How to Walk Worthy in 2019

I feel something inside me changing. I’m not sure what it is or what it will look like yet. But I want to share it – to help others find the same abundant life. This word study that I have been looking into – “peripateo axios” (Walk Worthy Eph. 4:1, Colossians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:12). Circumferential and fully encompassing of every area of life with a center axis point at which everything else rotates. So, to put that in English: each area of my life (physical, emotional, spiritual, social, mental, hormonal, etc.) finds its anchor point in the person and work of Christ and in the purpose of bringing him glory by being intimately connected to him in each and every moment. Decisions are made, actions carried out, fruit produced in the strength of and for the glory of God alone. Optimal health for his glory. Optimal growth for his glory. Optimal outreach for his glory.

It would be easy to hold off on the “start” of this journey until I can really lose weight – I’m halfway through pregnancy, so that’s not happening anytime soon. Or part of me could easily fall into self-striving in an attempt to find this ideal in every area of life. But that’s not what my heart is being summoned to at this point.

In the old Testament, believers in the promise and followers of the Torah were instructed to give a tenth (a tithe) of their first fruits toward the growth and development of the temple. Many today, still follow that principle in their finances, but what would it look like to take that a step further? We are told that our bodies are now temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). What would it look like to invest 10% of our time, energy, and focus each week to provide for the growth and development of where the Holy Spirit resides? We are the church – are we at optimal performance for the glory of God? Is my body, mind, and heart functioning at a point that I can fulfill the will of God? That’s the whole purpose of walking worthy – that we may be fully pleasing to Him in every way.

In my current state, can I be the wife or mother God has called me to be? In my management of stress, nutrition, fitness and rest am I living in such a way as to optimize time, energy, and focus for the things of God or am I more likely to be self-indulgent in my food, activities, and entertainment choices? Just some questions I’m pondering as we approach this new year.

I want 2019 to be different. I want to start now - taking steps toward finding that deeper communication with the Holy Spirit on a moment by moment basis so that whether I eat or drink or whatever I do, it can all be done for the glory of God.

Wanna join me? A journey like this will look different for each person, but I’d love to share mine and hear what God is teaching you as you venture down this road of walking worthy of the Lord. 

Continuing the Conversation: Silence

Last week I was sitting in my garden gazing into the woods. The birds were singing, but it still wasn’t quite spring. All the forest was still bare and brown. But then over the weekend, we got rain; and nearly overnight, color appeared. My coral bells puckered up, purple phlox lush and healthy, tulips opened their buds to the sun, hosta bunches poked up from the dirt revealing baby leaves. And not just my garden, the forest had blossomed. Green vines wrapped around trees, budded leaves now open, berries appeared in the brush and the canopy and underbrush teemed with life. Spring was finally here.

It’s funny to me that a little rain is all it took to go from winter’s end to spring’s beginning. And I wonder how our souls are very much the same way.

The rain provided an essential nutrient that could not be obtained by the plants on their own. Those one or two evenings of downpour that caused a hush over creation, a pause of sorts, gave sustaining, beautifying life. 

Sometimes the rain is frustrating. Sometimes, I don’t understand it. The unsuspecting drizzle can hamper and dampen (no pun intended) the best laid plans for my day. 

Isaiah 55:8-11 says. . .

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.…

So as much as it may foil and frustrate me, the rain is necessary. Not only for the ground, but for my soul. God’s ways are higher than mine. His thoughts I cannot comprehend. Rain creates a natural pause, an opportunity to reflect. Am I allowing for pauses in my life? For showers of refreshment? For his Word to saturate my soul? Or am I fighting the change of plans, the interference with my control? Filling my life with busyness so that I am unable to pause when the opportunity arises?  It’s only when I allow the crusty dirt of my heart to accept the replenishing streams that I will begin to see growth of fruit in my life. 

Hebrews 6:7

For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God;

Lord, keep my heart supple. Help me not to run from the rain, but to joyfully accept the moments of pause in my life in order to turn to you and be refreshed.

How have you seen God water you during moments of pause, rain, or silence in your soul? How have you created moments to welcome the pause?