​This week I had a few conversations with people who suffer from anxiety.  In one situation I was praying with a woman who has been struggling with heaviness and feeling overwhelmed by anxious moments.  

The LORD put Proverbs 12:25 on my heart.  As I began praying over her, thoughts started coming to share with her, about the power of kind words; and also what happens when we are NOT COVERED in kind words.  It was a revelational moment for both of us about anxiety and the power of good words to heal.  Truly God is Wonderful Counselor!

She is someone who, from childhood, has been subjected to harsh, critical words and family who have abused, betrayed, and abandoned.  It is just over the last year that she has made a cut from those ties.  

I felt like the LORD was putting on my heart that her anxiety will go away as she is healed by the kind words of the LORD.  The LORD was encouraging her to rest and to take time to mourn.  He emphasized rest and letting go of control, to trust Him to provide.  To allow herself to rest and be regenerated in His presence.  He repeatedly emphasized REST!  She has been pushing herself in many ways and striving.  God was calling that out and calling her in to His presence for kind words that cheer her heart!  This brought her real relief; the Spirit helped her stop holding her breath.  She was able to release some emotion too.  God's kind words to her helped her breathe and rest in His arms.  Her countenance was completely different by the end of our time compared to the heaviness of the beginning.  (Note: if you would like to inquire about a similar type of session, my Prayer Coaching email is gina@selahprayer.com)

In another situation this week a woman was reflecting on her childhood experience that was similar and was thinking she may have ADHD as a result and be clinically anxious forever.  Again the LORD brought up Proverbs 12:25.  The message to her was the same.  She has been under the weight of others negative feelings and thoughts since childhood.  It has created great anxiety that weighs down.  I felt God wanted her to know she should not categorize herself with a mental diagnosis.  He is instead calling her to come closer and be healed by His kind words that will be hope filled and comforting.  His kind words speak life and cheer burdened hearts.   We think in terms of human diagnosis.  God thinks in terms of His love never failing.

How are you processing your anxiety?  As a diagnosis or as something that God wants to heal?

After I had those moments with both women, I realized that I myself needed that counsel.  There's an encounter I've been processing and indeed it has weighed heavy.  God used that scripture to show me how hurtful words were causing me great heaviness.  He was calling me into His presence for kind words to comfort me and lift my spirits.  It worked!

In addition, the Reflective Writing Meditation event held on October 29th was time with God in the same way.  14 people ended up signing up, so that was great!  The time with God in the session was a time of breath prayer, active listening, meditating on promises of His love, visualizing some moments with Jesus, and writing down messages of love from Him to each one!  

He does write a love letter upon our hearts!  We must position to hear and receive it!

God's kind words heal.  They cheer weary hearts.  They reframe thoughts.  They overcome lies.   They comfort and hold.  They strengthen and bless.

Are you positioning to hear the kind words of the LORD?  Do you need help with this?  Are you able to hear God speak His promises to you?  

Practice time with Him by doing the prayer exercises within the podcast!  Practice hearing from God by talking with Him! If the podcast episodes bless you, please take time to leave a review also!  Reviews help people decide whether or not to listen!

  💥Here is the best planning advice anyone could give you. You aren’t meant to lead. Some will take that with offense, but others will feel the relief it is meant to bring! ...YOU AREN'T MEANT TO LEAD.

You are meant to be led, by someone, partnered with Someone who carries the burden. There is an easy yoke involved...

Today being Tranquil Tues in Peace Be Still's podcast, we use an image from scripture to spend time in His presence.

Our image today comes from Matthew 11:28-30. Many of you may know these verses by heart. “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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

These are words of Jesus. A yoke was a common reference to people in the 1st century. Their economy was largely based upon agricultural trade. The land had to be worked and prepared for the seed. Heavy cargo also needed to be carried into the marketplace. So oxen and other burden bearing animals were paired together with a wooden beam to labor together. The wooden beam joining the animals is the yoke.

This is the visual Jesus wants us to reflect on when he says, “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, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

This makes sense when you consider how the animals were paired up. Seasoned and strong burden bearers were paired with less experienced, weaker laborers. The weight of the yoke was mostly carried by the stronger among the two, therefore easing the burden of the weaker, coaching and leading the way.

Jesus is obviously revealing Himself as the strong One who bears the burden for you. He is sooooooooooooo much stronger than you. He will faithfully lead and guide you!

This is revelation for soul rest. You aren't to go it alone. Jesus is telling us we are to pair up, to partner with Him. This is inspiration for today's visual. Jesus is telling us He will bear the burden of our souls. He is telling us to come to Him and learn from Him. He’ll shift the weight on to himself and carry it for you. He is gentle and humble in heart, leading you to rest.

Let’s pray.

"Father, thank you for Jesus, our burden bearer. Thank you for sending us a gentle Shepherd to lead and guide us to rest. Jesus, we look to you to teach us your ways. Lord help us let go of striving. Holy Spirit help this one see any area of their life where they are laboring and burdened, going it alone. Shift the weight Holy One, carrying it for us so that our soul may rest. Amen."

What are you attempting to carry in your own power? See yourself setting it down, walking away from it.

In your mind’s eye, come near to Jesus.

See that He is welcoming you, His gentle ways encouraging you closer.

What does it look like to collapse near him, completely letting go? Feel the relief of letting everything go...
​
(to complete this visualization, listen to today's exercise found here.

The Dawn will visit us from on high... Luke 1:78 Berean Study Bible
Today visualize the light of Christ piercing your darkness.  It’s why He has come.

Zechariah called him the Dawn who would visit us from on high. 

That language is part of his prophetic praise found in Luke 1:68-80.

To review the account of Zechariah in full, and his part in the birth story of Jesus, read Luke 1:5-25 and verses 57-80. 

Part of this account is that Zechariah was muted for 9 months during the miraculous pregnancy of Elizabeth.  This happened because he didn’t believe in the angel Gabriel’s message of a promised son as answer to his prayers. 

Consider... How many of us are muted in some way because we refuse to believe in promises of God, in the miracle working power of God? 

Is your faith bigger than your limitations?  Are you believing in the whispers of His holy Word?

We know that Zechariah didn’t stay muted.  After John the Baptist was born, Zechariah’s tongue was set free, and he began to speak praising God. 

Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied about the One coming who would redeem his people in order to forgive, set free, rescue, remember His holy covenant, enable God’s people to serve him without fear.  He prophesied how Zechariah's son John, would prepare the way for the Most High.

And here is how his prophesy ends…

Luke 1:78-79 ...Because of our God’s deep compassion,
    the dawn from heaven will break upon us,
     to give light to those who are sitting in darkness
    and in the shadow of death,
        to guide us on the path of peace.”

In the Berean translation, Jesus is the Dawn with a capital D.  Other translations say “day spring”, the Sunrise with a capital “S”, the morning light. Christ confirmed these truths by boldly proclaiming that yes, He was the light of the world, John 8:12.  

John 1:4-5 says that "in him was life and that life was the light of ALL of mankind.  The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it."  John 1:9 says Christ is the true light that gives light to all men and he was coming into the world.

To give light to those sitting in darkness... Where are you sitting in darkness?

Darkness in both verses from John 1 and Luke 1 is shadiness, obscurity, blindness, ignorance of divine things, ungodliness, immorality, a spiritual state where darkness becomes visible and holds sway.

Are you blinded by unbelief?  Is your faith muted because of unbelief?  What is the last step of faith you took beyond your own ability and resources?  Is your vision shrouded by confusion, despair, hopelessness?  What is the darkness you are dwelling in, sitting in today?  

Because of his deep compassion, the Dawn from Heaven breaks upon you, to give you light, to guide you in a path of peace.

Let’s pray.  Christ our true light, the Dawn who came to visit us from on high, pierce this one’s darkness with your marvelous light.  Lord, because of your tender mercy, flood their heart with light from on high.  

(Pause- By faith, see His light flooding your heart and mind.)  

Pray, "grant me vision Jesus." 

"Give light to my eyes.  I admit ignorance about divine things.  Pierce my darkness.  Give light to my darkness.  Rescue me from the shadow of death, thoughts that are hopeless, choices that are dead ends, feelings that snuff out life and faith.  Forgive my unbelief.  Cleanse me of ungodly thoughts and ways.  Purify me with your light.  Guide my feet into your path of peace."

Now take a few minutes and still yourself in His presence.  See the Dawn from on high coming from on high, His light surrounding you like a shield, lighting a pathway of peace before you.  Rest in his holy light.

This season give thanks for the Dawn who descended from on high.  Do not be silent.  Speak about Him.  Take steps of faith believing His life is your guiding light in the darkness.

And pray for someone you love or know that needs Christ's light to pierce their darkness.  Ask Jesus to surround them with His holy light.  Take the time to envision His light descending and giving light to their darkness, guiding them into the way of peace.

Did you enjoy this reflection?  If so, take a listen to more Advent reflections on our podcast that began on December 1st.  Visit the podcast tab to listen or find PEACE BE STILL DAILY PRAYER DOWNLOAD on your podcast provider!

We're approaching Thanksgiving!  Seems time has flown!  Lots to be thankful for as this year winds down, despite this crazy, chaotic world and all of its bad news! 

In such turbulent times, our center and stronghold in Christ and his promises guides us and stabilizes us.  The world's news is not our news.  He is our victory and supply and future.  He is our right now promise.  His peace is to rule in our hearts!  With Him as our Good Shepherd, we lack nothing!  He alone is our reason to be thankful, even if all we would have on our table this Thanksgiving were a dry crust.

Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.- Proverbs 17:1

His Peace is a precious gift, such a gift that it is to be chosen over a house of feasting with strife. It's time to be a peacemaker when so many are quick to offense and argument.  I speak this to myself as much as to you.  Should we engage in that political discussion? How should we reply to that relative who is bitter and miserable?  Are we bringing peace to the discussion, to table of fellowship? 

Meditate on Proverbs 17:1 and Colossians 3:15 as you approach a season of gathering with family.  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts in these gatherings.  Be prayed up before you go!  Let others know why Christ's peace satisfies your deepest needs, and fills you in a way nothing and no one else can!  

ON to some updates!  It's been about a month since you last got an email or blog from me.  Things have been busy; and ministry fruitful!  Podcast listenership continues to grow!  I traveled to Iowa and held my first in-person group session in over 2 years!  What a blessing it was!  Witnessed on flights going out and coming back!  That's a whole blog on it's own!  But know that the meditation event that I put together (Prayer Rhythms) was wonderful!  God spoke and ministered deeply and sweetly to participants!  I'll be holding that session for another private group first week of December!  Oh how I have missed in-person ministry!  (If you have interest in in-person private group sessions, please reply to this email.)

And look for an email on some online sessions upcoming for PRAYER RHYTHMS!

In addition, social media reach is still a wilderness to navigate, but since it is where so many people are "gathering", I'm believing God for breakthrough!  I keep hearing whispers and promptings from the Spirit to not give up, but boy is there so much to learn!  Pray for reach and breakthrough!  It takes a lot of time and energy!  But I believe the whispers and victory is coming!

My "every day" includes writing, recording, editing audio, creating social media images and posts, praying for and connecting with people online, learning social media, etc.  The days fly by!  Also every Friday, I'm still doing a live prayer broadcast with Cheryl Wells (sweet friend, ministry partner, and our Board Chair).  

Have you listened to the podcast of late?  Over the last many weeks, I've been recording a series on the Holy Spirit (starting with episode 399).  It is still going!  There is so many scriptures about His role in our faith life!  Many of us need to connect with the Holy Spirit on deeper levels, acknowledging His role.  He is One of the Trinity, not an it.  I pray you listen to one or all of the 19 sessions so far!  Here is some detail from the first handful of episodes, but know today was episode 418, so this is just a sampling!  Access the podcast on any podcast app or listen from the podcast tab.

• Episode 399- For today's breath prayer and silence exercise, we are focusing on the creative, supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. Listen in for the role of the Holy Spirit to execute God's Word and shine light from within darkness. It is a supernatural work for transformation that only the Spirit of God can produce. He is your path to peace and hope and life and power. Press in! Please share with a friend!
• Episode 402- Very often we will question what God's will is for us throughout our time here on earth. We need answers that come from the Holy Spirit. So today is an opportunity to practice a spirit-filled prayer request pulled directly from scripture. Listen in for this Spirit-filled prayer language; and position with expectation on Spirit filled answers. Practice praying it over yourself and others; and stay to the end to hear more Spirit inspired scripture prayed over you! Please share with a friend! Blessings!
• Episode 403- Today is a little different, a first hand account of a miraculous healing experienced by a woman I met at the end of 2020.  She suffered tortuous pain (from an incurable disease) for over 6 years with it progressing to a point of not being able to care for herself at all, or sleep!  There were no medicines that brought relief.  Despite it all, she never wavered that Jesus would heal her!  Listen in as she describes how her faith brought her through, how the Word of God was her stronghold, and how the real healing came in a way no one expected.  Be blessed and stick around to the end to receive a prayer of healing!
• Episode 404- Renew a right spirit within me- Daily we need renewal. Daily we need the power of God's life and Spirit to "right" us. Using your breath and the simple, but powerful prayer phrase from Psalm 51:10 you'll call on the Holy Spirit to renew you. Memorize this breath prayer to incorporate it into your every day language. Pray it in moments where you need to center yourself and call upon His life and power. The Holy Spirit promises supernatural renewal. Not our power, but His power renewing us. Release striving and come into and under the power of God's promises. Ask to be made new by the Holy Spirit of Jesus. Please share with a friend who needs to experience the promises and peace of Jesus.

It's been a 12 hour day at this point, so time to sign off!  If this ministry is a blessing to you, will you please consider making a donation?  We are asking God for more reach, but our budget is limited.  Twitter advertisements cost minimum of $50.  Instagram ads are a minimum of $20.  Facebook ads are a minimum of $25.  All of these are minimal reach, but we have seen success!  Additionally, some technology updates are needed.  As well, annual fees are approaching.  So we would be so appreciative of one-time gifts or new monthly supporters!  Thank you for praying about supporting our mission to help people linger longer with God, resourcing the earnest to draw near and know Christ!  

Have a blessed Thanksgiving as you rejoice in the goodness of God and the peace of Christ!

In the last blog I mentioned I had participated in a Christian mindfulness presentation that included some interactive exercises.  It was being sponsored and hosted by a well-known national denomination.  This gave it some credibility in my mind, so I signed up.  I was interested in how it would be approached by the Christian PHD (doctor of philosophy) who taught it.  I was hopeful I could learn something and find similarities in what God has called me to do through Into the Waters.  Unfortunately, I was very disappointed.  But God showed up in it, and gave me a message I understood.  This is a long post; but an important one.  I’ll share some of what I experienced in the session; but first briefly touch on mindfulness as a current cultural trend.

Mindfulness is a buzz word right now, but it is not new.  It has deep spiritual roots going back thousands of years.  Some roots are from Christianity, others are not.  It has gained traction in our current culture because it has been presented as non-religious, useful for all people regardless of spiritual beliefs.  Various forms of mindfulness are being encouraged, taught, and implemented in school systems, corporate training programs, healthcare systems, sports training, consulting practices, armed forces drills, etc.    This article states it is the fastest growing health trend in America.

Mindfulness practices are intriguing to people because “statistics show”  it lowers stress, improves productivity, increases mental focus, betters physical health, strengthens relationships, stokes creativity, lowers employee turnover, etc.  Some are even claiming it has the power to obliterate fear! Pretty impressive!  

Should I believe the hype?  What is mindfulness exactly and as a Christian, how is it to be practiced, if at all?  What are its implications?  Does it square with Christianity? 
 
According to Oxford dictionary, mindfulness is “a mental state achieved by concentrating on the present moment, while calmly accepting the feelings and thoughts that come to you, used as a technique to help you relax.” 

Oxford dictionary also credits mindfulness as a concept from Zen Buddhism.  Mindfulness practices typically include exercises of breathing, visualizing, noticing feeling and thoughts within present moment in order to make better choices to respond in calm and self-controlled ways.  Those practices are very commonly considered mindfulness meditation techniques. 

Prepare to be confused…. 

In contrast, a mindfulness organization states it is NOT about achieving a state of calm.  They state, “it is just about noticing whatever experience we're having, including all the thoughts, feelings or physical sensations that are a part of it… we learn the skill of becoming aware of our thoughts, without necessarily doing anything with them. By just noticing thoughts, we learn how to unhook ourselves from our identification with them. This is different from pushing thoughts away. It’s how we relate to our thoughts, not the absence of them.”  So are you confused by that?  I am.  (If interested, click here to read their entire document. )

It is a frustrating prospect to me that I am to notice my thoughts and feelings and not necessarily do anything with them, except "unhook" myself from them, whatever that means.  And if I am to rely on my own power to make better choices in moments, again, losing prospect for me personally.  I don't have that power.  God has shown me my desperate, urgent every day need for mind renewal on His terms, with the help of the Holy Spirit.

But let’s not throw mindfulness aside yet, because mindfulness is actually God's concept and here is his definition- Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Going further, mindfulness as God intends, involves the biblical practice of meditation.  

We can see the importance God places on meditation in Joshua 1:8 when He tells His people that, if done His way, meditation guarantees prosperity and success.  If He is taken out of that equation, it is a worldly concept and smoke and mirrors.
  
Now let me give you a practical example to sort through.  Let's go back to the event I mentioned in the beginning…  It was marketed as Christian Mindfulness and Spirituality, so I figured it would be presented in a biblical way that aligned with God's definition of mindfulness and meditation.  Instead, it was a dangerous mix of truth and lies. 

The presenter shared in the first segment that Christian mindfulness practices go back thousands of years to early monastic and nomadic communities.  These early Christian believers practiced “constant prayer” in quiet settings in order to contemplate God and His Word and experience His presence.  So far so good, until… great emphasis was placed on present moment awareness and how to respond.  The presenter referenced John 10:10 to emphasize Jesus’ promise to give life and life in abundance.   A great promise!  But the scripture was used as backdrop to support present moment awareness.  She stated we are to focus on what can be seen in order to recognize the ordinary abundance all around us in order to fill us. 

Do you see what is wrong with the presenter’s interpretation? 

Focusing on what can be seen to be filled is NOT the context of what Jesus meant at all.  He did not mean that we are to focus on life all around us to fill us.  He meant that the promised life of abundance came through His life that He would give us.  We are to be filled by Him, Romans 15:13.  Since she was incorrectly interpreting the meaning of John 10:10, this was where I began to get uncomfortable in the presentation. 

She continued by inviting us to have an attitude of curiosity.  This meant to practice noticing ordinary abundance and to be present in a moment.  She instructed us to close our eyes and imagine ourselves as an alien visiting the earth for the first time.  Then, as an alien, we were to reach out our hand and pick something up from earth.  Since we were visiting earth, it would be something we had never seen before.  We were to look at it, feel it, observe it, engage all of our senses, and manipulate it if possible.  We were told this was an exercise to train our brains to be more mindful by focusing intently on a present moment.  As she presented this exercise, I suddenly became very mindful of something rising up in me.  My feelings and thoughts were't pleasant, nor was I feeling very calm suddenly.  Maybe this was to be the point I "unhooked" myself, LOL.    

Would you have participated in this exercise? 

I did not do the exercise.  I was shocked.  Jesus’ beautiful promise to give life in abundance was twisted.  There was no suggestion to pick up something God designed, like a beautiful rose for example.  We could have closed our eyes and noticed the intricacies of God’s handiwork and how it awakened all of our senses, causing us to wonder at the glory of God.  Instead, I was to be an alien and pick up “something” I had never seen before.  Given the fact that there was no encouragement at all to give God glory for whatever the created thing was, she lost me as a participant at this exercise.

However, I didn’t disconnect from the presentation.  I still hoped it would get better, but truly was more curious as to how much worse it could get.   

Shortly after the alien exercise, she mentioned Matthew 11:28 which is Jesus’ invitation to all who are weary and burdened to come to Him for rest.  She used it to illustrate a mindfulness point that when we are weary and burdened, we can train ourselves to choose our response.  Red flag.  Her translation was way outside of the boundary of what Jesus was saying.  He wants us to come to Him with our weakness and learn from him so he can restore us.  He never encourages us to train ourselves to choose our response in our own power.

At this point in the online presentation, something fell to the ground which startled the presenter, causing her to swing around in her chair and grab the item on the ground very quickly.  When she came back into view, she looked a bit shocked.  But then she quickly closed her eyes and breathed deeply to take a mindfulness moment.  She then explained to all of us, that a candle had fallen to the ground suddenly.  Since it was lit, she needed to get it immediately, stating she was fearful it would cause a fire.  But, she noted she was immediately relieved, because the candle had gone out upon hitting the ground. 

At this, I smiled and was mindful of sudden relief.  I took it as God’s little wink to me that He was connecting with my upset.  This was not a Spirit-filled Christian mindfulness session.  It was a session where the light was snuffed out.  Bad sign.

The crescendo was a poem she shared from a well-known writer who has recently passed away, and who, by the way, was an atheist.  Yes of course, perfect ending, inspire me with an atheist's words of not knowing how to pray.  Yes, the poem she shared emphasized not knowing how to pray, but knowing how to fall down into the grass and pay attention.  I was seriously in a state of shock.

Could it get any worse?  I stuck around to the very end hoping the host or participants might reveal their dismay.  But the host praised her.  Only 2 participants made comments; and they were also praises!  Ugh. 

I know this is a long post, but it is so important.  Some might think I am overly critical or harsh.  But I politely disagree.  So many are being led as sheep to the slaughter by the enemy who delights in twisting and perverting God's ways.  We should be hyper-vigilant in these times to honor God and meditate on His Word in context.  We must be rooted and grounded in God’s word to discern between good and evil, Hebrews 5:13-14.  God calls us to exercise our spiritual senses through constant use in order to discern.  Are you exercising your spiritual senses?   

Into the Waters offers resources to train yourself to exercise your spiritual senses through prayer and meditation in context of His truth.  Our classes and online resources emphasize the critical nature of lingering with God, inviting the Holy Spirit, meditating on His Word, talking openly and vulnerably with Him, waiting in His presence, giving Him glory, and surrendering to His leading.  Practice those type of exercises with us!
 
We are holding a session Sunday March 15th at 8pm EST called the Word of God.  We will ponder 4 different ways the enemy of our soul attacks us.  There is also challenge to ask God to do something new and supernatural.  There are exercises to quiet yourself and renew in His presence.  Join us!  Sign up here.  And stay tuned because I will also be announcing an April session related to new life, just prior to Easter.  I hope you join one or both!   And if you are looking for even more, try this biblically based mindfulness challenge that I posted recently on our Facebook and Instagram page.  Try it with a friend!  Click on the picture below for instructions.