Are you stressed by worry? Do you measure your life by comparing yourself to others so that you feel driven to do more? Are feelings of worthlessness or shame common in your thoughts? Do you play out ‘what if’ scenarios in your mind on a regular basis? Anxiety stalks millions of us, hiding inside of many disguises.
On 60 Minutes this
past Sunday evening a segment presented the concept of mindfulness which teaches people to meditate so they can control
their thoughts and learn to live in the present moment more fully. As I
listened and thought about that segment, I realized that Christians ought to
know the concept. God invites us to live
in His Presence and to be fully alive Today!
Think about how much energy you spend on trying to recreate
some past experience so you can ‘fix it’ or enjoy it again. Yes, our present rests on the past so there is
an appropriate time to seek forgiveness or make restitution bringing
resolution. Then, too, traditions allow
us to keep important memories alive and form strong ties between the people who
share them. However, if we spend very much
time swimming in the reservoir of yesterday, we will become trapped in the past.
Our minds sometimes turn the opposite direction and get
wrapped up in the future. We plan and prepare, dream and design, for a time
and/or place that we think will be just perfect. Of course, prudent people
prepare for the future. A wise steward
invests in savings so that when he can no longer create an income stream there
are resources available. Knowing that
life has inevitable changes, the prudent person will make contingency plans.
The wisest person knows that the future is uncertain and does not wait for
tomorrow to live fully.
The idea of being fully alive, right here, right now, is
one of the basics of the Christian life. Jesus’ prayer, taught to the disciples,
includes this line: "Give us today
our daily bread." (Matthew 6:11, NIV) We say it almost thoughtlessly, but there is
great wisdom in it we cannot overlook.
God’s provisions are promised for today only. When the
Israelites were on their pilgrimage from Egypt to Canaan, God gave them daily
food. Manna (the bread of Heaven) came each day and they were instructed to
gather enough and no more! If they tried to accumulate more than a day’s
rations, the manna spoiled. On our
pilgrimage from sin to salvation, God promises us what we need, too. He asks us to learn to accept our daily bread.
The wisdom found in Hebrews urges us to listen and respond
to God – Today. We are heaven focused, growing in grace as we
journey onward. The Word says, "if
we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first
believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. But never forget the
warning: “Today you must listen to his voice. " (Hebrews 3:14-15, NLT)
What’s the key to enjoying the rich
reward? “Today you must listen to His voice.”
Hearing God’s voice is not as easy as the phrase would imply. Many other voices clamor, especially that
voice of Self that insists on controlling us.
The noise of everyday life nearly overwhelms us sometimes – dealing with
the boss, raising our kids, meeting
multiple responsibilities.
The discipline of meditation, which a Christian may call
contemplative prayer, allows us to enter into His Presence, to hear His voice
above that noise. But, will we learn it and do it? We need not find some retreat far away to
learn to hear. We need not spend large
sums of money to have some guru lead us to silence. If we desire God, if we want to know Him,
then we will create space to step away from the clutter of materialism, turn
off the technology that pumps a flood of information into our brains, say “no”
to the good so we can say “yes” to the Best!
In that space and place, we will turn our hearts and minds to the
Spirit. It will be hard! The mind is a
rebel. Thoughts will tumble and jump like a cage full of energetic monkeys, but
– with time and practice – as we keep putting Jesus first and keep our mouths
shut – we will learn to listen.
And we will be able to find rest, defeating anxiety, and entering
into the promise of Jesus. "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its
own." (Matthew 6:34, NIV)
_________
This song borrows the imagery of the Old Testament Temple,
where the Holy of Holies was the center, the symbolic dwelling place of God
among men. In that era it was a
restricted place, open only to the High Priest of Israel. Jesus tore down the wall and we’re all
invited to come near. Here’s a prayer …
Take Me In
Take me past the outer
courts
And thru the holy
place;
Past the brazen altar,
Lord, I want to see
Your face.
Pass me by the crowds
of people,
The priests who sing
their praise.
I hunger and thirst
for Your righteousness,
But it's only found
one place.
So take me in to the
Holy of Holies!
Take me in by the
blood of the Lamb.
So take me in to the
Holy of Holies!
Take the coal, cleanse
my lips,
Here I am.
Dave Browning
© 1987 Dayspring Music, LLC (a div. of Word Music Group,
Inc.)
CCLI License # 810055
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