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.

When we were at Kurt’s church Pastor Dan had an excellent sermon on anger and was very vulnerable.

He has struggled with anger since he is “Spewer” and tends to let his anger out quickly and blows all over others. He said he gets over it quickly and then wants to make up quickly.
There is another kind of anger called the “Stewers” that store it up and are ticked off inside. They remember things people have done from long ago.

Pastor Dan had us rate ourselves on a scale of 1-10 and he used the passage of scripture from Eph. 4: 26-27 on “In our anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold”

His main point was that Jesus wants to replace our anger with passion for Him. We all have a built in need for passion. When we are no longer passionate for God, we become passionate about minor things.

“Anger is frustration about my inability to achieve or control a desired outcome.”
We all need to work on letting go of our expectations and asking the Lord to replace our anger with passion for Him.
When we blow up and injure others or stuff our anger we give the enemy a foothold. He waits for just a crack to get inside.
Pastor Dan had us rate our passion for Jesus on a scale of 1-10. If our anger number is high, our passion number is usually low. So in prayer let us ask that our passion be increased for Him.

Devotions based on Jan Johnson’ book,  Invitation to the Jesus Life

 In James 1:19, we are told to be quick to hear and slow to speak but that is easier said than done.  When we feel insecure, overlooked, or slighted, we often use words to win people over or to prove our sincerity.

Jesus was not given to gushy speeches or explaining himself but to brevity of words.

When we speak little and chose our words carefully, it creates a clear and compelling effect.

Sometimes silence is our best choice. It gives us time to hear God and creates space in which the other person may also hear God.

Sometimes people ask us to take sides but that doesn’t mean we have to. When the woman was caught in adultery and the crowd waited to see which side he would be on, Jesus simply wrote in the sand. Jesus silence gave them time to ponder and caused them to face their own hearts.  Loving people and speaking to their needs is usually better than taking sides.
Inactivity, silence , and brevity of speech give people space to hear themselves.

Devotions from Jan Johnson’s book, “Invitation to the Jesus  Life”
Love is doing whatever is needed, no matter how menial, just like Jesus who washed his disciples feet.

How could He do such menial things?  Because He knew who He is.  He came from God.

There are disciplines that can help us die to self.

The discipline of abstinence teaches us to die to self and do it all for the glory of God…example…abstaining from letting our good deeds be known-keeps us from pride.
The discipline of selfless service frees us from living by the opinions of others or doing things to be approved by certain  people.

Solitude drains us of pride because it keeps us from being  productive for a short while.

Silence (not having the last word, not giving one’s opinion unless asked) keeps us from focusing on self.
Frugality also helps us die to desires to indulge ourselves. It helps us learn to be at peace without getting more.

As we practice disciplines, we will have more inner quiet and more time to love people; more time to be content because we are satisfied with not having what we thought we wanted.

It all goes back to “More of Jesus less of me”

Devotions from Jan Johnson’s book, “Invitation to the Jesus Life”
As we participate in what it means to die to self, the self sins fade: self-righteousness, and self-pity, self-sufficiency etc.

It means we no longer want to have our own way but ask God to meet our needs and to have His way.

It means we no longer get concerned about what others think of us and are released from the bondage of wanting people to like us. 

We no longer think we know what is best for others but respect them and listen to their ideas.
When attacked we practice silence instead of explaining. We don’t try to manage other’s opinions of us.
It means we no longer get obsessed with self: Self-preoccupation is a result of pride.
“As we die to self, we have the companionship of God and live an eternal life now.”

Embracing the cross was Jesus  act of self-giving love for us and a world full of self-importance and in need of selflessness.
More on this tomorrow .

Devotions from Jan Johnson’s book, “Invitation to the Jesus Life”
Jesus asks us to do the reverse of what society urges of us… to stop thinking about self and taste the self-giving love of God.

Jesus didn’t focus his life on getting his needs met and didn’t push himself forward or look for glory. Emptying of self was Jesus’ way.

We tend to live in a state of self-absorption, we want what we want when we want it. It’s all about power and possessions.

Instead we need to release the desire to have things our way and be open  to how God wants to lead us and give to us.

“If we die to self-absorption, the best in us will emerge.”  Death to self leads to real life.

Not focusing on self gives us time and strength to pay attention to what’s really important.
More on this tomorrow on what death to self looks like.

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

Jesus was not one to toot his own horn, sing his own praises or work at making an impression. He was not boastful, proud or self –seeking.  At times he spoke of the kingdom of God as small and hidden. Unlike power in the world, God’s kingdom power is not locked up in important positions or roles.( Like so many who try to look super good  on a resume.)

  The hidden Jesus still shows up today and we may be surprised. We must be alert or we will miss Him. C.S. Lewis said that “the world is crowded with God. He walks everywhere incognito.” Working in hiddenness, God’s power shows up in people and places we consider insignificant. 
“God receives greater glory through quiet displays of divine power than through superficial showmanship.”

God’s hiddenness invites us to decide if we want God for God’s own self-or if we simply want a secure future in eternity and abundant life now.

He is available for all who really want Him.   Part of the way we seek God with all our heart is to arrange our life in such a way that we are connecting with God as many minutes of the day as possible. May we learn to watch for God’s hiddeness in this day.
Have a great day and may you be surprised by the Lord.

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

We are all teachers. If anyone has ever learned anything from us, then we are a teacher.

Jesus delivered content, but He spent even more time teaching by interacting with people in every day situations. He gave them plenty of latitude, asked questions that made them think and presented truth in creative ways that woke them up.  He taught with authority and authenticity.
“Teaching involves delivering content, but it also means letting people watch how you live and ask you question about why you do what you do.

Jesus trained his followers as they ate together, traveled together, and in everything they did.

He interacted with individuals according to their needs enlarging their faith in the precise way they needed rather than using a canned, one-size-fits-al approach.
He gave the breathing room to make mistakes.

Jesus purpose in asking questions was not to outsmart others but to help them follow truth logically and clearly. He wanted them to gain insight and understanding and to enlarge their faith.

Truth is more meaningful and easily remembered when we discover it ourselves.
The question for us is: “Am I willing to let Jesus be my teacher?” 

We might also ask who have been our teachers about life?  Did they do this relationally or in the classroom? How well did they resemble Jesus?