Taking Stock

^"Let us examine ourselves instead, and let us repent and turn again to the Lord. ⁴¹ Let us lift our hearts and hands to him in heaven, ⁴² for we have sinned; we have rebelled against the Lord, and he has not forgotten it." - Lamentations 3:40-42

We are currently on a District Minister's Retreat and we have been invited to take stock of our relationship with God - it has been a wonderful experience, although very challenging. Jeremiah invited the people of God to "examine themselves" and to then turn back to God. This is a hard thing to do, but very necessary. When last did you "honestly" examine your spiritual life?

2 Corinthians 13:5 - Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?

By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest. Confucius
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By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest. Confucius
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/reflection.html

"By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest." - Confucius

Living in Grace
D3LM3

God speaks in the silence

We had the wonderful privilege of sharing in a Spiritual Retreat today. A lot of the time was spent in reflection, silence and prayer, as well as some great food and company. The thing that always amazes me about having these moments away from the chaos of life, is that God always speaks in the silence. It is not that God doesn't speak in the noise of our lives, but I feel that his voice is easily drowned out.

By simply blocking out a few hours in a day, we create the space for God to communicate with us, uninterrupted. There is nothing magical about it - it is purely allowing God the opportunity to share with us.

I guess it is the same as communicating with your spouse or a friend. Of course you can chat and communicate in the routine of life, but often these conversations happen at high speed and we don't always listen to what they are saying. Yet, go away for a day with your spouse/friend and you will discover that you can actually talk to each other.

Dallas Willard - "Hearing God cannot be a reliable and intelligible fact of life except when we see his speaking as one aspect of his presence with us, of his life in us. Only our communion with God provides the appropriate context for communications between us and him.”

Psalm 141:1-2 - "God, come close. Come quickly! Open your ears—it’s my voice you’re hearing! Treat my prayer as sweet incense rising; my raised hands are my evening prayers."

You may not be able to take a whole morning out, but I encourage you to find some time to rest in the presence of God. You will be blessed.

Living in Grace
D3LM3