Every new year I like to spend time "listening" to what heaven is whispering about the year to come. It helps me prepare my spirit, and aligns my prayers to what God is wanting to do. This year I want to share what I've heard. God knows each one of us and speaks to us all individually, so this might not be what he's telling you, but if you read this and your spirit is stirred, it's probably for you.
The three words that I'm hearing are pain, rest and completion. Pain - it doesn't evoke anything very encouraging, but hear me out.
As a society we do everything we can to escape pain. Physically, that's obviously wise. But when we hide or run away from emotional and spiritual pain we can be left living shadow lives. We wrap ourselves in temporary comfort. It looks different for us all, and while it's easy to see people who hide from their pain in drug and alcohol addiction, the most prolific and acceptable comfort drugs of the day are busyness, stuff and criticism of others. These can all look really noble. Working hard to provide for your family is important and valuable. Standing up against the wrongs and injustices that we see happening in the world is so necessary. When these things are warped, its not very pretty. Some how, being stressed has become an achievement, as if working to your maximum should get a round of applause! Being right (especially on social media) has become more important than being kind.
Take 5 minutes out to ask yourself some tough questions. "Is my busy life me trying to drowned out the sound of my brokenness? " "Am I criticising others to divert my attention from the parts of my own life that I'm dissatisfied/struggling with? Do I feel powerless to change what I feel, so am trying to change others around me to accommodate my pain?" This is both the "rest" I see, and the pain.
This is a healthy kind of pain, like removing a thorn, cleaning a cut or putting a dislocated bone back in place. It's necessary for healing and wholeness. It's going to take bravery, patience and time. The willingness to stand still in the silence - to rest. To give yourself the chance to hear the deep cry of your soul and spirit. To face the pain that makes you run and hide and say "No more. It is time"
New life starts with a birth. Labour is a process of deep aches, followed by painful contractions with periods of rest, where the body adjusts and prepares for the next contraction. Each contraction has a purpose and brings the new life closer. I believe this is a year for us to step into the same spiritually. To allow the combination of good and productive pain, and quiet rest to bring us into a place of healing, and wholeness - completion.
May 2020 be your greatest year yet.
The three words that I'm hearing are pain, rest and completion. Pain - it doesn't evoke anything very encouraging, but hear me out.
As a society we do everything we can to escape pain. Physically, that's obviously wise. But when we hide or run away from emotional and spiritual pain we can be left living shadow lives. We wrap ourselves in temporary comfort. It looks different for us all, and while it's easy to see people who hide from their pain in drug and alcohol addiction, the most prolific and acceptable comfort drugs of the day are busyness, stuff and criticism of others. These can all look really noble. Working hard to provide for your family is important and valuable. Standing up against the wrongs and injustices that we see happening in the world is so necessary. When these things are warped, its not very pretty. Some how, being stressed has become an achievement, as if working to your maximum should get a round of applause! Being right (especially on social media) has become more important than being kind.
Take 5 minutes out to ask yourself some tough questions. "Is my busy life me trying to drowned out the sound of my brokenness? " "Am I criticising others to divert my attention from the parts of my own life that I'm dissatisfied/struggling with? Do I feel powerless to change what I feel, so am trying to change others around me to accommodate my pain?" This is both the "rest" I see, and the pain.
This is a healthy kind of pain, like removing a thorn, cleaning a cut or putting a dislocated bone back in place. It's necessary for healing and wholeness. It's going to take bravery, patience and time. The willingness to stand still in the silence - to rest. To give yourself the chance to hear the deep cry of your soul and spirit. To face the pain that makes you run and hide and say "No more. It is time"
New life starts with a birth. Labour is a process of deep aches, followed by painful contractions with periods of rest, where the body adjusts and prepares for the next contraction. Each contraction has a purpose and brings the new life closer. I believe this is a year for us to step into the same spiritually. To allow the combination of good and productive pain, and quiet rest to bring us into a place of healing, and wholeness - completion.
May 2020 be your greatest year yet.
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