Learning The Art Of “Being Still” Part 2

 

 

Part 2

 

Triune God

There is an art to learning how to be still. More importantly,  know that Almighty God is the majestic  triune God. The Father, Son and His Holy Spirit His Comforter are all one. This world and everything in it belongs to Him. “Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in he earth. The Lord of hosts is with us…”  Psalm 46

 

The  Proverbs  contains a wealth of spiritual wisdom. They candidly informs us that understanding comes from  the Lord. God is omniscient, omnipresent and  omnipotent. Everything you need for life you can discover in the Lord.  Above Him there is no other. HE IS AN AWESOME AWEWONDERFUL GOD!

 

We must solicit His Holy Spirit to open our understanding.

 

God’s Word is alive. We should approach His Word humbly and interactively with respect. His Word; is distinctly different. It is outstanding! There is like no other book in the world. The Bible is the only book that the Author is always present. As we navigate through its amazing passages we find it exudes a plethora of spiritual wisdom. It ignites and enlightens our innermost being.

 

Spiritual Wisdom

Godly understanding is a companion of spiritual wisdom. God does not want us ignorant. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.” Therefore, humbly and sincerely ask the Lord to open your understanding as you journey through its contents. His Word is marvelously powerful! Be sure to read comprehensively with the intent to glean and apply its intended messages to your daily life. The Lord alone knows exactly what we all need.

 

The Art Of “Being Still!”

 

God’s  marvelous Word is not of man’s interpretation.  It requires assistance from His Holy Spirit to open our spiritual  understanding.

 

Life Presents Challenges

Adorn  yourself daily with  the Armor of God. Whenever  life presents  inevitable  challenges and bombards you on every side His Word helps us to be prepared. If you are not prepared  they will take you under.  Each day take time  to draw even nearer to the Lord and polish up your spiritual armor.  Put into practice  all that you learn.  Be willing  to be attentive, conscientious,  focused and  ready to hear.  Be open to conviction and enthusiastically listen from the deepest depth of your being. It is His Truth that keeps your loins protected and your mind sharp!

 

God’s Spirit transforms us from the inside out. It is also  in His presence where you  internally re-energize,. You become more aware as your mental telepathy is  tuned in to Him.  Your  inner  peace resonates  and  becomes amplified.  Your God-given joy and  encouragement  is fortified. Remember, grace and peace is multiplied by the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

You can hear from God wherever you are

Keep in mind, the Word of God is “Quick and powerful” meaning it is alive,  active!  Hebrews  8 tells us that God really will  “put His laws in your minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people…”  You can hear the Lord wherever you are. However you are. You must discipline yourself to learn how to; “Be Still!”  This is not something that man can inhibit unless you allow it.  Keep your focus upon the Lord.  Hebrews also goes on to say that this is  the  “New Covenant…”  It is important to know God’s Word for yourself.  Life was not meant to be an aimlessly ephemeral,   simple transient   excursion.

 

Christianity is a daily Lifestyle

The people of God  down through the generations have gone  through some things.  This is why Praise and Worship was meant to be a daily lifestyle. Worship keeps us connected to who we are and for whom we were created.    To “lift up Holy  hands,” inside, outside, whenever or wherever.  His Church assembles together large or small, or when “two are three are gathered in My name. I am in the midst…”  It does not take a crowd to praise the Lord!  Jesus should be praised, thanked, edified  and  magnified.  Everyday; “To GOD Be the GLORY!”

 

His Covenant is a promised  agreement.  In your leisure take the time to see how throughout the lives of His people God was always meant to be their  “Central Theme.”  The  many preparations, numerous  offerings and sacrifices  that were made in the Old Testament were mere reminders of  the sins of the people and the need to be mindful of God and His principles daily.    God always leaves a remnant of His people .  Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior through which all was spoken into existence, who is Holy, sinless, blameless, once and for all sacrificed His life for us so we could live life differently.

 

Your Body is A Temple

This is why it is vitally important and so relevant  to know Him and what He has done for all  of us!  “God  is not a respecter of persons.”  As a believer it is significantly important to know that you have a place with Him. A place specifically meant for you within His body; the Church. Christ Jesus is the Head of His Church.   His Church  is not made by the hands of man. Your body is the Temple where He resides.  His nurturing presence is readily available wherever you are. 

 

His plenteous manna  is accessible for the  ripening  of the Fruit of His Spirit within your life.   Just   know with confidence, no one can separate you from the Lord unless you allow  it. It is your choice.  Seek to  Know the Lord  personally. who He is and what you believe,  put your faith and trust in God.

 

Make is a priority to spend some time each day with the Lord in His Word.  God wants to make a difference in your life everyday.

See Part 3

For Part 1 (Click link below)

http://deborrah-k.com/category/counseling-issues/page/3/

There is Hope; Addiction Relief is Possible Part 1

 

 

 

Part 1

Addiction relief is possible. Few want to readily openly discuss addiction.  But since there has been such an overwhelming influx of problems worldwide related to addiction it warrants the spotlight.   But, there are reasons for alarm when an addiction is apparent. This  needs to be addressed. It will not just go away.  If not it will at some point impede upon your relationship.

 

 

Transparency is necessary in order to build intimacy. Your addiction will inhibit intimacy developing within your marriage. The addiction also prohibits you from being transparent. Love, transparency, trust and intimacy are essential components in building a healthy safe satisfying marriage.

 

Your Addiction says you are hurting

A clear indicator that you are hurting is addiction. You have simply found an unhealthy way to cope with your deep pain. Your addiction can be to alcohol, cocaine, heroin, marijuana.  Uppers, downers, prescription drugs, gambling, caffeine, pornography and or  illicit sex.  People food and even shopping. Yes and there are more… Even wanting approval from others can be addicting. Guess what? You have only found a way to momentarily relieve or somewhat ease your infuriating inner pain; it is still there. The addiction is a flag that something is wrong. You need to seek a healthy resolve.  Addiction relief is possible.

 

I say momentarily because while under the influence or indulging in the activity of choice you are able to somewhat escape. However the systemic cause remains because the pain returns whenever you are alone. Often more vehement than ever before. This causes you to pursue passionately that which you are addicted to. Having an addiction of any kind is serious. Many can be life threatening because you are out of control. Your desires consume you and disables your ability to be responsible or demonstrate  contol.  The ability to genuinely  love is questionable. Instead the activity controls you and you will do whatever it takes to get a “quick fix!”

 

The misuse  and dependency  upon opiates has become of great concern worlwide.  Not everyone becomes addicted from  illegal drugs.  Many have become addicted through the use of prescriptions medications. This should not be. This will greatly impact your spouse, children,  home, work  and career.

 

How does this impact my marriage?

Good question. Marriage is a partnership and when one has an addiction they are not able to fully commit because the addiction is often their main priority.  Well, the spouse that is unaware is often kept in the dark. Secrets, lies and deception accompany addiction. The addiction is used to fill the insatiable void in the addicted partner’s heart. It instead becomes their companion. This leaves their spouse out in the cold. Know, addiction relief is possible.

 

Your addiction creates undo tension. You need to learn to communicate openly and honeestly with your spouse.  Afterall you are supposed to be one.  Your addiction is robbinh you of building a beter relationship.

 

Causes or addiction triggers

A disordered family, peer pressure, cultural influences, abuse, incest, rape, molestation, lack of self-esteem and a weakness to experiment can all contribute to one developing an addiction.

 

We live in a drug friendly worldly environment. Daily we are bombarded with the invitation to take this pill or that pill. Notice how many television commercials attempt to sell you something to feel better.  Look how the dinner hour has become the prime time for what I call  commercial pushers. There are a multiplicity of pushers of all sort. Doctors also oblige patients with tranquilizers, stimulants, pain pills, sleeping pills even pills to wake you up!

 

Commitment in marriage is important

Keeping your commitments are important.  Embracing your vows is important.  Did you not commit to Him as well?  One thing that needs to be promoted more is a personal relationship with the Lord! Marriage is ordained by God. Did you know marriage was designed to be the ultimate sacred relationship between a man and a woman.  A strong marraige  can also help you prioritize life and put all your other relationships into their proper perspective.  Your marriage  can help you develop a healthier living environment as you work together

 

Building trust is an important part of marriage. Addiction relief is possible. 

 

As we commit to building healthier home environments we contribute to lessening the number of addictions continuing to escalate.   Not everyone has addiction issues.  In some  addictions have unconsciously been passed down through generations.   A safe home environment does not  always exclude addiction; but it does serve to nurture those who are there.   If this has been the case the possibility to break the generational cycle of dysfunction becomes attainable. You can change this! Yes, addiction relief is possible.

 

Develping a Healthy Support System

It is important to seek ways to validate one another. To develop an ongoing healthy support system that says I love and sincerely care. No this does not mean you support the addiction.   Neither do you allow it to become  the white elephant in the room no one notices.  However, you must confront the addiction.  You  can also find healthy ways to make them feel  uncomfortable. Also learn to separate the behavior from the person.  Encourage them to be the best they can be. Find ways to help them become who they were created to be without the addiction.

 

Working together

God created each of us uniquely and we have varying temperaments. Our needs are different when these needs are not met a void is created and therefore one seeks to often erroneously fill that void. Marriage is about working together to find healthier ways to fill some of those voids with a committed partner… There are some voids that can only be filled by God.

Your partner is not responsible for your addiction you are. Both must hold one another accountable for their actions! You both are accountable to God for the vows you made… Remember, “for better or for worse…”

In this 21st century emotional gasoline has flamed the fires of addiction. Pain, grief and stress not dealt with properly are great contributors that drive unhealthy desires. This does not have to be. God’s Holy Spirit His Comforter is more than able.

Addiction is big business therefore it is often rationalized and one can easily find access and support. Your addiction does not usually happen overnight it is a gradual process that begins with a series of steps…  So remember; theis help.  Addiction relief is possible!

Next we will discuss some of those steps;

Part 2

True Beauty Comes From Within Part 1

True beauty emanates from deep within your soul. You are able to age gracefully as you draw from its reservoir.  It is not at all superficial.  True inner beauty is not  based upon your size,  shape or physical features. Your inner beauty is  comprised of a multiplicity of   layers  that are not always readily apparent.  This  goes far beyond the epidermis yet at times remains reflective upon your countenance.

Nourish Your soul

Daily begin to embrace the Word of God.  It spiritually enriches and nourishes us in a marvelous way.  It magnificently  will replenish your soul. It is bursting with a wealth of wisdom that will make your heart glow.  It is necessary spiritual food for our mind, body and soul. Your soul is the essence of who you really are.  It lives forever. God is the giver and sustainer of life.   There is much contentment to be gained in continuing to develop  an ongoing growing   relationship with the Lord.  This reassures us of life eternally with him.

Each of us has been given a unique inborn temperament by God. Our personality is composed of the various experiences we encounter in life.  It  begins to develop in infancy. It is also a covering for your soul.

“GOD is LOVE!”

God’s Love is steadfast and genuine. When properly nurtured His love becomes deeply embedded into the fabric of who we are. We each have been created by God for a purpose. It is important to make it a daily priority to get to know our Creator on a personal level. It is within an up close intimate relationship with him we grow spiritually in His grace.

I truly understand more each day why the Lord tells us to “hide His Word within our hearts, so we might not sin against Him… Only God can see into our hearts! “Man looks on the outside. But God looks at the heart.” As believers His Holy Spirit resides within us. It is utterly amazing that He knows each and everyone of us totally from the inside out.

We are all transparent to the Lord. There is nothing that is hidden to him. Sin is anything that separates us from God. It is in our best interest to readily “REPENT” of any sin so we can stay connected to the Lord.

Life brings about a plethora of varied experiences.  Some can be quite difficult; some which are good others not so good. Yet there are those  that are just  simply incredible! Life is about learning how to grow through them all.  Going through the various experiences we can learn to  sin less.  However, you must begin to exercise self control. To respond patiently rather than react impulsively.   What you practice you become. We should want to always remain connected to the Lord. It is in Him we can have His deep abiding peace.

The Blessings of the Word of God

“Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep His statues and seek Him with ALL their heart.” Blessed means to be happy and consecrated by God. God did not intend for His Word to just become mere letters on a papyrus (paper). He meant for it to become ALIVE within our soul to feed us and nourish us spiritually and emotionally so we can daily walk in His precepts. To help us go through whatever life presents to us, Blessed! One can then say Hallelujah Anyhow! The JOY of the Lord remains with us when we allow HIM to be our strength.

It is often said “What comes from the heart goes to the heart.” Many quote this as Scripture. Yet, this actually is  not a scripture. This infamous   quote was given to us by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. There is a heartfelt sincerity when one speaks from the wellspring of their heart. This is why it is so memorable.  It is important that we learn how to guard our hearts.

A strong fervent prayer life is important

“Our FATHER, Give us today our daily bread…”

Knowing God intimately makes all the difference in the world. The sooner you start the better. Tomorrow is not promised therefore we do not know what a day may bring. Your relationship with the Lord will help immensely in later years. It will preserve you and help keep your soul refreshed and renewed.

Knowing and believing the fact that God is Omnipresent and always with you is a precious TRUTH. When you fully embrace this you won’t feel lonely even when you are alone. It is important to have our priorities right. We can emerge triumphantly and rise above whatever has happened, is happening or will happen.

It is through the many experiences we encounter in life we grow. How well we fair through those experiences can help strengthen us an build our character. Some experiences can be difficult. It is important that we are not embittered by those experiences. When things are unpleasant we must learn to face them responsibly. This is how we build character. Yes, there are times in life that we will encounter difficult people.

Spiritual growth

See Part 2