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.
- But you, God, shield me on all sides;
- 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
I really needed this today yo help eith mu cuttent mind battles. Thanks for allowing God to speak to me through your blog.