I have suffered from Chronic Fatigue since 2005. This means that my energy is always very limited. Exhaustion often forces me to rest, regardless of what I want, or need, to do.
Until today, I have always understood ‘rest’ as time spent sitting down, or being in bed.
However, to my astonishment, God has now shown me that rest can also be a state of mind, and even a way of life.
With this approach, whether or not I am active, living restfully means noticing my sensations, thoughts, and emotions as they occur, acknowledging their reality without judgement, then sharing them simply and honestly with God.
Hopefully, this process will teach me how I need to change in order to live more restfully, so I can be at peace with myself, with God, with others, and the world.
Do you find contemplation difficult, or even impossible? Does your mind constantly slip away from observing the thoughts, emotions and physical sensations bubbling up within you, becoming caught up with them, instead? If so, you might like to try a different approach.
A fresh approach
1. Sit, lie, or stand comfortably, or walk, if you feel restless.
2. Ask God to help you with everything you are going to share with him.
3. Let your breathing be however it is. If you are still, you can close your eyes if you wish.
4. Notice the thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations arising within you, and share them honestly with God. You can do this silently, or aloud, whatever suits you best. Tell him anything you want to, even if you think you shouldn’t feel, or think, that way.
5. Ask God to help you with each issue you tell him about, listening for his still, small voice in response. It doesn’t matter if you move on to a new concern before you have finished talking to him about something else. It doesn’t matter if you fall asleep. You are always in God’s arms, like a little child, and he already knows everything you are experiencing and sharing with him. This kind of contemplation is about being yourself, and being honest with God.
6. Do this for whatever amount of time you wish, long or short; again, it doesn’t matter. Thank God for listening, understanding, caring, and helping you. Then continue with your day.
Conclusion
With practice, you may find that you can continue sharing your thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations with God whilst you are doing simple tasks. He lives within you, so you can commune with him in your heart whenever, and wherever, you want.
In time, always aware of his presence, you will unhesitatingly share everything with him, and this is a vital part of what it means to love both God and yourself.
Image: Anja, Pixabay
References
Introduction
As I stood there is silence – not even speaking of good things – the turmoil within me grew worse. The more I thought about it, the hotter I got, igniting a fire of words (Psalm 39:2-3; NLT).
A fresh approach
1. Be still in the presence of the Lord (Psalm 37:7; NLT).
I cannot be still (Jeremiah 4:19; NLT).
2. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer (Psalm 19:14; NLT).
3. The life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being (Job 12:10; NLT).
4. Pour out your heart to him (Psalm 62:8; NLT).
Lord, you are searching for honesty (Proverbs 11:5; NLT).
Pray about everything (Philippians 4:6; NLT).
5. He will be gracious if you ask for help (Isaiah 30:19; NLT).
Tell God what you need (Philippians 4:6; NLT).
Listen to his voice (Deuteronomy 13:4; NLT).
The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you (Deuteronomy 33:27; NLT).
He knows the secrets of every heart (psalm 44:21; NLT).
6. Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help (Psalm 86:5; NLT).
Conclusion
I know the Lord is always with me (Psalm 16:8; NLT).
There is […] one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all (Ephesians 4:4,6; NLT).
You are the temple of the living God (2 Corinthians 6:16; NLT).
Commune with your own heart (Psalm 77:6; KJV).
Pray constantly (1 Thessalonians 5:17; CSB).
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength (Mark 12:29; NLT).
Love your neighbour as yourself (Luke 10:27; NLT).
This is the confidence we have in approaching God:
that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us
(1 John 5:14; NIV).
Lord,
1. May I treat myself with love
According to your will,
Sharing all I feel with you
As I face each new test.
2. May I capture all my thoughts
According to your will,
Changing judgements into love –
Then I’ll have done my best.
3. May I speak the truth in love
According to your will,
Choosing all my words with care,
Though sometimes I’ll be blamed.
4. May I do all things with love
According to your will,
Serving you with all my heart –
Then I won’t be ashamed.
References
1. Love your neighbour as yourself (Leviticus 19:18; NLT).
You desire honesty from the womb (Psalm 51:6; NLT).
Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested (Hebrews 2:18; NLT).
2. We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5; NIV).
Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For […] the standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged (Matthew 7:1-2; NLT).
We have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16; NLT).
I have always tried my best to let wisdom guide my thoughts (Ecclesiastes 7:23; NLT).
3. We will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).
I have many aggressive enemies; they hate me without reason (Psalm 38:19; NLT).
4. Do everything with love (1 Corinthians 16:14; NLT).
Serve the Lord with all your heart (1 Samuel 12:20; NIV).
Let me not be ashamed; let not my enemies triumph over me (Psalm 25:2; NKJV).
Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in you (Psalm 25:20; NKJV).
Choose today whom you will serve
(Joshua 24:15; NLT).
1. Consequences flow
From from how I handle
All I feel.
2. Every choice I make
Brings others pain,
Or helps them heal.
3. Every course of action
Leaves me feeling bad,
Or good.
4. So help me, Lord,
To grow like you,
And choose your Way of Love.
References
1. You did not reflect on your actions or think about their consequences (Isaiah 47:7; NLT).
2. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart (Luke 6:45; NLT).
3. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these (Galatians 5:19-21; NLT).
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-3; NRSV).
4. The Lord – who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image (2 Corinthians 3:18; NLT).
Follow the way of love (1 Corinthians 14:1; NIV).
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged (1 Corinthians 13:4; NLT).
