“Being still and doing nothing are two very different things.” ( Jackie Chan in The Karate Kid.)
Stillness is a foreign concept to city-dwellers like us. Rare is the person who truly comprehends the value of tranquility. In doing nothing, the typical modern man is not necessarily free from noise and restlessness.
Stillness, motionlessness, silence, quietness, tranquility and calmness are not the same as doing nothing.
As disciples of Christ, we are to treasure and become acquaint with silence and contemplation.
“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
Being still requires focus. It requires letting go of our entire being to become so intensely focused and immersed in the Presence of God that everything else tunes out. It is that consciousness of our will becoming aligned with God and our spirit with God’s Spirit.
“Isn’t our faith based on objective truth?” you may ask.
True. Our faith is built on the historical Jesus and the gospel is not an irrational faith. Yet more than rational, the Christian faith is suprarational; meaning it transcends the rational.
Quietness and contemplation is not just a part of our pursuit of God. In fact, it is the bedrock on which we build our relationship with God.
After all, a person who knows God and a person who has knowledge about God are two very different things.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Real changes require spiritual disciplines
Knowledge and action are two different things.
Knowing what is good for you doesn’t mean that you are going to do it. Conversely, knowing something is bad does not necessarily mean that you are not going to do it.
Contrary to popular belief, knowledge does not equate changes. An informed mind does not necessarily translate into a transformed life.
Disciples are called to live the Jesus’ Way and that requires life transformation. It requires action.
Real life-change requires supernatural power. It needs the Holy Spirit’s empowerment. A renewed mind with a Spirit-quickened will can mean a giant leap toward a positive shift for godliness.
Information can be transmitted through the church via sermons, Bible reading and testimonies but it will have little impact unless disciples actively ingest, internalize put and God’s word into actions.
These life-changing actions are called spiritual disciplines. They are disciplines because they are habits. They are disciplines because they require efforts and training. For them to become part of us, they must be intentionally cultivated and consistently practiced.
I Tim 4:7,8
“…train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
Spiritual disciplines count. It counts toward developing godliness. It will determine how our lives turn out for this life and the next. And how we live our life does count for eternity.
Knowing what is good for you doesn’t mean that you are going to do it. Conversely, knowing something is bad does not necessarily mean that you are not going to do it.
Contrary to popular belief, knowledge does not equate changes. An informed mind does not necessarily translate into a transformed life.
Disciples are called to live the Jesus’ Way and that requires life transformation. It requires action.
Real life-change requires supernatural power. It needs the Holy Spirit’s empowerment. A renewed mind with a Spirit-quickened will can mean a giant leap toward a positive shift for godliness.
Information can be transmitted through the church via sermons, Bible reading and testimonies but it will have little impact unless disciples actively ingest, internalize put and God’s word into actions.
These life-changing actions are called spiritual disciplines. They are disciplines because they are habits. They are disciplines because they require efforts and training. For them to become part of us, they must be intentionally cultivated and consistently practiced.
I Tim 4:7,8
“…train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
Spiritual disciplines count. It counts toward developing godliness. It will determine how our lives turn out for this life and the next. And how we live our life does count for eternity.
Freedom from Fear
We all have fears, Christians included.
Our fears do not dissipate instantly just because we believe the gospel.
How do we become free from fear?
First, we must be able to name our fears. Giving those intimidating thoughts and feelings names is enough to break their stronghold on us. This is what Jesus means when He says that “the truth will set you free” (John 8:32)
However, articulation of our fears alone is insufficient to help us overcome our fears.
I John 4:18
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
Thus, the second key to overcoming fear is to allow love to rush in. But for that love to be effective, it must be of the unconditional kind; the kind that communicates acceptance and gives one security.
For all of us who seek to follow Jesus, we need to realize that the ultimate Person who holds the key to our being liberated from fear is our Lord Jesus Christ. Where He is present, fear is absent and vice versa.
Practice therefore, the presence of Christ in our lives and live courageously.
Our fears do not dissipate instantly just because we believe the gospel.
How do we become free from fear?
First, we must be able to name our fears. Giving those intimidating thoughts and feelings names is enough to break their stronghold on us. This is what Jesus means when He says that “the truth will set you free” (John 8:32)
However, articulation of our fears alone is insufficient to help us overcome our fears.
I John 4:18
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
Thus, the second key to overcoming fear is to allow love to rush in. But for that love to be effective, it must be of the unconditional kind; the kind that communicates acceptance and gives one security.
For all of us who seek to follow Jesus, we need to realize that the ultimate Person who holds the key to our being liberated from fear is our Lord Jesus Christ. Where He is present, fear is absent and vice versa.
Practice therefore, the presence of Christ in our lives and live courageously.
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