Obeying and Feeding on The Word
As we continue to talk about preparing ourselves, my thoughts keep skipping over food stuffs and skills to care for our bodies when living differently to feeding and caring for the soul and spirit. We are three part beings created in the image of God, and all three parts are individual yet one working together to create the whole of us. Having an actual paper and ink copy of the Bible remains at the forefront of my thinking. Along with having a notebook/paper and writing instrument to write/journal what is gleaned from private times with the Lord.
Standing up strong on the front row of my thoughts is also obedience. Doing what that Bible I have says. Being a doer and not a hearer only way of living. If my preparations leave out my spirit and soul, my body won't be as strong. Endurance, patience, perseverance, peace, all of those essential qualities for living well won't be as strong, and I will need them roaring with strength. So many of the essential character qualities require use to develop fully, and use translates obedience.
Fear, anxiety, stress, a lack of peace are tells a.k.a. signs I am not fully immersed in obedience to God or His Word. His instructions are clear: John 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled." Psalm 37 "Fret not". Matthew 6:25 "Take no thought". Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything...". They may be "natural" in "times such as these", but they are not obedience on the part of a child of God whose very life is supernatural.
If we have entered into the covenant of salvation available through Jesus, we are not bound or subject to earthly laws and circumstances. One of the names of our God is El Olam, the Everlasting God. This tells us He is outside of time. He is not limited to earthly ways or methods of dealing with anything. He protects, He shelters, He provides, He NEVER leaves or forsakes us, NEVER. We are not limited or bound to dealing with and preparing according to earthly standards and methods either because we are in Him. Colossians 3 and many other passages of Scripture share more fully into this.
Do I still prepare physically? Yes. If led by God to do so. The very moment peace leaves or shifts even a tiny bit, STOP!!! Recenter and focus on Truth; Jesus IS truth. When peace is reigning and ruling in our heart, we continue as God has instructed. If He hasn't instructed, we reconsider. Philippians 4:7 lets us know that His Peace will guard our minds. If we haven't feasted on the Bible, our soul won't contain enough "nourishment" to sustain us through anything that comes our way, no matter what it may be.
May we always create time and space for sitting with the Lord, savoring His presence, and feasting on His Word.
Then, and only then, will our life's preparations be complete and be executed with maximum effectiveness. We don't have to be preachy, churchy, or weird about it. Time spent reading the Bible is time well spent. God always provides the best return on every investment we make with Him. And who couldn't use a good return on their investments right now? At the very least, our souls (mind, will, emotions) will be strengthened and restored with His peace. Perhaps the old hymn told us well when it said "Trust and obey for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey."
Shalom, dear friends, shalom