Living Each Day in a Manna Rhythm

“I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day.”
 (Exodus 16:4)
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life.”
(John 6:35).

I recently read the book, Depression: Looking Up from the Stubborn Darkness by Edward Welch. Among other things, the author suggested getting in to a “ manna rhythm” of daily living. That means several things to me.

The Old Testaments relates how God provided manna for the Israelites in the wilderness, giving only enough for that day except on the day before the Sabbath, thus teaching them to rely on Him daily. Tomorrow’s provisions were not given today.

As I deal with depression and other problems, living in a manna rhythm is just that - trusting God for today’s provisions and not worrying or wondering about future days. As I go through each day, God’s manna will provide what I need to make it through, whether it’s the ability to enjoy activities of this life, strength to carry out responsibilities or ministries, or perseverance to endure pain or suffering. Whatever the circumstances, God’s manna will meet my needs.

This manna is not only provided through circumstances however, but also in the person of Christ Himself. Jesus says that He is my heavenly bread of life. Living my life in a manna rhythm means spending time with Christ - communicating with him in prayer, listening to Him speak through the Scripture, and praying for faith to act on His power within me. I am blessed with the wonderful provision of the person of Christ as well as whatever I need to go through each day (II Peter 1:3,4).

I am quite ready for my breakfast each morning. But as I begin my day with earthly food, I want to begin it with my heavenly food as well – time with Jesus and a declaration in faith that I have all I need for today, whatever it may bring, and walking in that faith until tomorrow’s manna is given.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, help me to live each day in a manna rhythm, knowing You can and will meet my every need.  Amen.

What We Think Can Affect How We Feel

“As a man thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7 KJV).

We hear a lot these days about mind/body connections. Not surprisingly, God’s Word spoke about that long before now. There are various verses in Scripture confirming that our thoughts and emotions affect our bodies.

I have seen this in my own body over the past 15 years. I typically react to difficulties with fear, anxiety, or depression. Literally within minutes of thinking about or feeling negative thoughts and emotions, I will get a migraine or tension headache, have a panic attack, or become extremely fatigued. It takes great effort to fight these responses. It is much easier to give in than to put up a fight and respond differently.

When recently faced with some new concerns, my initial reaction was to wonder how I could endure yet another problem, will it get worse, etc. My body began responding to each negative thought. I stopped and asked myself if I really wanted to down this road again, knowing what the outcome would be, or would I choose to think on what is right and true. It was very difficult to make the right choice, but praise God I had victory that day. Of course more tests will come and I need to be prepared for them.

Although we associate the heart more with feelings and emotions, our thoughts do trigger emotional responses, which in turn can trigger physical ones. Scripture says that we are to renew our minds (Romans 12:2), to be made new in the attitude of our minds (Ephesians 4:23), and to think on what is true (Philippians 4:8). I want to develop an awareness of where my thoughts and emotions are focused at all times, not just in times of crisis. As I am obedient to His commands and control, I will have life and peace (Romans 8:6) even in my pain, and that’s a mind/body connection I want to experience.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, as I go through each day, help me to remember and act on the truths of Your Word rather than just reacting to my circumstances. As I do, my body and soul will benefit by Your refreshment and peace. Amen.

Offering Our Bodies as Living Sacrifices of Worship to God

“Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship”
 (Romans 12:1).

Worship can be expressed in various forms. Some examples are through music, tithes and offerings, responding to the teaching of God’s Word, and performing acts of service and mercy in God’s name. This verse suggests something else to me as well – worshipping God with my body even while suffering.

I am slowly learning to be aware of ways in which I can do this. As I endure the ongoing struggle with migraines day after day, I am trying to praise God for the ability He gives me to keep functioning through them. When the eye discomfort is so bothersome that I can’t read or use the computer or television, I try and listen to Bible study tapes or worship music. When pain keeps me awake at night I try to pray for others. None of these things are done in my own strength – it is all done by the power of Christ giving me not only the ability but the desire to do them.

There are many times when I don’t offer my sufferings as a willing sacrifice. Sometimes all I can do is sit in agony or despair and cry to the Lord, pleading for mercy and endurance. God understands that. But each time I offer my pain and suffering in an attitude of worship as a sacrifice on the altar of praise, God does something wonderful. Whether now or later, He turns the ashes of my offerings into beauty and gives me a garment of praise for my spirit of heaviness. Whether praising or crying, I want to remember that my body is God’s living temple, and regardless of its physical condition, it can be a beautiful place of sacrifice to Him.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me a willing spirit to view my sufferings as a sacrificial offering to You, and show me ways I can do this through my specific circumstances. I praise and thank you Lord for accomplishing this through me. Amen.

Spring Transformation

“And we . . . are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (II Corinthians 3:18).

We did not have much winter this year in Virginia so signs of spring have come earlier than usual. Trees and flowers are budding and blooming, and those first splashes of color are a welcome change to see. Spring is a time of transformation because nature’s appearance changes dramatically during this season. Transformation can be more than an external change in form though. It can also mean a change in essence or character. That is what God wants to do in my life, and He is using my pain to accomplish it.

God’s Word and Spirit have the power to transform my sinful, earthly nature, but it requires some work on my part as well. I must be willing to apply Scriptural truths to my life. Becoming fearful over a physical problem is the time to remember God’s faithfulness to me in the past and to trust His provision for the present and future. When tempted to have a negative or despairing attitude, I remind myself that I am not the same person that I was before knowing Christ. I am able to make a different choice as to how I respond to every circumstance in my life.

Allowing God to transform my thoughts, attitudes, and actions will bring new splashes of color to my life and the lives of others. Signs of spring make people feel happy. Not complaining, becoming fearful, or constantly focusing on my problems encourages and uplifts those around me.

Spring’s transformation is temporary but the transforming power of God in my life is everlasting. It can be revealed through me at all times, even when my physical health or circumstances look bleak. As I renew my mind in the knowledge of who He is, who I am in Him, and what He can do through me, I become more conformed to the likeness of Christ – the best and most beautiful transformation of all.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, as I see the earth transformed during the beauty of springtime, help me also see how my pain and suffering can be used by You to transform my heart, mind, and actions into Your image. Amen.

Lenten Thoughts

"I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things"
(Philippians 3:8)

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endure the cross” (Hebrews 12:2).

While homeschooling my daughters one year, I had the opportunity to learn more about Lent. What I learned enriched my walk with God and I would like to share it.

The first day of Lent this year is Wednesday, February 22nd - Ash Wednesday. Lent originally meant spring - new life in nature. But for Christians it is a time of spiritual renewal as well. The date for Lent is determined by the date for Easter. Easter is always the first Sunday after the full moon that comes on or after March 21st. This year it falls on April 8th.

Originally Lent was 40 hours - the time Jesus was in the tomb. In the 200's it became 6 days called Holy Week. The 6 days became 36, being a tithe or 10th of the year, and then in the 700's under Charlemagne it became 40 days including Ash Wednesday. When we count the 40 days in Lent, we don’t count the Sundays of each week - only weekdays. One article I read also mentioned that Lent owes some of its spirit to the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert preparing for ministry. During Jesus’ time in the desert He left behind all others but the Holy Spirit and the Father. He experienced deprivation and temptation, but the Father and Holy Spirit sustained him.

Ash Wednesday is called that for several reasons. People put ashes on their foreheads in the form of a cross to show they belong to Jesus and are sealed in Him. Ashes are used because in Bible times they were a sign of sorrow and repentance.

Lent is a time of preparation for the death and resurrection of Jesus, just as Advent prepares us for Christmas. Lent can be a time of looking at ourselves, thinking about our need for God and sometimes giving up something for a while as a sacrifice to God. We “deprive” ourselves through a “desert” experience of some sort. Some people fast or give up other things besides food - perhaps television or computer games. Lent is also a time for special prayer as we examine ourselves and meditate on what the Lord has done for us. The traditional symbol for Lenten prayer is the pretzel. In the 400's Christians made dough in the shape of two crossed arms to remind them to pray. They were called “Little Arms” or bracellae - later brezel or pretzel. They were eaten only during Lent.

Lent should not be a time of gloominess. It should be a time of self-reflection, yes, but also a time of joyfulness for what Jesus did for us. And if we give anything up, the purpose is to either strip away things that clutter our lives and keep us from a close relationship with God or remind us of the sacrifices He endured for us. For those of us with chronic pain and illness, the thought of intentionally giving up something may be difficult because of all we already give up out of necessity. Rather than giving something up I sometimes add something – such as praying daily for a particular cause or person or reading a book on Christ or other spiritual disciplines. I may also give up something different each week rather than one thing for the entire 40 days, which makes things easier to manage.

Through prayer, penitence, and preparing, Lent is a time of spiritual growth and renewal. It reminds us that Jesus has already been where we are and it reminds us of His suffering. But it especially reminds us of His love. Lent can be a very meaningful time. The Lord knows our pain and sufferings and understands that we may not be able to endure yet another discomfort or sacrifice. Yet whatever God leads us to do or not do during this season, we can ponder God’s great love and sacrifice for us, and perhaps be strengthened in endurance of own suffering, knowing these trials are conforming us more into the image of Christ Himself.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, as we enter this season of Lent, may I remember that You understand the meaning of sacrifice, for You made the greatest one in dying for me. Draw me closer to You during this time, and may any sacrifice I make deepen my love and commitment to You. Amen.

Seeking the Sonshine

“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always” (Psalm 105:4).

I love gardening, and although I am limited in what I can physically do, I greatly miss my flowers during the winter months, so for Christmas a friend gave me an amaryllis plant to grow. I appreciated it but had difficulty in deciding where to put it since direct sunlight is filtered through the large trees in our yard. I finally decided to place it in front of the sliding door in our dining room each morning and move it out of the way each night. I wasn’t sure if it would grow, but I am thrilled that the plant is now much higher than my hopes and ready to bloom!

As I happily watch my plant’s progress, I am reminded of how much I need not only the earthly sun but also the heavenly Son. The warmth of God’s Spirit is my comfort on many emotionally dark days. My plant is very tall and I must keep rotating it so that it will grow evenly. I need the rays of God’s Word to help me grow in all areas of my Christian life. His Word and Spirit speak to any and every situation I face. If I move my plant away from the sun its growth will be stunted. I want to see this beautiful bud bloom. God wants me to bloom as well and I can only do that by seeking Him constantly. Even a few days without Him can cause me to droop. He truly is my source of light and life and seeking His face through the Word, worship music, prayer, and other means of support needs to be a daily priority for me.

It is wonderful to see the beauty of my amaryllis plant in the deadness of winter. And by faith, I am believing God will enable me to bloom even through the winters of my pain as I continually seek His face.

Prayer: Lord You are the light of my life. I want to remain in Your light so that I will grow and bloom not only on bright days but on cold dark days as well. Amen.

Living Within the Limits Which Our Loving God Has Given Us

“I know, O Lord that your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness you have afflicted me” (Psalm 119:75).

One of the hardest aspects of my health problems is the limitations which they bring. With each restriction, I have had to go through a cycle of frustration, grieving, and fighting before coming to acceptance. Although sugar has given me headaches for 20 years, I still struggle with giving it up; it has taken me years to accept that my perfectionistic vacuuming is not worth days of back pain afterwards. I am currently adjusting to limited reading and computer time because of eye problems. There are activities I can no longer do with friends or family. I realize these issues may seem insignificant to those whose problems are much more severe than mine, but they are still difficult for me to face.

In faith, I am gradually learning to accept God’s limits. Even Jesus allowed limitations in His life. He limited Himself to earthly poverty rather than the majesty of heaven. He willingly dwelt with frustrating, sinful, and disappointing humanity rather than heavenly hosts. He did not reveal His power through miracles until appointed times. He limited Himself for the sake of our eternal salvation and freedom.

I believe God is using limits in my life for at least two purposes – to rid me of my controlling nature and to teach me the blessings of sacrifice. Limitations force me to give up the control I desperately cling to at times, as well as giving me the opportunity to sacrifice the desires of my heart to the Lord. The more control I yield and the more I sacrifice, the more I experience true freedom in Christ.

Limits will continue to come, either through ageing, illness, or circumstances. Praise God, I have the assurance of knowing that they are ultimately achieving an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. “It is in limiting that God reveals the limitlessness of His power and grace and purposes” (Elizabeth George, Loving God with All Your Mind).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to willingly accept the limitations you place on my life, knowing that “You are good, and what you do is good” (Psalm 119:68). Amen.