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

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Did You Know There Is Nothing New Under The Sun?

It is quite true! There is nothing new under the sun according to the Word of God.

“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; There is nothing new under the sun! Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.” Ecclesiastes 1.

Solomon is recorded as a brilliant man of great spiritual wisdom who became King of Israel. He also built the first grandest majestic Temple that was ever constructed to worship the Lord in. It was built in Jerusalem upon Mt. Moriah using the finest quality furnishings and materials.

Solomon had everything that anyone could ever want or ever imagine and more! He denied himself nothing and indulged himself in a host of pleasures. He had wealth, riches, honor, prestige, power, affluent status as well as God’s favor. He is recorded in the Word to be the richest man that ever lived; or will live! What more could one possibly ask for? Yet he discovered that it was all meaningless especially when you are not right with God

It is in the latter days of his life when he recorded the practical wisdom that we find in Ecclesiastes! One might find it a bit disconcerting, pessimistic and or negative because it exudes such an abrasive uncompromising Truth! Solomon wants to get our attention as he shouts to us vociferously that life without God is futile! In actuality he is not trying to discourage us but to get us back on track! To point us to the straight and Narrow Path that leads to the Lord! He ardently and passionately encourages us to first seek happiness in the Lord rather than people, places or things!

Disillusionment, despair, disappointment and chaos are the foreboding ominous consequences when we place anything above God! Seeking God first will result with an invaluable, priceless, abiding tranquil inner peace that is only found in Him!

Whatever is going on about us is in this world is temporal. It will only last for but a few moments in the summation totality of time! Life in actuality is quite diminutively short on this side of heaven. What is of the utmost importance is where each of us will spend eternity! Time is of the essence, Solomon warns us to commit to our Creator now rather than later!

Quintessentially there is nothing more important than time! The Scriptures record what has been and what will be! Everything that is happening now has happened before and will happen again… History continually repeats itself! At some point life as we know it will all come to an end. It is at that time we all will have to stand before God the Father our Creator.

We are living in some interesting times. Unexpected tragedy laden climatic weather conditions are prevalent throughout the world. There is a profuse abundance of heinous crimes being committed daily. Throughout the world as well as foreign and domestic terrorism steadily is on the rise. Diseases, sickness and famines of all sorts abound worldwide! Morality pushed aside and relationships of all sorts begin to emerge. Marriage between a man and a woman is no longer considered sacred by many. Marriage now has alternative options… We have been here before!

Notice how there is an undisclosed movement towards trying to establish a new normal! There is an unstated subtle attempt to desensitize us towards extinguishing traditional morality. One must only flip a switch and tune in to the television or their hand held hi-tech gadget of choice momentarily to see what’s happening!

All throughout the Word of God we can see how devastated the people as well as the land became due to immorality and disobedience. A proliferation of food shortages and famines began to abound! A once productive and fruitful land region abruptly interrupted by drought resulting in scarcity, starvation and barrenness! Life becomes futile and desolate when we ignore God’s principles time after time. Lord help us!

God has always had a solution for past, present and future problems. WE can always have hope in the Lord! Each day is a precious gift from the Lord! Absolutely NO one but GOD can make a day! There is no greater power, principality or authority, nor will there ever be. God is infinitely Supreme! He is Omniscient, Omnipotent & Omnipresent! He is King of kings and Lord of lords! The world gives us many options that lead us away from the Lord’s principles.

There is a plethora of philosophies, beliefs, religions and endless opinions and varied lifestyles… We can learn much from God’s Word. Solomon is a prime example. He provides us with a wealth of wise sage antidotes for life and living in Ecclesiastes.

We are to enjoy life but not ignore, disrespect or disregard the Lord. He is the Giver and Sustainer of life. Life will spring forth a varied abundance of ups and downs. Things come and go! Seasons change… It is how we respond and relate to whomever or whatever we encounter in life that matters most! It is what determines our character… God has created each of us for a purpose! Life is about discovering that purpose.

Human effort apart from God is futile! Without the breath from God’s Spirit we are nothing more than mere decaying dust living in vain. We should reverently respect God and honor His principles for life and living! He is the Potter and we are the clay, with Him we can do or conquer the impossible. Pray for spiritual discernment! Take time out to spend some time with the Lord each day! We all benefit when we seek God above all else! Now is the time to do just that!

In this 21st century there is still nothing new! If you are searching for some answers camp in Ecclesiastes for a while! Here you will find some stern wise warnings! Wisdom often goes unheeded. In Ecclesiastes we can learn about life!

Absolutely nothing is hidden from the Lord anywhere in this entire universe! Let us commence to welcome and receive the precious gift of spiritual wisdom from the Lord! The wisdom from above is pure and yields peace. It is precious and incalculable. “The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.” Ecclesiastes 9. Open our spiritual eyes Lord!

“The conclusion of the matter!”

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter; fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, included the hidden thing, whether it is GOOD or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12.

Proverbs 5 The Goldmine Of SPIRITUAL WISDOM – The Perils Of Adultery

Proverbs has many warnings against the perils of having sex outside of marriage! Today in this 21st century sex outside of marriage is widely practiced and encouraged! Adultery is when someone is married and has sex outside of marriage. Adultery was considered a crime punishable by death at the time of this Proverb. Some countries are still adamant about adultery being a crime. Here in the United States the moral principles are constantly being relaxed and redefined, many are being desensitized to what is morally right in the eyes of God…

I ask that you listen attentively to what Solomon is saying in this wonderful Proverb! Remember we are talking about someone who had many wives and concubines! Here he candidly shares the many pitfalls of adultery. Sexual immorality can be dangerous! Pornography is a growing form of adultery it too is destroying many marriages! Extramarital relationships for many is a chosen lifestyle, many consent to open marriages… The multitude of people with STD’s = sexually transmitted diseases and HIV are rising! Adultery destroys trust in the marriage, hinders intimacy and erodes the stability of the family. Sexual immorality goes against the laws of God!

Learning about the pitfalls of sex outside of marriage can be helpful! Knowing and keeping in mind the consequences before it is at your doorstep can be a powerful deterrent and a dose of preventive therapy. Know that adultery is a sign of weakness. You are not able for whatever reason to keep your commitment, that you made to your spouse as well as to God! Sad but true adultery is practiced by many within the body of the Church! When someone is indulging in adultery they have set aside their Christian Principles and are “walking in the flesh.” According to Galatians 5; “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries…”

Did you know that whomever you join yourself to becomes a part of you? Please think long and hard before you go here. Or if you are here or have been here; please seriously think about repentance and not repeating this! There are lasting consequences. I often use the illustration of “epoxy!” It is a formidable thermosetting polymer! Notice how the two components are packaged separately. There is an almost unbreakable convalent bond that takes place once the two cohesive components join together! They are known as structure adhesives! Once they come together it is almost impossible to separate one from the other without some type of damage… Sex outside of marriage creates an emotional bond to someone other than your spouse. There is something much deeper that takes place during the exchange of bodily fluids… So much so it can result in the beginning of a new life! This is another reason why God does not sanction sex outside of marriage!

Solomon is relentless in his quest to relay the message of not getting involved with an adulteress! He goes so far to say “Keep to a path far from her; do not go near the door of her house.” The Scripture is clear that adultery is a sin! I find it interesting in John 8 the story of the woman who participated in adultery! Jesus is greeted by a group while teaching in the Temple! A group of religious leaders come to Him with a woman that is “caught” in adultery! “they said to Him. Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery the very act…” The Law of Moses commands that this woman be put to death… Deut 22. Why was the woman alone? Surely she was caught with someone? The leaders were really only interested in condemning only the woman? Jesus with all His unlimited Wisdom knew their thoughts… As He begins to write down on the ground all the men leave! Makes one wonder what He wrote? One by one from the oldest to the last they disperse until Jesus is left alone with only the woman! He then asks her “Woman where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you? She said “ No one, Lord” And Jesus said to her “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more…”

Many conclusions can be drawn from this story! Jesus did not condemn the woman but nor did He let her off the hook! The guilty leaders all left when Jesus asked “He who is without sin among you, let him throw the stone at her first.” Adultery is a sin that not only impacts those who physically take part in it, but those who they are associated to them as well. It weakens the marital bond and allows deception, insecurity and mistrust to become components of the relationship. Adultery weaves a wicked web around those involved, spiritually blinding them. This is true whether the adultery is real or emotional! One should ask is it worth the price? Or are you so weak that you cannot resist its temptation? The Word says “if you resist the devil he will flee…” Jesus can give you the strength to resist! But one must repent and be willing to turn away then as Jesus said: “GO and send no more!”

Proverbs 5

Key Verse: “Let your fountain be blessed, And REJOICE with the wife of your youth!” If you have ever read the Song of Solomon you will discover here how Love, physical and emotional intimacy between a husband and wife are encouraged and honored! Here in this Proverb much is said to discourage adultery. So much so that it tells you to RUN from it! There are many who live to seduce and entrap one into the snare of adultery! Only because of their own insecurity there is a need to cause others to stumble> Then justify their own inability to commit! It is not wise to risk what you have built in a marriage for an illicit affair! Many families, homes, ministries, honor, respect, integrity and working relationships have been destroyed due to adultery! Be careful not to be overtaken by this overwhelming temptation…

One can take heed to the wisdom of Solomon to avoid the numerous consequences! Please start by reading this Proverbs through slowly and absorbing the “spiritual nuggets.” Build an affair proof marriage! Sexual fulfillment is an attainable goal in marriage. The “fresh water” in Proverbs is a metaphor that describes the beauty of fidelity, commitment and trust in marriage! In the eyes of God the “marriage bed is undefiled!” There is nothing shameful about sex within the context of marriage. There should be a desire to seek comfort in the arms of one another! Each spouse has a responsibility to each other to come together and lovingly create a mutually satisfying sexual environment! Remember to keep in mind what God’s description of love is in I Corinthians 13!

Love, transparency, commitment, good open and honest communication and sexual fulfillment are key ingredients in a strong happy marriage! They are also good deterrents to safeguard against adultery! It is important to keep the embers of love burning in your marriage! A nice warm toasty fire within a fireplace is relaxing and inviting. Sex outside of married is like fire outside of a fireplace. It’s dangerous it will burn your house down! Those who have been faced with adultery must struggle with some very painful issues. Anger, Abandonment, Emotional Pain, mistrust and betrayal are results of adultery. If you have repented of adultery this is not to open up old wounds. Use this as an opportunity to solidify trust, cling to the Lord and embrace God’s Grace! Praise Him for restoration Victory!

Healthy boundaries are important in the work place, and yes within the Church! Adultery does not have to be! God truly is able “to Keep you from falling!” But in the event that it does happen it takes an enormous amount of work to rebuild a new trusting relationship with healthy boundaries! In order for restoration to take place the couple must seek to find out what caused the infidelity? What patterns need to be broken? What emotions need to be healed? What steps need to be taken in order to move forward! Avoiding discussion about what has happened will not serve to heal. Sad but true, By not confronting what has happened, it is almost certain it is highly possible it will happen again. Denial is a big NO here! To move forward towards “affair proofing” your relationship by spending quality time together, working through the issues and gradually building trust is necessary!

Adultery unfortunately is also a big headliner in today’s news! Many celebrities engage in adultery as well! Late night host, David Letterman is going through the pains of adultery… Tiger Woods the famous pro golfer is currently under the microscope for his alleged multiple liaisons. It is ever unfolding the multiple cast of participants that continue to surface and claim having had an affair with him… In this case wading through the perils of adultery are even harder. Tiger and his wife’s personal lives are magnified and examined in and on the news worldwide. All of this further creates even more pressure and continues to inflict pain on the two hurting hearts. Each spouse needs to evaluate and focus on their related issues. Can forgiveness override their pain? It is possible to restore trust and intimacy but it is a tedious journey. A solid biblical foundation makes all the difference in the world.

Solomon encourages husbands and wives to delight in one another rather than participate in adultery! Marriage is a beautiful life enriching union designed by God. Sex is a wonderful gift from God to be enjoyed! Plan a weekly date with one another and make sure you continue to “keep the fire burning, light the embers of Love! Try reading and enjoying the “Song of Solomon” together! The Bible is clear on the importance of keeping and honoring your marriage vows and remaining committed to one another! With God “All things are possible!” Adultery is about false love and is so very destructive, everyone who is involved ultimately gets hurt in some way or another… Adultery is an illusion of greener pastures! “What GOD has joined together let NO man put asunder!”

Solomon concludes this Proverbs: “His own iniquities trap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin. He shall die for lack of instructions, And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.