Letter of Encouragement – Feb. 18, 2011

Men, today, let us meditate on “Trust”.

The Analogy: In sports, all of an athletes’ capability depends on their physical health. Many actions and attitudes feed their physical health: Hope, determination, good nutrition, hydration, exercise, etc. The same is true in our spiritual lives. All of our spiritual capability depends on trust in God just as our athletic ability depends on our physical health. There are many actions (Bible study, confession, fasting, serving, etc.) and attitudes (Hope, perseverance, renewal of our thinking, etc.) that feed trust.

The Difference: In physical health we can’t just choose it. However, in our spiritual lives, a huge component of trust is choosing it. Yes, choice is a huge component. When we choose to trust and act upon it, our trust will grow.

How it works: A major problem for many people’s spiritual health is that they assume it will occur primarily as a result of certain actions: Going to church, Bible study, prayer, etc. Unfortunately this is inadequate because our spiritual muscles are built through spiritual actions. The choice to trust leads to mental detachment, which is, mentally letting go of what we are hanging onto for security. This leads to inner peace. We then experience on a physical and emotional level the consequences of our trust. This experience gives us feedback about what is true on a deep emotional and spiritual level. This builds our trust in God.

References: I particularly like the third principal of Celebrate Recovery which states, “Consciously choose to commit (surrender) all my life and will into Christ’s care and control.” The Apostle Peter points us to Jesus’ example, “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2:23) Why was Jesus able to do what he did? Partly, because he entrusted himself to God. Justice is a huge issue in the human heart. Our sense of it being violated frequently entraps us in anger, bitterness, and hatred. By entrusting justice to God as Jesus did, it empowered him to live a life of love.

All of life hinges on trust, just as in sports all our activity depends on our physical health. If you’re physically unhealthy you can’t play well. If you don’t trust it will undermine all your other efforts to grow spiritually.

Practice:

• Reflect and journal life situations where you choose to “lean on your own understanding” rather than choosing to, “Trust in the Lord with all your Heart” Reference: Proverbs 3:5-6
• In your quiet time envision yourself choosing “trust” in those life situations. Plan to trust.
• Acknowledge before God in prayer your fears about trust. In prayer, “Consciously choose to surrender all your life and will into Christ’s care and control”
• Study and memorize scripture that supports your need to trust and the trustworthiness of God.
• Get in the game! Live it!
• Afterwards, review it with your coach (Accountability partner and God)

Memory verse: Proverbs 3:5-6

Letter of Encouragement – January 28, 2011

The human body is composed of 70% water. Every system in your body depends on water. This is why a healthy person must drink around 8 cups of water every day. This is why an athlete must consume extra water during practice or game time because all his body systems are at peak output.

In a fascinating dialogue with the woman at the well, Jesus alludes to water different than the water our bodies consume on a daily basis. The water Jesus offers is living, it has life and produces life in us—spiritual life, eternal life.

Why would Jesus present this idea of fulfilling water to this Samaritan woman? As you know, he later reveals that she has been married several times, and currently is living with a man. In other words, she has been thirsty, in her heart, and has yet to find fulfillment. Jesus offers her water that will never run out.

This idea of the true living water and other counterfeit water sources did not begin in this encounter with the Samaritan woman. This concept was very familiar to Jesus, for long ago his father had said to the Jewish people, “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” (Jeremiah 2:13)

The disciple of Jesus must recognize that thirst is part of the human condition. All people thirst, just as the body needs water. The disciple must next recognize that our natural inclination is to dig our own wells, that is, fill our thirst on our own. This is why all people have addictions/attachments. These addictions people use to fill a thirst that only God can.

Why is this important for the disciple? To enjoy the blessings of living water, the disciple must daily, and throughout the day go to the well that will quench his thirst, which will provide true nourishment to their soul. As the body needs water, so the soul must drink water for the soul.

Here we come back to the disciplines. As an athlete must be disciplined in hydrating well before, during and after the game, so a disciple of Christ must be disciplined also, have a plan. An example is; morning Bible study, scripture memorization and prayer; recalling scripture throughout the day as life events impact us; turning to God with short prayers to direct our minds and heart to him; turning away from wells that are actually cracked and empty, although from a distance, when we are thirsty, they look like they may quench our thirst; meditation/reflection on our heart and the current wells we drink from other than God.

“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)  “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:11-13)

Learning to drink from God’s full well,

Arne

Practice: As listed above for daily disciplines. Journal about wells you are currently drinking from other than God’s. Pray for God to help you see what your heart is attached to and how you can move towards drinking only from his well.

P.S. Our fears are instigators for searching out worldly wells. Trust in God lessens our fears, decreasing our drive to find solace in worldly attachments.