Spiritual disciplines

Are You A Sissie?

October 28, 2021 by Ellen 2 Comments

“Gittin’ Old Ain’t fer Sissies!”

The bumper sticker made me laugh out loud (or LOL, depending on your age). I had just celebrated my sixty-third birthday, and the aches and pains of mild arthritis, and a pinched nerve at C8, made me realize how true this statement is!

To combat the symptoms of aging, I’ve had to change my lifestyle, incorporating things that haven’t been regular habits:

Massage. For the overall aches, as well as arthritis, massage therapy has helped loosen my stiff and aching joints and muscles. I have loved incorporating this into my life! Love it! I can rationalize the expense, because it is a medical necessity!

Exercise. There. I said it. The “E” word. Did I mention I hate exercise? Especially in the heat of South Louisiana? I am currently using my Fitbit. I have fallen in love with this little encourager! It helps me track my exercise, and cheers for me when I reach my goals! It also reminds me to move each hour, which is huge for someone that sits and writes, or sits and reads, or well honestly, just loves to sit! With exercise, I have felt a difference in my energy level, and a lessening of the aches and pains. But did I mention I hate exercise? It’s HARD!

Chiropractor. Indeed, the chiropractic adjustments have helped my pinched nerve. But when the doctor takes my head and cranks it all the way around my neck, I feel like a possessed woman in a horror film. Not to mention wanting to scream. In the long run, my pain is relieved. The adjustment is terrifying and uncomfortable, but worth it.

By incorporating these practices into my life, I am seeing a decrease in my pain and an increase in endurance and flexibility. There is an overall improvement in my health. And, I just plain feel better!

In the same way, we need to discipline our spiritual lives.

“…discipline (train) yourself for the purpose of godliness.” 1 Timothy 4:7

Disciplining ourselves for godliness ain’t fer sissies either! Here are two spiritual disciplines that will start you on your journey:

READING THE BIBLE. One foundational practice is reading scripture. When you make it a habit to daily read God’s Word, you will be surprised to find new nuggets of truth jumping out at you like never before.

Believe it or not, there are many ways to read the scripture. You can use your own personal Bible, or a Bible app. You can choose one translation, or compare many translations. How about writing the passage you are reading? This will help commit it to memory. I also find it very helpful to read aloud, especially if I can’t seem to focus (or am half asleep!). By reading aloud I am better able to comprehend what the passage is saying.

Will you discipline yourself to make time for reading the Bible? We need Jesus every day, and the best way to find Him is through God’s Word. It may mean getting up earlier than normal. That’s hard for many people, and definitely not fer sissies! But God is faithful, and He will gently wake you each day, until it becomes second nature. Just ask Him and see!

FASTING. Then there’s the “chiropractic” of all spiritual disciplines: Fasting. I love food. All kinds. That’s why I fast a half day from time to time. Fasting is uncomfortable but it takes my mind off my food idol. It breaks the hold food has over me (hello, sugar! I’m kissing you goodbye today!). Praying for others while we fast stops our self focus in its tracks. Focusing on Christ puts our priorities in order. It reminds us of this: Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Let’s ponder this anew and dwell on it. Let’s hunger and thirst after Jesus.

Will you discipline yourself to fast? Will you fill your heart and mind with Christ, instead of filling your stomach?

Just as physical exercise strengthens our bodies, spiritual exercise strengthens our souls. We can run with endurance, rather than get tripped up by sin and self focus.

How’s your exercise program going?

Will you discipline yourself for godliness? Or are you a sissie?

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)

Grace be with you,

This post was originally published on 9-20-14.

Silence, Solitude and the Flu

March 10, 2016 by Ellen 16 Comments

Wars raged in my head as I went out the door each day. Battles were being fought. Armageddon. Satan and his minions coming up from the abyss, waging war against God’s saints. By the end of my “quiet” time I was keyed up and ready to fight the world. I couldn’t begin my day like this – it was unsettling.

In the limited time I had each morning, I wasn’t resting in God’s presence. I was analyzing, studying, and searching for teaching points, while I studied the book of Revelation. It seemed like mornings were the only time I could find for this. But my morning quiet time quickly became quiet turmoil.

There are passages of scripture that I can study and ponder without leaving me in such a state of upheaval, however Revelation is not one of them. I left my time of studying God’s word distracted and agitated. Many times, the mood followed me throughout my day.

In her new book, Peace for a Lifetime, Lisa Murray offers these words of advice:
To embrace solitude, find fifteen to twenty minutes daily to be absent from people and simply sit quietly in God’s presence. This is not a time for structured Bible study or prayer (Page 66).

I’m no stranger to the spiritual disciplines of silence and solitude. But I’ve never practiced them, either. Why would I? I’m alone most days at work. The silence is deafening. Why would I make this a practice?

But this past week, I was forced into it. Yep, the flu bug bit. I was down for the count, quarantined to the bedroom. The first two days I slept. On the third day, there was a resurrection of sorts. Wide awake, but too weak to move, unable to concentrate on books or TV, all I could do was lay in bed. I had no energy to be productive. My get up and go had run far, far away. The only thing I could do was lay there like a jellyfish. And listen. And think.

Peace Lifetime

I heard the quietness of my home, the soft whir of the ceiling fan. I heard the birds singing a chorus outside. I heard Peace, and was overwhelmed with it. I never dreamed that I would feel such peace, and at the same time be so sick. In the silence and solitude, I felt His presence. Holding me, nurturing me to health. I felt loved.

Solitude is the place where we can hear His voice speak of His great love for us. (Peace for a Lifetime, Page 67)

Isn’t that the way it is with life sometimes? It can be unsettled. Internal wars are raging, external trials and illnesses are wearing us down. Yet, instead of slowing ourselves, we keep running into the storm and turmoil. We keep ourselves overly productive and busy, to feel like we are accomplishing something, anything. In reality, we are preoccupied and weary.

Lisa puts it this way in her book:
Only when we become still can we silence the outside world…turn down the volume on the noise that keeps us distracted and exhausted. (Peace for a Lifetime, Page 65)

As for me? I enjoyed my time of quiet with Jesus. I believe I’ll be adding a little silence and solitude to my routine. I believe I NEED it – a time of resting in God. Just me and Him.

How about you? Has the hustle and bustle and noise of life got you distracted? Listen to the words of Jesus (Mark 6:31):

Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.”

Make time today to slip away with Him.

Until next week, grace be with you,

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I was honored to be on the launch team for Lisa’s Murray’s new book, Peace for a Lifetime. In her book, Lisa shares keys to cultivating a life that’s deeply rooted, filled with peace and emotional abundance. You won’t want to miss it! All commenters on this post will be entered in a drawing to receive a FREE copy of Peace for a Lifetime!