Posted on 01/12/2020 6:58:26 AM PST by Kaslin
With the new year and decade off to a chaotic start, here are four “Godly exercises” that can help reduce stress but don’t require working out. Instead, you exercise your mind and soul with thinking beyond yourself — beyond the world, into the heavenly realm, and back down again with a new perspective.
Now, let’s get real. Any talk of “God” can be threatening, especially if you are not a churchgoer — and part of a growing trend. According to the Pew Research Center, church attendance and Christianity is on the decline in the U.S — especially among the largest population group known as Millennials, born between 1981 and 1996.
Alternatively, instead of participating in any traditional Judeo/Christian religion, characterizing oneself as “spiritual” is popular, non-threatening, and culturally acceptable. Subsequently, if “spiritual” means that you believe in a universal power greater than yourself — or not sure exactly what you believe, but like the moniker — you are cordially invited to begin “exercising.”
Finding God in Mother Nature
Truthfully, I despise the term “Mother Nature.” Surely it was invented by atheists reluctant to acknowledge that nature is God’s handiwork. Therefore, let’s state the obvious: “Nature is God and God is Nature.” More specifically, God’s awesomeness is continuously on display. For example, when I see the sun rise out of the ocean with the most magnificent color pallet, I am left with only one thought, “Praise Be To God.”
Finding God in nature is obvious because He is everywhere. Thus, the next time you are surrounded by mountains; forest; in the sky; on the ocean or scuba-diving under; watching the sunrise or set; gazing at the moon and the stars —looking at anything not made by man — concentrate on feeling His presence. Talk to him. Seriously, it’s as elementary as, “Hi God, thanks for creating this beautiful scene.”
Conversely, if you don’t believe He is the Creator, be bold enough to tell Him. (He might “answer” you in a profound way, so be prepared.) If you are interested in reading what the Bible says about God in nature, here is a link to 100 short passages.
Thanking God for nature brings us to exercise No. 2:
Thanking Him in General
Thanking God for the many blessings in your life is easy, and He appreciates it. All you have to say is, “Thank you, Lord, for (fill in the blank).” However, you should say it often, humbly, and with the utmost sincerity.
The “One” with the most awesome power expects you to thank Him. He wants you to acknowledge Him. He never gets tired of you thanking Him for the people you love in addition to all the gifts, talents, success, financial resources, and good health that you might take for granted because life is fragile — and you never know what tomorrow will bring. Then, when days turn dark, I firmly believe that adverse occurrences are also from God. He utilizes both good and bad to advance, sharpen and often “break” us so that He can use us for His greater glory. But granted, understanding tragedy in one's life is very difficult, and people often grow closer to Him during those times.
One of my favorite and famous Bible passages addresses that topic with “all things” as the operative phrase: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
If the concept of thanking God resonates with you, here are 100 Bible passages you might enjoy browsing.
Seeking Him/Asking Him
Our third exercise invokes a concept that has preoccupied great religious and scholarly minds for centuries — and to this day. For the record, I am neither a great religious or scholarly mind. However, through my faith journey from Judaism by birth, to Christianity at age 20 — I know the following is true: God is around 24/7. He is eternal. He is always there for you. The problem is you don’t think He is, or you don’t think about Him at all.
The beauty of this exercise is that you can practice it anywhere, at any time. Seek God in your mind and heart. Ask Him into your life. Ask Him a question about an issue that is troubling you. It’s called prayer. But if that word sounds too “religious,” call this exercise a “conversation with God.”
God is not confined within the walls of a church. (Although that is always a good place to find Him.) Seeking Him is like opening a window, but you must first do the opening.
Here is a popular Bible passage on this topic: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).
Are you motivated to seek and ask? Check out these Bible verses for inspiration.
Praising and Glorifying Him
Our last exercise encompasses all of the above. After you “practice” finding God in nature, thanking Him, seeking and asking Him — the more compelled you will be to praise and glorify Him in your life with words and deeds. That is because He will make His presence known to you. I have no idea how or when, only that He will.
Once again, here are Bible passages to assist you with praising and glorifying God.
Finally, it is important to note that for the purpose of these exercises, you can either contemplate God or Jesus. I will leave identity in HIS hands
>>Although I was raised Catholic and happen to believe many of it’s tenets, I have found my relationship with the Lord the best it’s ever been now that I have left the church.<<
Same here. A few additional reasons but yeah, I lost the faith overall while understanding much of it.
Being baptized/raised Catholic (altarboy) and haven't attended Mass in almost 50 years.
But it's my rock in what and who I am.
and that
“Hell Fire”
is what
Motivates Me.
Could you fill me in on just who did?
Yeah - they can’t collect their tithes if the pews are empty...they hate that some prefer to use the direct line to God that Jesus opened up...
Sorry
Brother.
.
Devastating
No doubt.
Acknowledge His existence every day... whether it be to thank Him for our blessings, or to ask Him for guidance, or to acknowledge the beauty He has provided us...saying Grace before meals is also a good way to acknowledge Him and Jesus.
Talk of Him with others - believers and non-believers alike...
Ever heard of “Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it Holy?”
yes. It is much like waiting out Obama.
“ Where in the Bible does is say it is a sin not to attend services of a particular denomination every Sunday? i’m all ears.”
It doesn’t say that anywhere. Not sure what your question comes
From.
There’s nothing about going to worship services regularly that keeps one from having a relationship with God.
“I may have forgotten, is that the 11th or the 14th Commandment? I keep getting those two mixed up.”
It is based on the third commandment. But it is Catholic. It is not for everyone. Catholic Church does not tell other denominations nor atheists what to do to save their souls.
You could go over Deuteronomy
Great article. Thanks for posting.
Absolutely wrong. The very foundation of Judeo-Christianity is that there is only one God and that God is above nature. In monotheism we don’t worship the multiple gods of the pagans.
So, although God’s presence may be manifested in the wonders of nature, it is essential to know that God and nature are not equivalent.
Heb. 10.25 tells Christians not to neglect meeting together and the early Church in Acts fulfilled this by coming together on the Lord’s day.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits
If you find a Church home it is very helpful to your walk with God and quite enjoyable to boot. I am moving soon I hope and it’s back to a place with good fellowship.
Its lonely out here...
The vital importance of knowledge is revealed in many places in the Bible. Here is one from the prophet Hosea—
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee” (4:6).
But there is one in the Psalms even stronger—
“Man that is in honor, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish” (49:20).
Coming to the New Testament, we have this from Paul—
“We do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
“That you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col 1:9-10)
It is amazing to talk to professed Christians and see how superficial their knowledge is of Jesus. Therefore let us look into the Bible that we may learn of him.
God has said in His Word all we need to know Him.
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