Session 10
Leave yourself alone.
When we are bored, do we call it dead space? Perhaps the dead space is the living spaces, the breathing room.
Solitude, silence and secrecy, stills us, humbles us and makes us watchful.
Do we want to be approved, applauded, sought after, and highly regarded? YES! We want to exalt ourselves at the same time of avoiding ourselves. Solitude, silence, and secrecy help us break our addiction to self absorption and self avoidance. Do we run or stay too long from either one?
Jesus was usually not in a hurry; He did not complain, that we know of, that He had too much to do. The times when I slow down, I realize I enjoy the abundant life tremendously more.
Solitude = a space for listening, a cure for loneliness. Correct? In quietness, can we find the cure for loneliness? How? Maybe it is best to speak when tempted for selfish reasons to be silent. When we are tempted to justify, explain, excuse, exalt, gossip, or scold, we should be quiet. Maybe it is best to keep silent when tempted for selfish reasons to speak. When we are tempted to lay low, let things sort themselves out, rock the boat, say anything that might cause trouble, we should speak. What about when we are scared, misunderstood, or hurt? Both are costly and should be self giving. Does love allow people to continue rather to change for the better?
Silence = listening to God and others. When nothing is on (radio, TV, etc), do you tend to listen for the voice of God? Do we need to train ourselves that way? There was once a man who left 15 minutes early for lunch not to eat, but to stand with eyes closed and ears open in the middle of machinery. He was listening for brokenness. Do we leave for 5 minutes to listen for resolutions to our brokenness? WE SHOULD. Prayer can deteriorate into White House chatter (ppl not really listening but instead nodding, smiling and saying regular things: nice, God bless, Praise God).
Secrecy = hiding something out of humility; acting on the belief that the reward of God matters more than the reward of man. It is not hiding behind fig leaves, because of humiliation and selfishness, nor is it bragging of the wisdom we received from biting into the fruit in disobedience. How can we find a balance between when to tell and when to keep God's secret to ourselves?
Learn the mute language. Be interested in what God wants to say. Consciencely make the mouth close. In prayer, asking God what He wants and thinks needs humility and brokenness, opposites of regular human things. In Matthew 7 at the Transfiguration, Christ was on glory and God says: "Listen to Him". Instead of wasting 1/2 hour worrying about what to get done first on our 'to do' list - ask God - He will prioritize and things will flow seemingly. Give up control. Stop running things and God will. The word is like a glove. God can put His hand inside it and touch us. We don't drink every week, we drink daily. We are portable sanctuaries.
Be still and know that I am God. Be not do, still not movement, know is just believing, that HE IS.
When we are bored, do we call it dead space? Perhaps the dead space is the living spaces, the breathing room.
Solitude, silence and secrecy, stills us, humbles us and makes us watchful.
Do we want to be approved, applauded, sought after, and highly regarded? YES! We want to exalt ourselves at the same time of avoiding ourselves. Solitude, silence, and secrecy help us break our addiction to self absorption and self avoidance. Do we run or stay too long from either one?
Jesus was usually not in a hurry; He did not complain, that we know of, that He had too much to do. The times when I slow down, I realize I enjoy the abundant life tremendously more.
Solitude = a space for listening, a cure for loneliness. Correct? In quietness, can we find the cure for loneliness? How? Maybe it is best to speak when tempted for selfish reasons to be silent. When we are tempted to justify, explain, excuse, exalt, gossip, or scold, we should be quiet. Maybe it is best to keep silent when tempted for selfish reasons to speak. When we are tempted to lay low, let things sort themselves out, rock the boat, say anything that might cause trouble, we should speak. What about when we are scared, misunderstood, or hurt? Both are costly and should be self giving. Does love allow people to continue rather to change for the better?
Silence = listening to God and others. When nothing is on (radio, TV, etc), do you tend to listen for the voice of God? Do we need to train ourselves that way? There was once a man who left 15 minutes early for lunch not to eat, but to stand with eyes closed and ears open in the middle of machinery. He was listening for brokenness. Do we leave for 5 minutes to listen for resolutions to our brokenness? WE SHOULD. Prayer can deteriorate into White House chatter (ppl not really listening but instead nodding, smiling and saying regular things: nice, God bless, Praise God).
Secrecy = hiding something out of humility; acting on the belief that the reward of God matters more than the reward of man. It is not hiding behind fig leaves, because of humiliation and selfishness, nor is it bragging of the wisdom we received from biting into the fruit in disobedience. How can we find a balance between when to tell and when to keep God's secret to ourselves?
Learn the mute language. Be interested in what God wants to say. Consciencely make the mouth close. In prayer, asking God what He wants and thinks needs humility and brokenness, opposites of regular human things. In Matthew 7 at the Transfiguration, Christ was on glory and God says: "Listen to Him". Instead of wasting 1/2 hour worrying about what to get done first on our 'to do' list - ask God - He will prioritize and things will flow seemingly. Give up control. Stop running things and God will. The word is like a glove. God can put His hand inside it and touch us. We don't drink every week, we drink daily. We are portable sanctuaries.
Be still and know that I am God. Be not do, still not movement, know is just believing, that HE IS.
posted by Salina | 6:23 p.m.
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