Category: Sister Judy (Page 264 of 271)

Devotions from Leighton Ford’s book, The Attentive Life

May our first reality of the day be that at dawn ( and long before) God is paying attention to us. “He creates each new day of our life as a gift. As day breaks, He calls us to be a people who pay attention, who watch over his world as He watches over us.”

In the spiritual sense of the first light of day, how did we awaken to God?  Was it like a thunder bolt much like the apostle Paul, or was it a gradual lightening like those who have always seemed to know God was there?

There is no set formula for becoming attentive to God who is there.  But God who loved us before we were born, reaches out to each of us in the ways He knows will best awaken the seed that has been planted in us from eternity.

The first step for us upon awaking may simply be, “God, I am here,” as we greet Him to begin our day. The exact form doesn’t matter but what matters is the reality.

C.S. Lewis said, “May it be the real I who speaks. May it be the real Thou that I speak to.

Devotions for Leighton Ford’s book, The Attentive Life

Each of us is part of a larger, longer, eternal purpose. God was contemplating us before we were born. As it says in Ps. 139:16 “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

We need to pay attention to what God was doing in us long before we saw the light of day for the first time.
God is thinking of us right now and if no one else ever hears of us, God knows we exist.  He greets each of us and calls us to be special persons who live purpose-drawn lives.

We can address our Creator with thanks and openness:
“Thank you, God, for creating me in my mother’s womb.

Thank you for paying attention to me, even before I was born

Thank you for naming me even before my parents did.

And please show me: why have you chosen me.”
As we reflect on our history may we ask with an open heart: For what purpose am I here?

And let us remember that God began to seek us even before we knew it, in the time before our time.
May we live in this awareness today.

Devotions from Leighton Ford’s book, The Attentive Life

What are the qualities of attentiveness?

1. Being fully present in the moment. As we pay attention to the present, each moment stands alone and becomes a visitation.
2. Looking long enough. As we look with absolute attention on something, it is like a revelation takes place.
3. Looking freshly at what is familiar. We don’t have to travel far for we can have a fresh awareness of what is close by and can change us.
4. Being available.  Attentiveness means a willingness to listen for God’s voice and being ready to obey.
5. Becoming aware. To live in awareness that each moment is an art that requires practicing.
6. Waiting with expectancy. To wait expectantly requires both discipline and commitment.
7. Being mindful and wakeful. We are to come awake and remain awake.

Attentiveness is both a gift to treasure and a discipline to practice.

A good practice today could be to say The Lord’s Prayer with absolute attention. We may be surprised at what happens within us.

Devotions from Leighton Ford’s book, The Attentive Life.

Why is so worthwhile to be attentive? It will make a difference in our life here and now. Kathy Helmers said:

1. You will see things you have not seen
2. You will be more fully alive
3. You will experience life in its depths
4. You will be more rooted, less rushing
5. You will be more whole and loving person
6. You will live before you die.

We need to pay attention to the events in our lives that show us that God has already been reaching out to us and paying attention.  We will begin to see God in all things, and all things in God.  He walks with us everywhere !

God who is love is giving His focused attention to us. And that is why it is worthwhile to pursue the path of attentiveness

 Devotions based on Leighton Ford’s book, The Attentive Life

I have only read the Introduction to his book, but I’m sure I will love it as it seems to be just where I am.

Leighton says that “Each of us is part of a Greater Story, and behind our stories is a Storyteller calling us home. The deepest longing I have is to come home to my own heart….to bring my real self before the real God, to be changed into his true image, to become all that God has made me to be.  It was and is a longing to belong, to have a home for God in my heart.” 
We can ask ourselves why we hide from this longing. Could spiritual inattentiveness come from our fear of being known for who we really are?  We may keep ourselves busy and distracted because we fear that if we slow down and are still, we may look inside and find nothing there.
The first part of our journey may involve longing and the second part mainly looking—coming to terms with important parts of our soul. That involves bringing our real self before God. We need attentiveness to make our heart a home for God.

Each of us is called to a life patterned by Christ. It is not shaped by inner compulsions but rather drawn by the inner voice of love. “To  listen to this voice, we need to pay careful attention to where our inner and outer selves  are disconnect and where they need to come together in a beautiful pattern that reflects Jesus, whose inner life with His Father and outer life of ministering to others were very much one.”

My you have a wonderful day and know the voice of Love that calls to us.

Devotions from Jan Johnson’s book, “Invitation to the Jesus Life”

This is my last devotional from her book. And today I would just like to leave you with some of her ideas for spiritual practices to connect with God and absorb His transcendence

1. Meditation:  Picture scenes of scripture as you slowly read them and see how you might have reacted if you were there etc
2. Reflection: think of moments that have occurred lately when Heaven and earth have overlapped but maybe you have missed them.
3. Sacrifice: give away something you need and watch God supply your need
4. Worship and celebration: Consider songs that highlight the transcendence of Jesus and sing them to Him
5. Fasting: Fast in some way, focusing on how this helps you experience the reality of His kingdom and relying on Him,
6. Guidance: Who might help you understand how God is inviting you to partner with Him?
7. Practicing His presence:  May pick up an object in your home and consider how Jesus was before all things and how things hold together through Him
8. Reflection and Confession: Examine yourself and then confess to God.
9. Secrecy: Allow something good about you or good deed you have done to remain hidden from another who might be overwhelmed by it.
10. Service: Ask God to show you how to give people space to be themselves
11. Study: Consider which passages in Scripture most speak to you about the majesty of God.

Let us learn what it is like to live with Jesus day by day and be transformed into people that love God and love others.  It is the most worthwhile thing we can ever do!

Devotions from Jan Johnson’s book, Invitation to the Jesus Life

Have you experienced a transcendent moment when heaven and earth overlapped…like seeing a new born baby, or seeing someone’s character change etc?

In an effort to be known personally by us, God creates some spaces on earth where heaven and earth intersect so that His presence is more easily apparent on earth.  Because of our lack of sensitivity we often miss His’ transcendence.  “God didn’t create us to be an “audience” but to be responding participants and even performers in the act of responding to divine glory in worship. Indeed, God is the audience, watching us and enjoying us as we respond to his great love.” In Psalms we have examples of how to respond to God’s greatness…singing, dancing, clapping, shouting, telling God’s great deeds etc.
Jesus doesn’t overwhelm us with his power and transcendence because his goal is to build a relationship with us.  He doesn’t want us to be puppets but free and partnering with Him in loving people. Being a partner of God doesn’t require any role or position.  “It’s about moving through life living in union with God, bearing His image to the world as we bless enemies and go the extra mile.”

“Celebrate in the Lord always.” Phil. 4:4  Let’s celebrate His greatness, His power, His works, and how He has helped us.

Devotions from Jan Johnson’s book, Invitation to the Jesus Life

Jesus lived and taught with beauty as a storyteller, poet, screenplay writer, and street-theater actor. He used symbols and stories and presented his radical but beautiful message in delightful ways.

Jesus used stories not so much to give information as to cultivate transformation in his listeners. The parables charmed listeners into interacting with the drama, and they acted as invitations to believe and trust.

To woo us into the Kingdom, Jesus chose his symbols ( concrete items used to describe beautiful truths) carefully. He portrayed the kingdom of God as a celebration, even a marriage feast. He used metaphors to explain spiritual realities. He said, “I am the Door, The Good Shepherd etc”  Such symbols and metaphors speak to the creative, imaginative parts of ourselves that are often closed off to God.  They help us grasp what is almost too much to grasp otherwise.

“Connecting with God is not about receiving orders from heaven but is packed with back-and –forth personal interaction. The Bible is a divine love story, a novel in which, though the scene is set, the plot well developed, and the ending planned and in sight, there is still some way to go, and we are invited to becomes living,  participating, intelligent, and decision-making characters within the story as it mores toward its destination.”

Today drink in the beauty around you and  think of what it was like for God to create it that way.

Devotions from Jan Johnson’s book, “Invitation to the Jesus Life”
There are certain practices which shift us away from self and help us with simplicity of speech.  These practices allow the Holy Spirit to retrain our hearts, minds and bodies (mouth and gesturing hands) at the same time so they work together in harmony.

1. Silence. Extended times of silence retrains our mouths. Being silent in community is especially helpful as we don’t have to impress with words. Situational silence ( not having the last word or giving your opinion unless asked) is also a good practice.
2. Pausing. Silence, in the form of a pause, gives us time to consider the issues. Pausing reminds us to rely on God for what to say and we don’t usually hear what is given to us unless we do slow down and wait on God. The first thing that pops into your head may not be the wise or loving thing to say.
3. Reflection and confession. If we ask God to reveal to us when we use too many words, the Holy Spirit will tell us.  He may reveal our showy speech, our self-interested motives, pushiness,
    and disregard for the other person. After confessing these, we can ask God to help us to change.
4. Prayer. Prayerfully consider who we may talk to today and ask God to help us love and respect them, without trying to convince them of something. And rejoice when we see into the hearts of others more easily and are not so self-absorbed.

Today let us be brave and ask the Lord to reveal our motives when we speak unnecessarily and focus on getting to know another.

Devotions from Jan Johnson’s book, “Invitation to the Jesus Life”
As we think more on “being quick to hear, slow to speak” we realize we often over-talk …. It seems our heart has stopped trusting God to work in the situation, so we help God out with our ready supply of persuasive words.

Words can dominate and interrupt, exaggerate, become dramatic or spiritual sounding. And we can also use gestures and tones to influence.
But” simplicity of speech usually flows from a heart that mirrors the heart of Jesus: compassion and truth, love and goodness.” Our words reveal what is in our hearts. (Matt. 12:34-35)

If we are putting confidence in ourselves instead of God, it will show itself in the force and volume of our words.  But as we mirror the heart of Jesus, we will direct our mouth to state an idea briefly and peacefully and then allow others full freedom to respond.
Rather than a lot of words it is better to love the person standing before us, asking ourselves how we can draw them into the conversation.  How is the Spirit nudging us to love the people around us and hear their deeper selves in this moment?

As we practice eager listening and slow speaking, we become fully present to others without thinking of what we are going to say next. 
Let us practice putting aside what we want to say  and consider deeply what the other person is saying.  As we practice this it trains us to have confidence that God works without our over-the-top efforts. We can trust Him.