works just great for me.
However, as my kids got older and my days filled, somehow, I kept missing my 2 pm appointment with the King of Kings. I began to notice my spiritual life wasn’t growing. I was uneasy in my soul. God was far away. I prayed for more margin in my life. For God to show me how to set my priorities. I desired to put Him first.
Well, those prayers must have been sent up on a slow prayer request day because God acted fast! A few days after I that, I woke up at 5:57 am. I thought it was a joke, so naturally, I turned over and went back to sleep. Next morning, my eyes popped open again at 5:57. Ugh! A lesson in prayer: Be careful what you pray for and be really specific in your petitions.
When this 5:57 wake-up call happened 4 days in a row, I knew God was serious. First, I asked God why 5:57? WHHHYYYY??? Was it some biblical end times numerologic code? Because me getting up at 5:57 am is a sign of end times.
Like a stubborn child, I fought the early wake up call for a few more days. Then revelation! God was giving me what I asked for. I was just too bleary eyed to notice. I thanked Him for answered prayer, however, I did ask if I could renegotiate the time. After my specific prayers of asking to sleep until 7 am, God who is merciful, let me sleep another hour, and I would wake at 6:57am.
As this became my routine, I began to look forward to my early morning wake up call. A scared appointment. Me, God, my bible, and a cup of Earl Grey. I went to bed excited to wake up early the next morning. I could not wait to hear how God would speak to me through His Word.
However, I noticed on the days I overslept and missed my divine appointment, my mind was scattered and I felt anything but peaceful. Or when I grabbed my phone before my Bible, the word didn’t sink in as deep, and I’d feel guilty that I chose to read an Instagram meme before the word of God.
I’ve learned why there are reasons God calls us to spend time with Him in the morning. These divine appointments set the tone for the rest of our day. He’s been giving his people early morning wake up calls since the beginning. When important decisions were to be made or essential activities needed to be accomplished, the Bible shows us that God’s people rose early to get their business done.
Rising early is mentioned in the Old Testament with stories of Abraham, Jacob, Moses and David who all "arose early in the morning."
Genesis 22:3 (NIV) “So Abraham rose early in the morning… ” Abraham rose early to carry out God’s Plan.
Genesis 28:18 (NIV) “Early the next morning, Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it.” Jacob got out of his not so comfy bed to mark the place he called “the gate of Heaven” from a dream he had the night before.
Exodus 24:4 (NIV) “Moses then wrote down everything the LORD had said. He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel.” Moses got up early to do what God told him to do the night before.
Psalm 5:3 (NIV) “In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning, I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch." David gave God his first thoughts.
Jesus also models early morning rising numerous times in the New Testament. Part of Jesus's focus, power, and wisdom come from spending time with His Father early in the morning.
Mark 1:35 (NIV) “In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.” Jesus models for us the intentional process of spending time with God.
Luke 4:42 (NIV)- “At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him, and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them." Before the pull of the day’s activities, Jesus made it a priority to spend some time alone.
Luke 21:37-38 (NIV) “Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.” People coming early suggests an eagerness to want to be filled with His teachings.
God’s voice can reach our minds easier in the morning. It is easier to hear God’s voice because our minds are not cluttered from the day yet. The day is also yet to be cluttered. There is a holy hush at daybreak. A stillness in the air. So, God’s got our attention.
Scripture is intentional. So, if it mentions early morning wake up calls, we should take notice. In waking early, we are giving God our first fruits and modeling Christ and allowing Him to shape our thoughts as we start the day. Intentionally create space to refill and renew your spiritual and mental cups of Earl Grey. Begin each day by allowing God to fill you.
Heck, if it’s good enough for the Old Testament greats and God incarnate, why don’t we follow their example. Don’t hit the snooze alarm. Grab your Bible and not your phone. Make God first and see how He moves throughout your day. This challenge will change your life.
Originally Posted on Just Between Us
https://justbetweenus.org/faith/relationship-with-god/spending-time-with-god-in-the-morning/
Prayer in Motion
“And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and the where holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people”. Revelations 5:8
My yoga mat is my therapist, my church pew, my gym and a dear friend. Some days I come to my mat to work out, other days the movement helps me work through some issues stuck in my mind and body. But most day, I bring petitions to the Lord for myself, friends and foe. My mat is where I can intercede on behalf of people. Through my movement, my prayers are lifted up to the high heavens and the Holy One. Where my prayers, like incense, float up to heaven and are kept in the bowl made known in Revelations. Every breath that I exhale is a petition towards the heavens and every inhale is me taking in God’s Presence.
Some people have options about Christians doing yoga, but to me, the movement (asana) aspect of yoga is prayer in motion. A type of full-body prayer as I move with one breath and one movement to offer my prayers to the King of Kings. This type of prayer, prayer in motion, allows me to slow down, be intentional and allows the peace of Christ to enter me. It’s an invitation to pause and reflect. And allows me to connect with my body and breath. Two things I neglect to pay attention to on a daily bases.
When I inhale and lift my hands over head, I imagine gathering the prayers of His people and releasing them to heaven. Then I humble myself before the Lord as I exhale into a forward fold. I let my exhale bring me up to a half way lift where I pause and humbly offer petitions to the Lord of Lords who wants to hear from His children. As I continue to pray with one breath and one movement, I exhale into lunge coming before the Lord on bended knee and lifted hands as a sign of surrender. My next inhale moves my body into downward facing dog where I take some time to go inward and reflect. Reflecting on how my body feels. Reflecting where my thoughts are. And reflecting on how the Spirit is moving within me. With my next inhale, I come into plank and lower to the mat on the exhale. Inhaling into cobra I offer my heart to the Lord. Asking Him to speak His truth and word into my open heart. The next exhale brings my body back to a downdog and I reflect on what was spoken to me. I continue to move until I sense the Spirit telling me to rest and then come into Child’s pose and have the Spirit wash over me.
As I let my practice settle into my body, I image my prayers offered up to the Lord during my practice as incense floating up to the heavens. The thoughts and words that left my body as breath and vapor are now reaching heaven as sweet incense. The sweet incense is pleasing to God not because of the fragrance but by what it represents: the prayers of His child.
Our prayers are so important to Him that He collects them in “golden bowls” in heaven. Your prayers. My prayers. All collected and kept in golden bowls in heaven. Wow! We serve an awesome God that He would care to hear all our prayers and keep them in such a precious item.
So, next time you pray, by moving or staying still, envision your prayers leaving your mouth, and flowing up to the heavens where they are collected and kept as treasures.