Abide
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Psalm 23 Redux
This I know: My life is in your hands.
I have nothing to fear.
I stop, breathe, listen.
Beneath the whirl of what is is a deep down quiet place.
You beckon me to tarry there.
This is the place where unnamed hungers are fed, the place of clear water, refreshment.
My senses stilled,I drink deeply, at home in timeless territory.
In peril, I remember: Death's dark vale holds no menace.
I lean into You; Your eternal presence comforts me.
I am held tenderly.
In the midst of all that troubles, that threatens and diminishes,You set abundance before me.
You lift my head; my vision clears.
The blessing cup overflows.
This I know: You are my home and my hope, my strength and my solace, and so shall You ever be.
Carla A. Grosch-Miller, Psalms Redux: Poems and Prayers, (London: Canterbury Press, 2014), p13*.
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Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
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“They (the spiritual disciplines) simply put us in a place where we can begin to notice God and respond to his word in us.” Adele Ahlberg Calhoun
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Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5 (NIV)
Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Matthew 22:37 (NIV)
Different: A Rhythm of Life
by Chelsea Bailey
Several years ago, God began rearranging my life. I vividly remember the day it escalated. I was sitting in my car after an important meeting, my mind reeling. I turned on a Christian playlist, and this song (unfamiliar to me at the time) proceeded to play: Different by Micah Tyler.
Here’s the chorus: I wanna be different. I wanna be changed. Till all of me is gone, and all that remains, is a fire so bright, the whole world can see, that there’s something different, so come and be different in me.
I was undone. Unable to function, I took two days off work so I could process what the Lord was doing inside. I knew he was inviting me out of my comfort zone into the unknown. It was exciting and at the same time, terrifying.
That day marked a turning point in my life. And it all started with a song — a song so personal it seemed as though it was written just for me.
I’m wired rhythmically, moved by beats and beautiful words. So it makes sense that the Lord would get my attention through a song with such a meaningful message.
I’m not the only one. We’re all designed to respond to rhythm, whether music or otherwise. God has woven rhythms into our lives. Sunrise and sunset. Seasons. Sabbath. Feasts and festivals.
The question is, are we paying attention? Are we ordering our days, and our lives, intentionally … or haphazardly?
One solution is to craft a rule of life, or as I prefer to call it, a rhythm of life. Here’s how Adele Ahlberg Calhoun defines it:
“A rule for life offers unique and regular rhythms that free and open each person to the will and presence of Christ. The spiritual practices of a rule provide a way to partner with the Holy Spirit for personal transformation.”
I recently spent a week at the beach. It’s one place where I feel especially close to God. I love listening to the rhythm of the waves, tuning me to the sound of my Savior’s voice.
Alas, I live in Nebraska, so beach walks aren’t a reasonable rhythm for my regular life — though it’s an activity I try to experience annually.
Vacations are a blessing. I love breaking away from my usual surroundings. In fact, retreats are a valuable spiritual practice. Yet when I return home, I’m happy to get back into a routine.
The shape of our days determines the direction of our lives. Spiritual disciplines help us wrap our lives around God, partnering with him and relying on his power to transform.
Think of a rhythm of life as a compilation of certain spiritual practices best suited to your unique personality and season of life. Here’s a quick list of options to consider:
Silence
Solitude
Simplicity
Fasting
Prayer
Journaling
Bible Study
Spiritual direction
Lectio Divina
Sabbath
Giving
Retreats
Confession
Worship
Celebration
See Calhoun’s “Spiritual Disciplines Handbook” for more options and information.
It’s been five years since I first heard that Micah Tyler song. Back then, I had zero clue about spiritual disciplines (other than prayer and Bible study).
Today, my life looks nothing like it did then. In my own process, here are a few practices that have marked me: worship, journaling, lamenting, and waiting.
I’m different. (and also still a work in progress)
Link to Chelsea's blog