More than Mindfulness

Mindfulness is an idea from Buddhism that has become widely practiced.  Those who are mindful are learning to fully alive in the moment; aware (mindful) of their emotions, responses, and needs. The practice brings ‘non-judgment’ to those sensations, an acceptance of present circumstances. Being mindful can help a person to find a kind of peace and reduce levels of stress. Understanding who we are, why we are feeling certain emotions, how we respond to various situations is a very valuable thing for a better life.  The Christian, however, is offering more than mindfulness to deal with life. We can live in the peace of God!

We need to be live with complete awareness, honest with ourselves about what is going on in us and around us, and then take the step of which Paul writes in this passage.  "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:11-13, NIV) We do not just have to learn to accept life as it is, we can connect the Presence of Jesus to those situations. He will work in us – changing us and changing the world around us. 

A few lines earlier in this inspired letter, we read this "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV)  If we are merely mindful we just let go of it all.  God invites us to enter into an abundant life- one marked by purpose, passion, and peace. How? We accept, by faith, that we are His beloved children and as such we ‘present our requests’ prayerfully. 

While there is much to be said about accepting life as it, learning to be content, we never can allow ourselves to settle into apathy, mistaking that for God’s peace.  Our secret of contentment is knowing that we are held securely in the love of God. The further step towards complete peace is learning to respond to His call, to live in obedience (yes, that word!) to His will so that that the flow of the Holy Spirit’s life is not hindered by guilt, by shame;  our desires brought into alignment with His.

With transparency, I will tell you that it is easier to write about living in that kind of contentment than it is to actually do it! Like you, I find myself confronted by circumstances that I do not like, having to deal with people that frustrate me, finding my own heart a rebel, and I slip into turmoil. I want to kick and scream, and sadly, sometimes I do.  There is no peace in those choices!  But, when I take it all to Jesus – holding the whole bundle – victories and defeats – to Him, asking for grace to walk with Him, the peace of God flows into my life.  Not only do I find contentment, I also find His wisdom and power to become an agent of change.

Are you merely attempting to be mindful? Go the next step.  As you become aware of the inner thoughts and needs  present those things to the loving Father who has prepared something better for you.

Here is a word from the Word.  

"A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help.
Hear my cry, O Lord.
Pay attention to my prayer.

Lord, if you kept a record of our sins,

who, O Lord, could ever survive?

But you offer forgiveness,

that we might learn to fear you.

I am counting on the Lord;

yes, I am counting on Him.

I have put my hope in His word.

I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn,

yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.

O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love.

His redemption overflows.

He himself will redeem Israel from every kind of sin."

(Psalm 130:1-8, NLT)

Has life eclipsed your faith?

I stared at the miniature roses in the bay window for a few moments this morning, captivated by the simple beauty of those deep red flowers.  While wordlessly thanking God for them, I sipped my coffee, and felt grateful for the abundance I enjoy. There is no war outside of my door that could destroy my home, no threat of famine or want. I woke up in a comfortable bed. There will be interactions with friends today when I go to an office where I am privileged to do work that I love.  But, these are not my greatest blessings! 

Paul points to the Christian’s reason for joy and it is not in their pleasant circumstances. I returned to meditate on a text I had read on Monday, one rich in meaning -  "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:4-9, NIV)  

Rejoice in the Lord! Joy is a possibility every day, for all Christians, regardless of the details of life. Some days we will be overwhelmingly aware of our abundance, as I am this morning, and grateful worship will flow easily. The reality of life reminds us that seasons will come when the sky darkens and joy will be a choice of faith.  Let me ask you – do you see life through the lens of faith or do you see faith through the lens of life?  

I briefly conversed with an older man on Tuesday who saw the cross I always wear and the church logo stitched on my shirt. “You follow Jesus?” he asked.  “I am a Christian” I said expecting him to affirm that he was, too. But, a shadow crossed his face and he told me that he had given up his faith years before. He was raised in church and by his own profession once had loved God, but in a time of hardship, this man had turned his back on a relationship with God.  He was not being humorous as he told me “I believe in my beer and I drink too much of it, I guess.”  He asked me, wistfully, if I believed in that verse (Proverbs 22:6)  that says “raise a child in the right way and when he is old he won’t depart from it.”  I assured him that God was waiting for him to come home.

This man had chosen to look at life first and his troubles eclipsed faith. Will  you, will I, make a different choice when difficulties come?  Will we put faith first, and hold onto the declaration that God loves us, that eternal life is promised to us, and that He never forgets us – in spite of what our circumstances may seem to argue?  Will we ‘rejoice in the Lord!’?

Today we have a decision to make – to live in faith and to order our thoughts around the truth of God’s eternal faithful!  Paul says if we do this, “the God of peace will be with us.”

Here is a word from the Word. Learn it, live it.
"The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God,
this faith, is the firm foundation under everything
that makes life worth living.
It’s our handle on what we can’t see. …

It’s impossible to please God apart from faith.
And why?

Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both

that he exists and

that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him." (Hebrews 11:1, 6 The Message)

___________

Reckless Love

(worship with this song about His love)

Before I spoke a word
You were singing over me

You have been so so good to me

Before I took a breath
You breathed Your life in me

You have been so so kind to me

O the overwhelming never-ending reckless

Love of God

O it chases me down fights 'til I'm found

Leaves the ninety-nine

I couldn't earn it I don't deserve

Still You give Yourself away

O the overwhelming never-ending reckless

Love of God

When I was Your foe still Your love fought for me

You have been so so good to me

When I felt no worth You paid it all for me

You have been so so kind to me

There's no shadow You won't light up

Mountain You won't climb up

Coming after me

There's no wall You won't kick down

Lie You won't tear down

Coming after me

Caleb Culver | Cory Asbury | Ran Jackson

© Watershed Publishing Group (Admin. by Watershed Music Group)

Bethel Music Publishing

Richmond Park Publishing

CCLI License # 810055

Implications of worshiping the belly god

Our country is in turmoil about immigration. Who should be allowed to enter these United States? What should we do with those who are here without going through the legal processes?  It’s a thorny problem created by a desperation that grows out of poverty and political turmoil that drives thousands to risk everything for a chance of a better life in this nation. The tragedy at our southern border is compounded by fear fanned by words that I believe are primarily spoken for political advantage on both sides of conversation. There are no solutions that will satisfy every desire, that can allow every person to feel good about what happens at those borders. I pray for compassion and justice to meet as our nation wrestles with this issue!   As for me, when I travel outside of the United States, I know I can go home, that I will be welcomed at our border, because I have a passport that declares that I am a citizen of the United States.

I also have another passport, granted to me freely by the grace of God, through Jesus Christ.  As a citizen of the United States I enjoy protection of my rights under the law which creates an expectation that, as a citizen, I will pay my taxes, be loyal to my government, and live within the law of the land.  The same is true of my heavenly citizenship.  Here is how Paul speaks to that.  "For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." (Philippians 3:18-21, NIV)

Some who claim to be Christians in reality are very much ‘at home’ in this world.  The Word speaks strongly about their way of life.  The governing authority of their lives is not Jesus Christ. Paul says they worship their ‘stomach.’ In other words, they lack any real desire for spiritual things, preferring instead to feed the appetites of the body without restraint. They do so with such intensity that they worship their food, their sex, their pleasure like a god! In the Old Testament record of the people of the Lord, we see many instances where they turned to worship idols, lesser gods. That choice was always accompanied by a descent into debauched, sinful lives!  When a person makes appetites into a god, the Word says that they will ‘glory in their shame.’  They begin to brag about their pleasures, their conquests, the things for which they should feel shame becoming that which they celebrate instead of praising God.

But … true heavenly citizens are attuned to Heaven, guided by hope, living fully under the reign of the Lord Jesus Christ!  What results is a ‘transformed life’ which will ultimately lead to a total change from a dying temporal body to an eternal glorious one!  Those who love the stomach god will be destroyed by their ‘worship.’ Those who love Christ Jesus will find an amazing eternal life that is beyond our human imagination.  So, what are the implication of this fact?

Paul says "Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!" (Philippians 4:1, NIV)  Our heavenly passport creates an expectation of life from which we gain the ability to ‘stand firm,’ committed completely to our Lord and Savior.

Let’s live as citizens of Heaven, even now, in this ‘foreign land’ of the present world. Here is a word from the Word – with promise and challenge.

"For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." (Ephesians 2:18-22, NIV)

______________

Abba, I am often tempted to love the ‘stomach god,’

to worship Self and Pleasure, rather than loving Jesus.

By the power of the Spirit, give me the ability to grasp

Heaven’s beauty, to be shaped by the hope of that Kingdom.

Fill my life- right here, right now- with Eternity.

May I celebrate Your goodness and grace,

overflowing with love, being light in the dark,

knowing the amazing assurance that comes from knowing

I have a Home awaiting me.

In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.