A Simple Practice That Will Rescue You From Your Complicated Headspace!

I should have a masters degree in overthinking things. Honestly, my complicated head space can dance between a grateful heart having recently been cured of cancer to a grumbling spirit triggered by the losing of my keys, a recurring annoyance in my life. At the same time, I can actively serve as your greatest encouragement today inspiring your faith to greater heights, all the while at war with myself with a seemingly inconsequential cognitive dissonance that can get out of control, running rampant throughout my head.

Perhaps you can identify with any of my recent emotions:

• I know that God has always provided. But, how will he provide next?

• I understand that God can, and has, and will continue to heal. But when, and how, and where will he do it next in other areas of my life?

• I understand that God has brought me/us this far. It's honestly a miracle we've come this far. Then, how is it that I lose my "Jesus" with impatience while driving? Not being flippant here. This is a legit issue in my life.

• I believe that God is suppose to be all that is needed to fully satisfy my life. Then why do I feel like God is (dare I say) not enough in some situations?

These are just a few examples of my disfunction and truth be told, I'm old enough in my faith that when this happens, I often trip my way to Psalm 121. That's a good thing. Admittedly, the walk to Psalm 121 is sometimes bumpy and distracted. Still, I eventually get there.

Here is what I love about Psalm 121. The author of Psalm 121 gets me. Selfish as that may sound, when I read Psalm 121, I believe God is trying to get a message to me. Like, he knows what I need. He knows what I'm longing for. In the ancient Christian tradition, this particular Psalm was purposed to serve as a morning prayer. This Psalm can be used as an on-ramp for our day, regardless of what is in front of us.

Psalm 121: 1–2: "I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made Heaven and earth.”

There is a practice that we can pick up here that just may save our sanity. The practice of meditating on God is a good practice. As I sit with God in the morning, redirecting my attention to a more divine source and supply of strength outside of myself, there is something in me (in us) that rises above current circumstances. This happens almost without fail.

As I lift my eyes to the hills above what is right in front of me, I recognize that there is something beyond me that wants to work within me to help me not just survive today but to thrive today. God’s power and presence is made possible to us and in us by way of Jesus’s death and resurrection.

Here is how this practice works ~

We verbally put behind (die to) our own strength, recognizing that what we have alone in us is not enough. First part of this practice:

"God, today I'm putting behind my own strength. I recognize that by myself, I am not enough."

At the same time, we pick up the strength of Jesus by way of the Holy Spirit stepping into and living out his grace-filled resources. So when we pick up God’s strength, we are resurrected to a new way of thinking, acting, and living because the God of the universe is standing up inside of us, animating us to the better and best version of ourselves. I can do NONE of this without Jesus who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13). This is the way of Jesus. Second part of this practice:

"God, I need what you have to be who you made me to be. Be my strength today!"

So tomorrow morning, as I get up to do my day, as you get up to do your day, I’m praying that I will . . . that we will lift up our collective eye site to God and all of His resources. That we will look to him as the source and supplier of everything that we need and then some.

As I lift my eyes to the hills above what is right in front of me, I recognize there is something beyond me that wants to work within me to help me not just survive today but thrive today. Only God can make this a reality in my life and through my life. Remember, it’s not just for our sake but for those that God is using us to impact. This is bigger than us.

Peace and love to you all. Paul