WHEN GOD OPENS DOORS

 SPIRITUAL DESTINY & YOU

"I am a little pencil in God’s hands." -Mother Teresa

YOUR JOURNEY

ADULT LIFE IS a mind game. You choose your destiny by how you choose to deal with your past, present, and future. Healthy or unhealthy, you hold the keys to your path. Happy or unhappy, it is up to you. You owe it to yourself to deal with your stuff and move forward. You can do this.

Inner-directedness means we are guided by our own personal beliefs, God's Spirit within us, and the right thing to do in the circumstance. We do not worry about what other people think since our motivation is to walk in the Spirit. This frees us from needing others to direct us.

A living faith opens doors into greater, broader realms of newness and joy. Living faith is known through the Spirit of God. It is manufactured through His enabling, enlivening, holy, supernatural Presence. The evidence of this inner liveliness is seen in an individual's words, actions and at times by a glowing radiance.Their visage is soft, not hard.

 YOU + GOD

Looking forward, then moving forward, meeting new challenges as they come, wave after wave, provides energy with synergy that makes a huge difference in your outlook and bearing as a believer. You look to God. God infuses you with the strength you need. He helps grow you as a person and fills your days with His grace. 

"My heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence."  Acts 2:26-28

 THE SECRET

God gives us what we need when we need it. You are on a spiritual journey that will change you. It will change how you think, how you respond, what you do, and what matters in life. There's always something more to learn as you move forward to meet the next thing. Though it won't be easy, you can do this. Here's the secret; keep your eyes on Christ.

APPLICATION

1. Start each day by thanking God for it.
2. Ask God to direct your day.
3. Talk to God throughout your day.

Do this and your days take on new meaning and greater purpose. You become a blessing to others. You are strengthened during challenges. You learn to trust God in everything. Your faith expands commensurate with your depth of trust in God. God is your silent partner.

God bless you.

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Meditation 3

Photo by Timothy Eberly, Unsplash 

 

GOD'S GRACE FOR TODAY

 

God's Grace and You

GRACE PERSONIFIED

• The story of Jesus is a story of grace.  
• The theme of Jesus' life's purpose and His doings is fully-lived grace. 
• The spiritual already-lived past bespeaks of grace. 
• The spiritual future-joy promises abundant grace. 
• This spiritual present-moment infuses grace in the divinely awakened.

 ABOUT GRACE

I have spent much of the past fifteen years talking about love: Christ's love, God's love, our need for love, the need for loving others, and the importance of love in the world. Not enough have I devoted my thoughts to ponder the gift of grace given to us by God through Christ.

This week I've been reading a book by Charles Spurgeon about prayer, The Power of Prayer in a Believer's Life. He emphasizes how prayer is wrapped beautifully in grace. Another book I'm reading is by author Eugenia Price, The Burden Is Light: A Spiritual Autobiography. She shares her story of waywardness until the grace of God entered her life and changed her heart.

I was astounded the first time I read in My Utmost for His Highest that it is good for us to have difficult people in our lives. Who wants to be around difficult people? Not me. Yet grace is most apparent when it is applied as it is being lived out. Our lives are an example of this. God gave us undeserved grace. We were recipients of His grace. To live grace with difficult people means we approach the Source of all grace by allowing ourselves to be grace-filled through His divine mercy and grace. Then we will act accordingly to the ways of grace in the difficult situation. Our flesh roars to the surface more often than we care to admit, but it is soon overtaken by God's grace that lives in and through us.

Grace, besides love, is the great compelling and fulfilling of the spiritual reality in life and living. A true Christian is "living-grace" to the lost, unawakened world. Grace does not see division or hopelessness. Grace sees hope and life and resurrection in the small to big things.

It's all about grace. It's all about love. It's all about Christ. It's all about redemption. It's all about life and living through the new life that can be had in Christ Jesus. "Grace, grace, God's grace; Grace that will pardon and cleanse within."

 God’s grace is freely given, not duly earned.

APPLICATION

Every time we pray, the very act of praying, is in supplication of God's grace. Awareness of God's grace becomes a way of viewing life through the spiritual lens of grace. Your life alters when grace becomes your partner throughout the day. Conversations and actions are converted to spiritual happenings once this is realized fully in you. 

Annoyances become opportunities to extend grace, to live grace, to be grace to others. To do this well requires supernatural grace to flow freely in us, through God's enabling. Since God is grace, He can liberally give us grace, from out of which, we are, in turn, able to give forth His grace to others.

1. Do you have a difficult person in your life right now? (I do) 

2. Ask God's grace in your interactions with them; then watch what happens.

3. God will help us.

WHY IT PAYS TO BE SELF-AWARE

SELF - AWARENESS PAYS OFF

You can have a wrong belief about yourself.

I used to believe I had little to offer. I didn’t think I was talented or smart enough. I was wrong. I’ve learned differently. God uses what you have and He grows it. 

You blossom under God's care.

 
THE PROBLEM

The problem surfaces when we are too focused on others’ so-called ‘perfect’ lives. We view others’ successes and accomplishments as better than our own. 

We can view ourselves as “less than.”

We begin to doubt ourselves when there are too many defeats and personal struggles. What we perceive as a failure and defeat may just be a closed door.

But it may be an opportunity for personal growth.

Zoom out and take a bird’s eye view of the whole matter. What do you see? Realistic expectations? Unrealistic expectations? Impatience? 

Are circumstances beyond your control?

THE SOLUTION 

 

Figure out what is true about the circumstance.

The simple formula is doable: learn, grow, and do your best. The requirement is to persevere, make wise decisions, plan ahead, and become resourceful.

Do the hard work and give it your best.

I’ll add one more essential for intentional Christians. Do what God shows, leads and provides. A good thing becomes a bad thing if God isn’t in it. If God says “Stop,” you know what to do.

Simply put, you stop and don't fret or question it.

You bloom where you are planted.

WHEN ISOLATION is GOOD for YOU

  A tree is not only a tree, it is a gift, a miracle, and a delight from God.

 

 SOLITUDE IS GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL 

Your soul partakes of the beauty found in quietness.

 
We may not like being in isolation, having so much time away from others, but the simple ways have extra benefits in unseen ways. 

We hear better when we aren't so busy or distracted.

When we take moments of quiet reflection while in-tune with God, nature, and our surroundings, God creates something extraordinarily beautiful in us. God's presence speaks peace, love, and truth to all who seek Him.

To live simply is good for a person. I read about a young man who left his well-to-do family to join a monastery. Through this he learned the value of having less. He speaks about it to others.

The young man was a participant in the monastery for almost two years. He found what it is to soak in the light of God’s presence. He took that practice with him back to the outside.

There are times now when he finds himself staring at a tree, contemplating in the silence. Rarely is he angry. He is a changed person; he’s at peace on the inside. This presence is a gift to his soul.

What do we make of such a thing? He tasted something sweet that endures within him. His inner being absorbed meaning as it gave life to his soul. Something lasting in beauty took hold in him.

Those who meditate become aware of peaceful presence. Their mind, spirit, and soul partake of meaning beyond the physical. A tree is not only a tree, it a gift, a miracle, and a delight from God.

Seeing the sublime in the ordinary changes the ordinary into something extraordinary. Take a wildflower, for instance. Look at its intricate lines, its magnificent hue and its delicate design.

Let the simple overwhelm and you will go away changed in your sensitivities.

NEVER GIVE UP

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

I read her Facebook comment. She'd shared a book about abuse to help her relative. It hadn't opened up a dialogue like she'd wished. In fact, it seemed to have shut the door between them. Had it been worth it, she wondered.

You can't force people to be open.

You can't make someone change no matter how much you want them to. You can't make someone care, acknowledge the issue, or consider what matters to you.

Is it worth it? I think so.

A seed is sown. It grows. It flowers. It produces fruit. God brings the increase. Some things take much time. The other person may find it difficult to express his feelings. He may be worried, scared, or in denial.

Here is where grace comes in.

Extend grace with patience. You open the door. Give it time to settle in. Let God nurture it. Pray, pray, and pray with an open heart. Trust, trust, and trust some more. God's answers almost always play out over months and years, not days.

God makes a way.

Bless her for caring enough to engage in sensitive issues, for being brave. She is an example to us. We all have a voice at the table. We should be wise and loving as we use it. God helps us keep in balance. 

Trust in God's wisdom and grace, and His impeccable timing. We do our part; God does His part; we're in this together.

TGBTG*