Wednesday Wanderings with Dr. Sherri is a time we set aside to wander in the Presence of Jesus and ponder His truths. When you are ready, prepare your mind, body, and soul to have a transformational encounter with Jesus.

Watch the Wednesday Wanderings Welcome for this week.

Now that we have cleared our minds of the clutter, we can wander on the teach me journey.

PREPARATION: In our last Wandering we examined temptations and enticements. This week we will explore teach me your will and promises. When you are ready, you may begin the dialogue with Jesus and state: “Jesus, I invite you to help me to leisurely wander into your Presence. Prepare my heart to receive and illuminate my spiritual senses to encounter you.”

PROMISE: John 14:26 and John 16:13 Amplified 

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, HE WILL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS, and bring to your remembrance all things that I have said to you.” (John 14:26)

“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH …” (John 16:13)

The Holy Spirit is our Teacher and Guide. He will teach us the value of needing God and He will guide us to live a life that brings God glory and reflects the truth of God’s promises.

PSALM: I Need Thee Every Hour written by Annie Sherwood Hawks.

I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.

If we quiet our minds, we can listen in on an interesting heart song conversation between the psalmist and God.  It is as though the song writer asked, “God what is your will for my life?”  and God responded, “That you know Me and believe My promises.”  The psalmist responds, “Please teach me your promises in such a way that they are fulfilled within me.” The songwriter recognizes her need for God’s instruction. She first asks to be taught, then asks God to fulfill. Following the request of the psalmist, today’s Wandering is a lesson plan that includes a question, an answer, and an assignment. So grab your pen and paper in case you want to complete the homework.

How do we prepare our hearts to receive God’s will and live in such a way that His promises are fulfilled in our lives?

PARABLE: Have you ever asked Jesus the question, “What is God’s will for my life?” The response of Jesus is found in John 17:3.

Jesus states: “I want you to know my Father and that He sent me to give you eternal life and bring Him glory with your life.”

Knowing God is discovered through heart knowledge. Heart knowledge is taught through an experiential, intimate personal relationship, quality time spent in God’s presence, and through meditating on His rich and truthful promises. God’s promises are found in The Bible, the personal instructional guide that helps you to know God!

Reading God’s Word will help us to know His Will (Romans 12:2), His Plan (Jeremiah 29:11), and the power of His RICH Promises (Hebrews 4:12). However, contemplating God’s Word will help us to receive it within our heart and live out the personal experiences of His promises in a way that brings Him glory (Jeremiah 31:33-34). How do we contemplate God’s word? I’ll share with you my practice.

Lectio Divina is a traditional contemplative monastic practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and to increase our knowledge of God’s living word. Over the years I have adapted the Lectio Divina template in my spiritual discipline practices. I call them the R’s of  Knowing God and His Promises. I will invite you in the ponder and wander section to practice these steps.

Steps of the R’s of Knowing God and His Promises

Select and Read a scripture verse slowly and get an idea of what it is saying. As you read, notice any words or phrases that stand out to you, and listen in your heart.

Recognize the words God is pointing out to you. Read the passage again, slowly. As you pause to notice the words or phrases that stand out to you, take time to consider what the word, phrase, or passage means in your life.

Release any interfering thoughts you have that will keep you from receiving God’s truth. Consider how God has spoken to you in this passage and how the passage is asking you to act differently.

Receive God’s instruction. Accept the promise of the scripture. Take some time to remain in the presence of God.

Respond with admiration to His promise by living in such a way that gives God glory.

PONDER and WANDER: Now that you have the format of the R’s, Ponder the question: What scripture would God like to use for me to KNOW Him better?

Soul care training exercise: If you chose, allow the Holy Spirit to give you a scripture and use it to practice the R’s of Knowing God and His Promises. Perhaps it is a verse you read today, your favorite scripture, the scripture text from a sermon you heard, or a scripture from one of the Psalms. If you are in need of a scripture, you may visit the website 365 Promises and find the scripture for November 13, 2019. Whatever the scripture, walk through the steps and journal as God illuminates His promise that He desires to teach you and use to guide your life. If you don’t have time today, you can come back to the practice whenever you are ready.

PRAYER: Father, there is not a second of a minute or a minute of an hour that I do not need you! Holy Spirit, I need you to teach and guide me in the truth of God’s promises. Father, Let me grow close to you and know you! Let me receive each promise and manifest Your Word into a lifestyle that brings you Glory. In the name of Jehovah Jireh, my Provider I pray. Amen.

PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to thank God for His every Word being a promise He will fulfill in your life!  Let the work of your wandering fill you with the assurance that God is faithful to help you. Then take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

The post Teach Me first appeared first on Resonant 7.

PERSONAL BONUS: This is the part of Wednesday Wanderings where I share part of my transformational journey. If you chose, you may take another five minutes and share my transformational journal experience of the R’s of Knowing God and His Promises.

In Mind Battles I shared that the way to win a battle of the mind is to speak God’s Word to the lies. There was a time when anxiety and worry overwhelmed me because I was the only light in a very dark environment. The forces of evil intentionally taunted me and waited for me fail. The lie of my anxious mind told me that the enemy would win and that I needed to retaliate. Of course, it was a lie. The truth was I only needed God’s Word, to stand on His promises, and to let Him fight my battle.  During that time, the scripture which I contemplated was Psalm 3:3. I completed the R’s exercise and searched for additional scriptures to further contemplate. I have shared below my journal process and the RICH promises the Holy Spirit taught me and used to guide me on the path to truth and victory.

• Read the scripture verse. Psalm 3:3 is the scripture I read.
  • But you, God, shield me on all sides;
    You ground my feet, you lift my head high.
• Recognize the promise God is making to you. I recognized:
  • The word that stands out to me is shield.
  • God, you are my protective shield, blocking the enemy of darkness from all around me. There are times that I am slipping into depression. You place your hands upon my face and lift my head towards Your bright and hopeful Presence and Your glory, power, authority, and wisdom.
• Release any beliefs you have that will keep you from receiving God’s truth. My release:
  • The lie I struggle with is that I am in control. I am not. You hold my life in your hand.
  • Even though anxiety and worry are my enemies and often try to encamp me, I release the belief that they have any control over my life. I stand on the truth that You are my stronghold. You are mighty to save (Zephaniah 3:17) me from a bowed down head, and fill me with strength, joy, and deliverance (Psalm 28:7).
• Receive His promise. God’s promise for me:
  • God you promise that YOU are the Lifter of my Head.  You are letting me know that whenever I cry out, you will hear me and come to my rescue (Psalm 120:1).
• Respond with admiration. My response:
  • Thank you for lifting my head when the enemy sought to wipe me out! When my tears overtook me, you dried them with the pages of Your Word (Psalm 56:8). You Lord, are my glory, you lift my head (Psalm 3:3)!

This journal entry includes several scriptures that I later also contemplated. Using the R’s to contemplate and pray the scriptures an ongoing practice that helps me to know God and refreshes  my mind, body, and soul. I also invite you to use this tool as a spiritual discipline.

Father, touch the one reading today who can resonate with the fact that anxiety and worry are our enemies. Shield them from every angle, shower them with your glorious Presence, and set their head upright towards You. Replenish their mind, body and soul with your strength, joy, peace and hope.  In the strong name of Jesus I pray, amen.

Image attributions:

Lifter of my Head: Beloved.org with text added
That they know you: https://pixabay.com/photos/adult-alone-bible-denim-pants-1869621/ with added text
Teach and Fulfill:  https://pixabay.com/photos/teach-education-school-class-1968076/ with added text

Wednesday Wanderings with Dr. Sherri is a time we set aside to wander in the Presence of Jesus and ponder His truths. When you are ready, prepare your mind, body, and soul to have a transformational encounter with Jesus.

Watch the Wednesday Wanderings Welcome for this week.

Now that we have cleared our minds of the clutter, we can wander on the journey of understanding enticements and temptations.

PREPARATION: In our last Wandering we examined Heart Songs. This week we will explore enticements and temptations. When you are ready, you may begin the dialogue with Jesus and state: “Jesus, I invite you to help me to leisurely wander into your Presence. Prepare my heart to receive and illuminate my spiritual senses to encounter you.”

PROMISE: 1 Corinthians 10:13 Amplified 

No temptation (regardless of its source) has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience (nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance); but God is faithful (to His Word-He is compassionate and trustworthy) and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability (to resist), but along with the temptation He (has in the past and is now and) will (always) provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it (without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy).

Temptation and enticement are a common part of our flesh. BUT…God promises that He will always provide us with a way of escape. Is there a temptation in your life that God is providing you a way of escape that you are not taking?

PSALM: I Need Thee Every Hour written by Annie Sherwood Hawks.

I need Thee every hour,
Stay Thou near by;
Temptations lose their power,
When Thou art nigh.
Hawks transparently shares that she is being taunted by alluring enticements. However, she has experienced that staying near to Jesus helps her to resist temptations of the flesh, temptations of power, and temptations of devotion. Individually crafted temptations and enticements will come to us all but God will always provide us an escape that leads us to His will.

PARABLE:   Be aware: Just as Satan tempted Jesus, he will approach us with temptations of the flesh (Matthew 4:1-4); temptations of power (Matthew 4:6-7); and temptations of devotion (Matthew 4:8-11). BUT God”s Word is the buckle of hope-giving truth we can tighten around our waist to resist temptations.

Hope-Giving Truths about Temptations

1. No temptation (regardless of the source) has overtaken you that is not common to man. You are not the only one who has been tempted (1 Corinthians 10:11).
2. God is Faithful. He will strengthen you and protect and guard you from the evil one (2  Thess 3:3).
3. He will not let you be tempted beyond what you’re able. His grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9).
4. With the temptation He will also provide a way of escape. His Word will light the way (Psalm 119:105).
5. You will be able to endure it. There is written proof that others survived (1 Corinthians 10:11).

Knowing God and the truths of His Word tightens our belts of faith, empowers us to resist temptations and live Godly lives, and binds us closer to Him where temptations lose their power.

PONDER and WANDER: Temptations of Satan are individualized crafted roadblocks (social media, shopping, eating, drinking, smoking, pornography, lust, sports, material things, isolation, medicine, ambition, status, work, religion, judgement, people pleasing, perfectionism, or performance, rage, envy, and/or gossip, to name a few) to God’s Presence.  My temptations don’t look like yours and your temptations don’t look like mine. The commonality is that we all experience these lustful illusions of temporary satisfaction that can distract our minds, our bodies, and our souls from our need for God. BUT…God has promised to provide us His way of escape that directs us away from the enticements toward His Presence where temptations are powerless.

Have you taken the time to examine the temptations in your life and notice the way of escape God has provided? If you choose to disempower the traps Satan is using to lure you away from God, Take a moment to sit with Jesus and ponder the question:   In what areas of my life am I most tempted? By the needs of the flesh, by a need for power, or by my devotion?

• Take time to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the area where Satan most tempts you.
• Next, consider what has yielding to this desire cost you?
• Allow the Holy Spirit to notice where God has provided an exit from this temptation.
• Acknowledge that you need God to resist the enticements.
• Then choose if you will take God’s way of escape.

PRAYER: Father, I need thee!  I need you to lead me to the wondrous upward temptations of producing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. I need you to help me resist the downward temptations of my accuser. Draw me near to you where temptations lose their power. In the strong name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to thank God for providing a way of escape from enticements and temptations!  Let the work of your wandering fill you with the assurance that God is faithful to help you. Then take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

The post Enticements and Temptations appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image attributions:
He will provide a way out: Pixabay with text
I need thee: Beloved.org with text
Lead me Holy Spirit: Pixabay with text added
Tighten your belt: Pixabay with text added

Wednesday Wanderings with Dr. Sherri is a time we set aside to wander in the Presence of Jesus and ponder His truths. When you are ready, prepare your mind, body, and soul to have a transformational encounter with Jesus.

Watch the Wednesday Wanderings Welcome for this week.

Now that we have cleared our minds of the clutter, we can wander on the  journey of exploring the heart song of the soul.

PREPARATION: In our last Wandering we examined the reckless love and radical forgiveness of God. This week we will continue by exploring the soul’s response to God’s love. When you are ready, you may begin the dialogue with Jesus and state: “Jesus, I invite you to help me to leisurely wander into your Presence. Prepare my heart to receive and illuminate my spiritual senses to encounter you.”

PROMISE: 1 Corinthians 14:15 New King James Version 

What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. 

The conclusion is that our Beautiful God is wondrous and showers us with His reckless love and radical forgiveness. When we understand Who God is and respond to What He has done, our soul will respond with a prayer of thanksgiving. The words our spirit sings will  resonate with our understanding of God’s wondrous works.

PSALM: How Great Thou Art 

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art

The inspiration for the song came after Boberg witnessed a forceful storm with thunder and lightening. Moments later the sky was calm and a rainbow appeared. While the symbol of the rainbow has been used for various things, to the believer of Christ the rainbow represents the promise of God’s awesome wonder. Nature has a way of bringing our attention to God’s greatness. The stars sparkle and dance. The birds sing. The night chirps. Nature’s soul innately praises God.  Has the greatness of God ever caused you to sing a heart song?

PARABLE: 

The song writer begins the chorus with the word then. THEN implies that the song comes after something. After the storm and rainbow, nature called Boberg’s attention to the wondrous works of God. Boberg’s heart song came after he understood WHO God was, WHAT wondrous works God completed, and HOW God was always present.

Isaiah 42:10a invites us to sing unto the Lord a new song, sing His praises all over the world. The new song of The Lord comes from our heart. It comes when we turn our attention toward God. When our soul sings it is not associated with the rigor or logic of our mind. It is not concerned with proper grammar, pitch, rhythm or measures, cord progression, tempo, or stanzas. Our soul sings in response to the love of God. It freely renders an unrestrained sound to God. The sound is written from the pen of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. The lyrics are written with the ink of Jesus encounters. Our soul begins by pondering the goodness of God. Then our soul erupts with a natural melody of the Word of God hidden within our hearts.

Our Holy Spirit led soul sings:

1. With an understanding of Who God is to you (1 Corinthians 14:15).
2. About His wondrous acts (Psalm 105:2).
3. With joy to the trustworthy, secure rock of our salvation (Psalm 95:1).
4. In suffering when we are held captive by our situation (Acts 16:25).

PONDER and WANDER: Ponder the question:   What is my heart song? 

Ephesians 5:19 encourages us to make melodies in our heart to the Lord. Psalms 96:1 advocates for us to sing a new song unto the Lord.  Have you ever surrendered to your soul’s desire to sing a new and spontaneous song heart song unto the Lord? If not, I encourage you to take time to allow the Holy Spirit to birth a melody unto God that reflects your understanding of WHO He is, WHAT wondrous works He has done in your life, and encompasses your appreciation for His gracious and merciful presence in your life. Don’t be concerned about how it sounds, you are singing to an audience of One, God your Father!

PRAYER: Lord God, I desire my soul to sing even when my mind can’t find the words. Help me to focus on your loving kindness and mercy that meets me with each new day. THEN I will surrender to the longing of my spirit to sing a heart song of praise. THEN I will invite the Holy Spirit to sing on my behalf. THEN I will sing with understanding. THEN I will know that everything you touch is a song.

PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to thank God for His wondrous works!  Let the work of your wandering fill you with the desire to sing unto God the praise He is worthy to receive.

Then take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

PERSONAL BONUS: Heart songs don’t always come in joy. At times, like with Paul and Silas, they come in suffering. If you would like, you may take another five minutes to read about and hear one of my spontaneous heart songs.

At the age of 40 years young, on June 7, 2017, my baby sister Christine Renee Code took her last breath and went to her eternal home with Jesus. My ongoing journey with grief began. Grief is a normal process and for people experiencing normal grief, there is a time of bereavement. Gradually the feelings begin to ease and they learn to live with the loss. For me, my grief became debilitating. I could not articulate the sorrow. I could not easily recover and resume my life. Grief became my constant companion. Some days she rode quietly as a passenger of my life and allowed me to decide when I would stop to cautiously experience the sadness. Other days she took over the wheel and drove with an audacious speed toward depression. On one of those days when I was spent and consumed with sorrow, my mind, body and spirit checked into the Complicated Grief Inn. I requested a double bed, and I crawled with tears streaming down my face into the arms of Jesus. It was THEN that my soul began to sing a prayer of rescue to God.

Listen to my heart song entitled Rescue Me. 

Only the heart can sing what your mind cannot conceive and your mouth cannot say. As the Holy Spirit uttered my heart song, Jesus came to my rescue. Many other songs evolved from my surrender to my heart song. My prayer for you is that you invite Jesus into your heart and that through the power of the Holy Spirit your heart make melodies unto our Lord in joy, in sorrow, and in hope. For every thing touched by Jesus is a song.

Image attributions:
My Savior My God my Soul Sings: Photo from Pixabay with added text
How great thou art https://pixabay.com/photos/worship-singing-inspiration-church-4088561/ with added text
My soul sings of your wondrous works: https://pixabay.com/photos/concert-singer-singing-stage-2566002/ with added text
Everything you touch is a song: Photo from Beloved.org with added text

Wednesday Wanderings with Dr. Sherri is a time we set aside to wander in the Presence of Jesus and ponder His truths. When you are ready, prepare your mind, body, and soul to have a transformational encounter with Jesus.

Watch the Wednesday Wanderings Welcome for this week.

Now that we have cleared our minds of the clutter, we can wander on the loving and forgiving journey of exploring God’s reckless love and radical forgiveness.

PREPARATION: In our last Wandering we examined the wondrous work of our Beautiful God. This week we will continue by exploring the wonder of God’s reckless love and radical forgiveness. When you are ready, you may begin the dialogue with Jesus and state: “Jesus, I invite you to help me to leisurely wander into your Presence. Prepare my heart to receive and illuminate my spiritual senses to encounter your love and forgiveness.”

PROMISE: Ephesians 2:4-6 The Message

2 ^1-6 It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.

God’s promised, unmerited, incredible, and wondrous love (1) deliberately offers saving grace and eternal life (John 3:16-18) even to those who  reject it, (2) gives forgiveness to those who continually sin against Him, and (3) recklessly and radically lavishes us with the privilege to be called His children (1 John 3:1).

PSALM: In the song How Great thou Art Carl Boberg ponders the question, How could it be God’s pleasure to sacrifice His only Son for sinners to make them saints? He writes:

And when I think of God, His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin

The song writer confesses that he cannot sufficiently comprehend how God, in His loving devotion, sacrificed His perfect son without scrutinizing our imperfections and merit. He can scantily conceive that because of Jesus, the price of our sins are exchanged for the Divine, liberating, reconciling, and eternal, life-giving righteousness of Christ (2 Corin 5:21).

How could this be? It is because God’s reckless LOVE promises us radical forgiveness. The term reckless here focuses on God’s LOVE that breaks the stronghold of sin so we can live free of condemnation (Romans 8:1). It indicates that God was not concerned about His hurts and His loss because His love for us is greater than our sins. Reckless is the closest term human diction provides for there are no words to articulate such a divine covenant love. Take a moment to thank God for such a love and ask Him to help you to accept, with pleasure, His reckless love and radical forgiveness.

PARABLE: 

Keeping ourselves in the love of God ( Jude 1:21) will help us to not use grace as a license to sin but will also help us to not let sin hold us captive. Because of the reckless love and radical forgiveness of  God we receive absolute pardon with no strings attached, we are liberated from the bondage of sin with no condemnation (Romans 8:1), we are reconciled by and with our Father, and we are welcomed into the inheritance of God.

The fatal dilemma is resolved. The Spirit of Life in Christ has freed us. The dilemma is not if God showers us with His love and grants us His forgiveness. The dilemma is that we do not live in His love and forgiveness.

Take these three steps to Live in the Reckless Love and Radical Forgiveness of God

1. Reframe the Story (John 8:36). Live on God’s terms in His liberating and redemptive love that unquestionable frees you from sin.
2. Tell the Story (Ephesians 2: 4-6). Share the testimony of the tyranny God’s love has freed you from in your life.
3. Live the Story (Jude 1:20-21). Build your life on the holy faith of Jesus with your arms constantly reaching for and receiving His saving grace and mercy, anxiously awaiting eternal life.

Walk HEAVY in freedom and forgive yourself! The price of the forgiveness for your mistakes, regrets, sin, and shame, hurts, habits, and hangups  were already purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ.

PONDER and WANDER:

Ponder the question:   How will I reframe, tell, and share the story of God’s reckless love and radical forgiveness for me?

Take time to allow the Holy Spirit to show you how to develop a 30 second elevator speech that summarizes your story of the wondrous work of God’s reckless love and radical forgiveness displayed in your life. An opportunity is awaiting for you to share.

PRAYER: How great you are God! Your wondrous love is greater than my sin. As your child (1John 3:1), there is NO-thing, NO-place, NO-story, NO-feeling, and NO-sin that will keep me from your marvelous love.  Undo my perceptions until I remember the wondrous works of your radical forgiveness freely given on the cross and fully encounter your reckless love (Psalm 77:11-12) as your beloved child. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to thank God for radically paying the price of your forgiveness with His reckless love!  Let the work of your wandering fill you with the assurance that our Great God has empowered you to live like the chains of sin were broken with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

Then take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

PERSONAL BONUS: I constantly struggle with living in the forgiving love of God. I continue to define His grace and love with my minimal vocabulary and conceptions. God has challenged me to surrender my misconceptions and allow Him to undo me. The lyrics of the song help me with the process. If you choose, when you have time, you may take about four minutes to listen to the song  Undo You and allow God’s reckless love to free you to accept His radical forgiveness.

Image and reference attributions:
Reckless love and Radical forgiveness: https://pixabay.com/photos/hawaii-kauai-rainbow-nature-284611/ with text added
Wondrous cross: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/assembly-graphics-abstraction-image-1479723/
Reframe tell Live: https://pixabay.com/photos/church-cross-christian-religion-2853687/ with text added
Undo You: https://pixabay.com/photos/violin-violin-bow-instrument-4216384/ with text added
Reference: Tipping, C. (2011). Radical Forgiveness: The direct path to true self-acceptance. Boulder, CO: Sounds True with adaptions.

Wednesday Wanderings with Dr. Sherri is a time we set aside to wander in the Presence of Jesus and ponder His truths. When you are ready, prepare your mind, body, and soul to have a transformational encounter with Jesus.

Watch the Wednesday Wanderings Welcome for this week.

Now that we have cleared our minds of the clutter, we can wander on the Bea-YOU-tiful journey of considering the awesome wondrous works of God.

PREPARATION: In our last Wandering we explored the awesome Covenant love of Jesus. This week we will examine the awesome wonder of our Beautiful God. When you are ready, you may begin the dialogue with Jesus and state: “Jesus, I invite you to help me to leisurely wander into your Presence. Illuminate my spiritual senses to encounter your holy, glorious beauty. Prepare my heart to consider your wondrous works.”

PROMISE: Our beauty is in the eye of God, our Beholder and Creator.  Psalm 139:14 reads, I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well (Amplified Version).

You are a wonderful creation of The Lord, Our God. When you consider all the works created by God, do YOU come to mind? Are you convinced in your soul that our Beautiful God made Be-YOU-tiful you in His image? If so, whisper with certainty, “Beautiful God created Bea-YOU-tiful Me.

PSALM: In the song How Great thou Art Carl Boberg marvels at the works of God our Creator. He says:

O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed

The psalmist took time to contemplate ALL the daunting, impressive, and unexpected beauty of God’s sovereign creations. We can also observe the evidence of God’s amazing creations all over the world. In awesome wonder take a moment and consider the majestic power and beauty of God displayed through the white chalk, soft rock cliffs on the Mediterranean Sea in Israel and the red rock formations of Colorado. Now, take a moment and glance into the mirror and see the wonderful and marvelous creation of YOU.

PARABLE: We come face to face with God’s power when we see the twinkle of a star or hear the roaring of thunder. It is easy to consider and marvel at God’s hand in nature because it has an innate way of beckoning our attention to His astounding works. It is not as easy to see ourselves as astonishing, wonderful formations of God. How do we know that we are one of God’s wondrous works? We can be assured of this because:

1. Our Beautiful God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1-2).
2. Our Beautiful God created YOU in His beautiful image (Genesis 1:27).
3. Our Beautiful God created YOU as a wonderful, marvelous work (Psalm 139:14).
4. Our Beautiful God created YOU as a beautiful masterpiece to do His good works (Ephesians 2:10).

As a Christian what an incredible empowering truth to believe that Our God the Creator of  the moon and mountains, stars and seas made Bea-YOU-tiful you.  The YOU in Bea-YOU-tiful is speaking to God saying, I can be full of beauty because YOU made ME in Your image.

PONDER and WANDER:

Ponder the question:   Do I believe that I am a beautiful reflection of God’s wondrous work and image? 

On the website of the Creation Museum located in Kentucky the first words you see are “Prepare to Believe.”  This indicates that the thought of acceptance of creation has to be formulated. This implies we may also need to prepare to believe we are made in the beautiful image of God. It is understandable that we don’t always feel beautiful or believe we look beautiful. It is comprehensible that we don’t always believe that we are marvelously enough. Nevertheless, the truth is God formulated you as one of His wondrous masterpieces and you are created new in Jesus for His planned good works (Ephesians 2:10). If you have not prepared to believe you are a beautiful reflection of God’s wondrous work and image, take time today to construct this belief in your mind and allow that truth to be manifested.

Start with pondering the thought that Our Beautiful God made all things good. Next, deliberate on the idea, God must have made you beautiful because everything He creates is of high quality and superiority. Then, ruminate on the truth that you are the reflection of HIS beautiful image.  Now, wander back to the truths that the Word of God declares and let them resonate in your heart. Finally, say with conviction “I am beautifully and wonderfully made.” If you choose you may meditate longer on this truth by clicking on the the link and listening to the declarative song and reading the lyrics by Leah Smith.

PRAYER: Father God, the Creator of the Universe, How great thou art! Yet, I admit that I don’t always accept the great truth that I am Your beautiful and wonderful creation. One day I will be transformed and stand face to face with the beauty of Your holiness and all my disbelief will cease. Until then, when I can’t trust my view of who I am and whose I am let me gaze upon the beauty of Your creations. Help me to pay attention to Your wondrous portraits of nature and know if they are reflections of Your beauty, I am more so because I am Your image. Help me declare even when my eyes don’t see it and my heart doesn’t believe it that I am bea-YOU-tifully and wonderfully made in Christ Jesus. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

PRAISE: Now that you have emptied your mind of the clutter and wandered with Jesus, take a closing moment to thank God for making you beautiful and marvelous in His image and for His purpose. Let the work of your wandering fill you with the assurance that our Beautiful God made Bea-YOU-tiful You!

Then take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes of wandering into the next ones and beyond.

Until next time, be Resonant.

Image and music attributions:
Grottoes: Photo by Mary Shortreed
Garden of the Gods: Photo by Troy Woods
Creation reflection: Pixabay photo
Beautiful You: Pixabay photo with text added
Beautifully and Wonderfully made: Leah Smith