Category: Spiritual Growth

Stopping the Spiral of Complacency

We’ve been navigating through uncharted waters in the past few months. After sheltering in place throughout the spring because of COVID-19, most of us assumed we’d be back to normal by mid- summer or fall, at the latest. Unfortunately, we find ourselves continuing in a perpetual state of uncertainty as many regions struggle to get a handle on slowing the spread of the virus. So, instead of getting ready for fall activities to begin in person, we’re trying to figure out how to navigate school, work, and community online. Staying engaged with church services, small groups, and Bible studies will take effort, tenacity, and creativity.

I know for some of us, it’s tempting to disengage and just wait for life to go back to normal. We’re disappointed to see that Bible study groups are meeting online instead of in person. Some of us are tired of Zoom calls and screens in general. We’ve spent so much time at home that we’re becoming apathetic and complacent, which author Jennie Allen explains, “is finding comfort in mediocrity, in accepting things as they are, clinging to the status quo. It’s numbing and zoning out.”

In case you missed my last four posts, I’ve been working through Jennie Allen’s Get Out of Your Head: A Study in Philippians. The book identifies the primary enemies of our minds and the weapons God gives us to fight them. It’s been powerful using these tools to stop my downward spirals and toxic thoughts. So far, we’ve covered four of the six enemies of our minds: self-importance, noise, cynicism, and isolation. We learned how to fight them with humility, silence, delight, and connection. (Check out my last four posts if you haven’t read them yet.) The fifth enemy of our minds is complacency and the weapon we need to fight it is intentionality.

Jennie Allen explains, “You and I were made to be part of an eternal story centered on the unyielding purpose of our service to an unmatched God. We were meant to live intentionally rather than floating along trying to be comfy.” We have a natural desire for comfort, especially when life is uncertain or in transition. Unfortunately, this often leads us to choose what feels good over what is best for us, causing us to settle into complacency. Maybe you’ve experienced this as you’ve transitioned from one season of life to another like becoming a college student or a parent or an empty nester. (Or figuring out life with the restrictions caused by a pandemic.) When you’re discombobulated trying to acclimate to change, you grasp for anything that makes you feel better. At times like this, it’s easy to put your faith on hold to follow the path of least resistance.  

If we’re not intentional about choosing activities and people that will encourage our faith, we’ll be lulled into lukewarm complacency. We’ll be sitting on the sidelines of our lives rather than continuing to grow and pursue God. Jennie Allen explains where this leads, “The questions driving our thought patterns are no longer How will God use me today? And How can I give Jesus to someone? Instead, we’re focused on things like ‘What will make me feel better? What will make me look better? How can I feel okay and content?’” If these questions resonate with you, let this post be a catalyst for change. Engage the weapon of intentionality to fight complacency. Here are a few ideas from Scripture to consider:

-Remember spiritual growth is a journey, not a destination. Your relationship with God will continue to deepen the more you pursue Him and study His Word. Don’t become complacent thinking you’ve arrived at spiritual maturity or that you’ve already learned enough. Scripture is living and active and always has something new and relevant to teach us. Follow Paul’s example from Philippians: “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14, NIV)

-Take your eyes off yourself. Complacency causes us to float aimlessly in the current of life focusing only on ourselves. Intentionality urges us to look at how we can impact others for the kingdom of God: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:3-4, NIV)

-Be intentional about cultivating relationships with people who will spur you on in your faith journey. Make time in your schedule to meet consistently to check in, share your struggles, pray together, and encourage one another with God’s Word. Give them permission to ask hard questions and to challenge you when you’re slipping into complacency. Joining a small group or Bible study creates natural opportunities to do this with like-minded people. “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23-25, NIV)

Life looks different this year for all of us. But don’t let the enemy use COVID-19 to numb you into complacency and cause you to hold off on joining a Bible study, maintaining meaningful contact with other believers, participating in worship services, or finding ways to serve. Be intentional about choosing to plug in and find a rhythm that will allow you to keep growing, serving, and connecting. If you need some ideas, check out the many opportunities available online through CPC Danville. Click here for more information.

Give your fight against complacency lyrics and a tune with Building 429’s song, “Press On.”

Jennie Allen, Get Out of Your Head: A Study in Philippians, Thomas Nelson Press, 2020, p. 88.

Stopping the Spiral of Isolation

Not long ago I found myself consumed with negative thoughts after a series of text messages. Hurt feelings led me to make some cynical assumptions and harsh judgements. I’d let my joy be stolen by making unhealthy and unfair comparisons. Within a few hours, the negativity felt like a weighty anchor pulling me underwater in a sea of self-pity. After floundering there for a while, I realized I needed a friend to throw me a lifeline. 

Pulling out my phone, I dashed off a quick text asking for prayer. My friend was quick to respond and even offered to meet me in person to process my feelings more. At first, I was hesitant, knowing that an in-person encounter meant I’d have to delve deeper than the few lines I’d spewed out on my phone. It didn’t take long to realize that I needed to stop isolating and get the tangle of thoughts out of my head. I needed an outsider perspective to understand why I’d spiraled to such a negative place.

Sitting in my friend’s backyard later that day, I realized the root issue wasn’t that I’d been wronged, but that I’d fallen into some sinful thought patterns. Humbled, I realized my hurt feelings were based on envy and resentment. I’d wanted to complain and have her make me feel better, instead I saw that my reaction to the texts was sinful and my thinking was faulty. What I needed to do was confess, repent, and move on from my wallowing. Connecting with my friend and processing my thoughts aloud enabled me to stop the downward spiral.

Ironically, this situation unfolded the same week I was studying the fourth enemy of our minds. In case you missed my last three posts, I’ve been working through Jennie Allen’s Get Out of Your Head: A Study in Philippians. The book identifies the primary enemies of our minds and the weapons God gives us to fight them. It’s been powerful using these tools to stop my downward spirals and toxic thoughts. So far, we’ve covered three of the six enemies of our minds: self-importance, noise, and cynicism. We learned how to fight them with humility, silence, and delight. (Check out my last three posts if you haven’t read them yet.) The fourth enemy of our minds is isolation and the weapon we need to fight it is connection.

Jennie Allen explains, “We find ourselves in a generation that has made an idol out of the very thing God is calling us away from: independence. But often when we back away from others, it’s because we’re listening to lies about our worth…We weren’t meant to be alone in the dark. Being known turns on the light. And that scares the devil. He doesn’t want us in the light because when we stay in the dark with him, he can tell us whatever he wants. No more. Use the weapon of connection, and fight with light.”

The apostle Paul models the importance of connection throughout the book of Philippians. During a two-year house arrest in Rome, he wrote this letter to the beloved people of the church he’d founded on his second missionary journey recorded in Acts 16. Let’s see what inspiration we can draw from his examples:

Connection Through Prayer: “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” (Phil 1:3-5) Paul’s ongoing prayers for the believers in Philippi kept his heart connected to theirs. In the same way, when we pray with and for others it keeps us tied to them and gives us tender feelings for them.

Connection Through Shared Goals: “And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.” (Phil 1:14) Paul’s imprisonment motivated fellow believers to continue the work he’d started. Their mutual passion to share the good news of Jesus created a deep bond between them. In the same way, we connect with others through having mutual motivations and goals rooted in Jesus.

Connection Through Caring for Others: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Phil 2:3-4) Looking beyond ourselves to care for the needs of others creates powerful connection points and authentic relationships.

Connection Through Serving with Others: “For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.” (Phil 2:21-22) Timothy and Paul labored for the sake of the gospel together. Doing this bonded them like a father and son. Serving with others is a powerful way to make meaningful and lasting connections.

Connection Through Allowing Others to Serve You: “But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.”  (Phil 2:25) The Philippians sent Epaphroditus to care for Paul while he was imprisoned. Paul’s willingness to allow Epaphroditus to do this created a lasting bond between them. It also strengthened Paul’s connection to the believers who had sent Epaphroditus to help him in his time of need.

Connection Through Shared Struggles: “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” (Phil 3:10) Paul wanted to experience suffering to identify with Jesus. When we journey through suffering with others and the Lord, it connects us to them in deep, lasting ways.

Connection Through Shared Hope: “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Phil 3:20-21) Sharing the same hope for the future connects us to other believers and enables us to encourage one another, especially in difficult times.

Connection Through Tangible Support: “Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.” (Phil 4:14-16) Meeting the tangible needs of others connects us to God’s greater purposes and helps us to participate in building His kingdom on earth. When we support missions and ministries beyond our community, it helps us to connect with His people throughout the world.

Connecting to others is a powerful weapon to stop the downward spiral caused by isolation. What’s one area mentioned above you’ll pray and ask God to expand in your life in the months ahead?

The first time I heard OneRepublic’s song “Connection” the lyrics struck me as being the anthem for our culture today. It paints a picture of how many people in our world are hungry for meaningful connection. If you enjoy fellowship with Jesus, let Him use you to share it with others.

Jennie Allen, Get Out of Your Head: A Study in Philippians, Thomas Nelson Press, 2020, pages 86 & 87.

All Scripture quoted from the New International Version.

Stopping the Spiral of Cynicism

I used to pride myself on being cynical. It made me feel smart because I saw past façades and was less likely to take things at face value. Like Toto the dog in The Wizard of Oz, I recognized there was a hidden truth behind the curtain that many people couldn’t see. What I didn’t realize was that cynicism also kept me from fully participating in life or experiencing a sense of belonging with others.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines a cynic as someone who “shows a disposition to disbelieve in the sincerity or goodness of human motives and actions.” Jennie Allen expands on this idea saying, “Cynicism erodes our ability to see God rightly. Cynicism at its root is a refusal to believe that God is in control and God is good. Cynicism is interpreting the world and God based on hurt you’ve experienced and the wounds that still lie gaping open. It forces you to look horizontally at people rather than vertically at God.”

So, here’s how cynicism causes us to spiral downward in our minds, “The enemy’s strategy is to flood our thoughts with visions of all that is wrong in this broken, fallen world to the point we don’t even think to look for the positive anymore. Cynicism just becomes the way we think, and we don’t even notice.” This was true of me until a Bible teacher I respected pointed out the dark side of cynicism many years ago. Since then, I’ve prayed regularly about how to keep it from being the filter for all my thoughts.

In case you missed my last two posts, I’ve been working through Jennie Allen’s Get Out of Your Head: A Study in Philippians. The book identifies the primary enemies of our minds and the weapons God gives us to fight them. It’s been powerful using these tools to stop my downward spirals and toxic thoughts. So far, we’ve covered two of the six enemies of our minds: self-importance and noise. We learned how to fight them with humility and silence. (Check out my last two posts if you haven’t read them yet.)

As with the previous enemies we explored, God provides us with a weapon to fight cynicism in our thoughts: delight. It isn’t the antidote I was anticipating, but it does make perfect sense. Allen explains, “Cynicism is destroying our ability to delight in the world around us and fully engage with others. God has an abundance of joy and delight for us, and we’re missing it with arms crossed… Cynicism puts our minds on things of this earth, and we lose hope. Beauty points our gaze toward the heavens and reminds us of hope. Cynicism crumbles in the presence of beauty.” (p. 128 & 135) This is why Scripture encourages us to focus our thoughts in a specific direction:

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8-9, NIV)

Consider the amount of time you spend on thoughts that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy. It’s impossible to remain cynical when we delight in these things. Our focus changes and we spiral up instead of down.

In the opening words of Psalm 19 King David paints a picture of how noticing the Lord’s creation leads us to delight in Him: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (Psalm 19:1-4a, NIV)

Like David’s experience, nature spoke to me in a personal and profound way recently. For several weeks, every time I stepped outside in the morning a small bird would dart away from the topiary tree next to the front door. My presence seemed to alarm her, causing her to perch nearby watching me as I sat doing my Bible study. After a few days I noticed her pattern. Curious, I parted the tree’s branches and spied a nest with tiny blue eggs inside. A feeling of delight welled up in me as I peered at the speckled eggs and the miniature flowers woven into the nest. 

As the weeks progressed, I continued to peak between the branches. The blue eggs eventually hatched to reveal a squirming bundle of downy chicks. At first, they were quiet and sleepy, but within a few days, they woke up to the world. Each time I looked inside they would hold up their tiny beaks waiting for food as the mama hovered nearby.  And then, a few weeks later, I peaked in to discover they were gone. They’d flown away leaving behind a soiled nest and the fragment of one tiny blue egg in the dirt beneath it. It was sad, but sweet too.

I hadn’t just delighted in the birds, but in how God spoke to me through them. What I’d witnessed was an accelerated version of the journey of parenthood I’ve been on for the past 21 years. This fall, my nest will empty as my younger son leaves for college. Watching the life cycle of the baby birds comforted me—reminding me that it is good and right for grown chicks to leave the nest and fly out into the world. Even the mess they left behind showed me why they couldn’t stay there forever. (It also helped me to have a sense of humor about moments when my own child seems to “poop the nest” as he prepares to spread his wings and fly.)

Writing this helps me realize that I’ve used the first three weapons to stop negative spirals in my mind. Choosing humility enabled me to turn away from focusing on myself and my changing circumstances. Rather than grieving the end of my son’s childhood, I’m celebrating the beginning of a new chapter in our family. Choosing silence allowed me to spend those moments on my porch not only finding hope in God’s Word, but in His creation in the tree right beside me. And delighting in the eggs hatching turned me away from cynicism about some of the harder moments I’ve had with my son and reminded me that he’s ready to launch. 

Here’s what I’m realizing: putting these tools into practice works. When we humble ourselves, get quiet, and choose delight, God’s Word and His creation continually point us back to Him and we spiral up instead of down. 

Which tool will you try this week? Use what God has given you and experience the positive difference they make.

Celebrate God’s goodness with me by listening to Micah Tyler’s song “Amen”.

Jennie Allen, Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts, Waterbrook Press, 2020, pages, 131, 127, 128, 135. (Quotes in this post are all from this book.)

Jennie Allen, Get Out of Your Head: A Study in Philippians, Thomas Nelson Press, 2020. (This study is what has inspired this series of posts.)

Stopping the Spiral with Humility

I’ve called it many things over the years—feeling down, being in a funk, getting triggered, having my buttons pushed, riding the rollercoaster. Now, thanks to Jennie Allen’s book Get Out of Your Head, I have a new name for it: spiraling. Let me paint a picture of it for you.

Imagine you have an interaction with another person that sparks an emotion. Let’s say you feel hurt, which leads to a thought like, “I’m worthless, no one cares about me.” Your emotions spiral downward, affecting your behavior. Attempting to shield yourself from further hurt, you withdraw not only from this person, but from others as well. This behavior, in turn, affects your relationships. People you know feel ignored or rejected by your withdrawal. Your connection with them weakens, causing strained relationships as a consequence. You find yourself isolated and wallowing in hurt, validating your feelings of worthlessness.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Allen explains that spirals can progress in one of two directions, they can go “up toward God, or downward toward the thing we’re fixating on.”1 The progression follows a predictable pattern: emotions trigger thoughts which lead to behaviors that affect relationships that lead to consequences. However, we can learn “to choose thoughts that conform to the mind of Christ”2 and when we do this, “we start seeing better behaviors, better relationships, and better consequences.”3 So, our downward spirals begin to flip upward when we choose to focus on God.

For the past few weeks I’ve been working through Jennie Allen’s Get Out of Your Head: A Study in Philippians. The book identifies the primary enemies of our minds and the weapons God gives us to fight them. I’ve been able to practice what I’m learning with real-life challenges on a regular basis. It’s been powerful using these tools to stop my downward spirals before they go too far. Because it’s been beneficial to me, I’d love to share it with you. If you’re intrigued, consider picking up a copy of the study to do on your own, or with friends.

Self-Importance vs. Humility

The first enemy of our minds highlighted in the book is self-importance. It’s the sense of entitlement that makes us think we deserve special treatment. Allen explains, “We’re fed a continuous message of how much we matter, how very important we are—but in the long run, our urge to protect ourselves and promote our own awesomeness leads to more separation, more disillusionment with each other, and more insecurity and fruitless comparison.”4 Allen explains, “lasting joy will come only when God is in the center.”5 When we put God where He belongs, we rest in His power, not our own. The weapon we use to fight self-importance is humility. Consider this wisdom from Scripture:

Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Self-importance is rooted in selfish ambition and conceit. So, when we value others above ourselves and look to their interests, this diffuses the inflated view of self that sent us spiraling downward in the first place. 

Ephesians 4:2 “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” It’s impossible to be harsh and gentle at the same time. When someone hurts us and we choose to bear with them in love, we recognize their value, in spite of their offensive behavior. Patience keeps us from making a rash judgement, overreacting, or lashing out in our pain.

1 Peter 5:5b-7 “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” When we’re anxious, worried, or upset, the wise choice is to cast those negative emotions at the foot of the cross. Entrusting them to God keeps us from striking back pridefully and assuming we’re right and the other person is wrong. If God opposes the proud, the wise response is to choose humility. This stops the negative spiral and shows the Lord we trust Him to work out the situation in whatever way He deems best. 

Psalm 25:9 “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.” When we’re experiencing negative emotions and we decide to share them with the Lord, we leave room for Him to show us the healthiest response. A humble heart is a teachable heart.

Imagine how the scenario I described earlier would look if we used the weapon of humility: You have an interaction with another person that sparks an emotion. You feel hurt. You decide to respond with humility. Choosing humility leads to a thought like, “Wow, that person must be having a bad day. Sometimes I say hurtful things that I don’t mean when I’m in a foul mood too. I’m not going to take that personally.” The emotion spirals upward, affecting your behavior. You give the person grace by assuming the best rather than nursing hurt feelings. This behavior, in turn, affects your relationships. Those you know appreciate your tendency to give the most generous explanation for others’ behavior. Your connection to people strengthens, which leads to positive consequences. Your relationships become healthier and you find yourself feeling grateful for the people in your life. You thank God for humbling you enough to see you’re as prone to sin as the one who offended you. Like the psalmist, you pray, “O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.” (Psalm 69:5, ESV)

If you find your emotions taking the lead and causing you to spin downward, remember you have a choice. Stop the spiral by using the weapon of humility. Spend time focusing on the wisdom of the verses above. Then, pray and ask God to give you the humility you need to focus on Him instead of your feelings.

Let Natalie Grant’s song “My Weapon” empower and inspire you today.

Jennie Allen, Get Out of Your Head: A Study in Philippians, Thomas Nelson Press, 2020. 1. Page 40 2. Page 42 3. Page 42 4. Page 60 5. Page 60

Re-route Your Thoughts

Rolling my bike to a stop, I surveyed the trail. Just ahead of me, a large tree limb had fallen across it, blocking my way forward. It would have been awkward to scramble over, especially with my bike getting tangled in the foliage. The best option seemed to be going around it, which meant trudging through knee-high weeds and over rocky ground to forge a new path. 

On my next ride a few weeks later, the tree was still stretched across the main trail, but the long weeds I’d pushed through were now trodden down. Clearly, others had made the same choice to navigate around the obstacle in the path. Each time I took the trail in subsequent months, I noticed how the new route began replacing the old one. Matted grass gave way to bare patches of dirt; rocks were kicked aside. Over time, the rough trail was smoothed by a multitude of feet and bikes. Within months, the path around the fallen tree had become the main route. It had just taken repeated and consistent use.

Recently, I envisioned that re-routed trail because it illustrates changes I’m making to my thought patterns. I’m not proud to admit that my default mode of thinking tends to be critical, negative, and cynical. Rarely do my natural inclinations lead me to assume the best or to feel confident that circumstances will turn out well. Can you relate? Unsatisfied with my negative tendencies, I’ve been focused on building new neural paths that will point me in a more positive direction.

The desire to change my thinking isn’t futile, there is research that supports what I’m trying to do. It turns out our brains are more pliable than we realize. In her book Get Out of Your Head, Jennie Allen explains the work of Dr. Dan Siegel, a professor of clinical psychiatry. “’Where attention goes,’ he wrote, ‘neural firing flows and neural connection grows…Patterns you thought were fixed are actually things that with mental effort can indeed be changed…We are not passive in all this activity of mind and awareness.’ What we think about, our brains become. What we fixate on is neurologically who we will be.”1 So, the more we think certain thoughts, the wider those paths become and the more we’re inclined to travel on them mentally.  

Allen goes on to explain, “Good things happen when we train our attention on that which is beautiful, on that which is authentic and compelling and good. What’s more, beyond the obvious emotional experience, those good things from the hand of God can point us to the One who creates beauty, who is beautiful. Cynicism puts our minds on things of this earth, and we lose hope. Beauty points our gaze toward the heavens and reminds us of hope.”1

The Bible provides the roadmap we need to change our thoughts. Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians show us how to build a new web of trails in our minds: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5, NIV) We can ask the Lord to re-route our thinking onto more positive paths that honor Him. Allen explains, “The spiraling, chaotic thoughts that have so long keep us trapped will give way to the peace and beauty and abundant life Jesus died to give us.”2 This brings hope to us and to others. And when we venture back down negative roads, we can trust the Holy Spirit to show us we’re off track before we’ve traveled too far.

Paul’s words to the Romans describe this process of shifting from old and unhealthy thought patterns to new ones: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2, NIV) When we realize we’re letting the world influence us more than the Lord, let’s make it a regular practice to ask Him to renew our minds. Jennie Allen explains, “We renew our minds by filling our minds with truth, with who God says we are, and then holding every other thought up to those truths. Those truths are our weapons, and they stop the spirals in our minds.”2

As we focus on forging new mental paths, we’re learning to keep our thoughts in check. Our mindsets change as we trust the Holy Spirit, apply the wisdom of Scripture, and surrender our thoughts to God consistently. Every day provides a new opportunity to invite the Lord to continue widening new and better paths in our minds.

For some musical inspiration, listen to “Burn the Ships” by the band For King and Country. It invites us to walk away from the negative elements of our pasts and start fresh. As you listen, ask God what unhealthy practices you need to turn from today so you can let Him help you forge new and better paths.

  1. Jennie Allen, Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts, Waterbrook, 2020, pages 42 & 135.
  2. Jennie Allen, Get Out of Your Head Study, Thomas Nelson, 2020, pages 54 & 59.

Rise to Rest

This week on IF:Danville at Home I had the opportunity to interview my friend, Tracey. She shared a simple practice called “Rise to Rest” that has transformed her relationship with God. Her goal is to rise early while her house is quiet so she can spend time resting in Jesus before doing anything else. This enables her to let Him guide her for the rest of the day. Like Tracey, I love to do this. Right now, my favorite spot is in a rocking chair on my front porch wrapped in a warm blanket as the sun comes up.

If you haven’t tried spending time alone with God (or haven’t done it in a while), it can feel a bit daunting to know how to begin. I hope this simple guide will help you to find a rhythm that works for you and will enable you to connect with Jesus consistently.

First, let’s start with a few Scriptures to encourage you. James 4:8 tells us, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” And in Jeremiah 29:13, the Lord says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” So, trust that God is there waiting for you as you commit to rising to rest.

If you’re not a morning person, ask God to help you and let King David’s words encourage you: “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3, NIV)  Or, let the example of Jesus inspire you: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35, NIV)

The Plan: Schedule time this week to rise to rest with Jesus. Plan ahead so you’ll be more likely to get up when your alarm goes off!

Prepare & Invite:  Before opening your Bible, take a moment to be still and prepare your heart to read God’s Word. Clear your mind and invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you. Ask Him to give you a humble and responsive heart that will be transformed by Him.

Read & Observe: Slowly read the passage you choose two or three times. Observe the basic facts. 

  • What did it mean to the people of the day when it was written? 
  • What does it tell you about God? (His attributes, desires, promises, commands)
  • What do you learn about humankind or yourself? (Does something in your life need re-alignment with God?)

Meditate:  Focus on the parts that speak to you directly. Answer any of the following that apply:

  • What has connected to my heart or mind?
  • Why is God showing me this today?
  • How does God want me to respond?
  • What is one verse that stands out to me or that sums up the main point of this section?

Respond in Prayer: Talk to God about what He’s shown you through this text. 

  • Ask Him to reveal what He wants you to do.
  •  Wrestle with anything that challenges you or that seems too daunting to apply to your life. 
  • Confess anything that convicts you. 
  • Pray for anyone God brings to mind as you read this.
  • Ask Him to help you apply what you’ve learned.

Share: Tell a friend about your experience and how God spoke to you. Ask them to hold you accountable to continue the practice of rising to rest.

Not sure what to read? Try the Psalms or a book in the New Testament. The gospel of John is a great place to start. Or, use my list of favorites below:

  • Psalms 1, 5, 16, 18, 19,25, 27, 31, 32, 34, 51, 62, 63, 71, 73, 86, 91, 100, 103, 121, 138, 143
  • Matthew 5, 6 & 7 (The Sermon on the Mount)                     
  • Mark 4             
  • Luke 12
  • John 15
  • Acts 2 & 17
  • Romans 8 & 12                                                                                                                       
  • 1 Corinthians 13
  • 2 Corinthians 4
  • Galatians 5
  • Ephesians 2 & 6
  • Philippians 3 & 4
  • Colossians 1 & 3
  • 2 Timothy 1 & 2
  • Hebrews 12
  • 1 Peter 1
  • 2 Peter 1
  • 1 John 4

If you’d like to see my conversation with Tracey about rising to rest, click on the link below. It’s from Week 2 of IF:Danville at Home.

https://vimeopro.com/cpcdanville/marybethmccullum

Inspired by “What is a Quiet Time?” by Redeemer West Side Prayer Ministry. Oct. 2014.  

Be Inspired Again this Week

Sitting on the roof of a houseboat, I settled in for the evening program. The sun dipped low in the sky, glinting on the water. In the distance, a boat sped past causing a patch of reeds to sway in the ripples of its wake. Teenagers lounged in contentment on either side of me, listening as their youth pastor taught. Although I was serving on staff at camp, I was only a few years older than most of the students. I wanted to believe that I was more mature than them, but the pastor’s words pierced me with fresh conviction.

I’d arrived just a few days earlier, showing up 24 hours after my high school graduation. Since I’d attended the camp with my church in prior summers, I felt confident in my ability to be a leader. Working at Houseboats had been my goal since my first time as a camper. Fun with friends, water skiing, sunbathing, and dynamic leaders had drawn me back every year. I liked the way I felt at camp—there was a sense of Christian community that was authentic and meaningful.

In spite of all this, I was nursing serious self-doubt as a leader once I got there. I felt like a fraud. Even though I’d accepted Jesus as a child and had gotten confirmed as a teenager, an ingredient in my spiritual life seemed to be missing when I compared it to others on staff. I’d straddled the fence between my Christian faith and a worldly lifestyle for the majority of my teen years. There had been moments of deep connection with God at camps, but I hadn’t pursued Him consistently in daily life. Now, I felt like I’d missed out on so much because I’d drifted through my teen years with a lukewarm faith.

When my first group of campers had arrived, I’d enjoyed participating in their nightly programs, singing worship songs, and hearing their youth pastor teach. He had kicked off each evening by reading one chapter from Robert Boyd Munger’s My Heart Christ’s Home. The booklet is an allegory depicting a new believer inviting Jesus to live in his home. Together, they tour all the rooms which represent different aspects of our lives. For example, the dining room represents our appetites and desires and the rec room encompasses our fun times and friendships. 

Listening along with my campers, the Holy Spirit began showing me areas of my life that I’d been holding back from the Lord. Perhaps the most impactful for me was hearing about the living room, where Jesus and the new believer planned to meet every morning to talk and study together.  At first, they met daily, but after a while, busyness interfered with their regular time together.  Here’s the portion of the chapter that struck me most:

“As I passed the living room, the door was open. Looking in, I saw a fire in the fireplace and Jesus was sitting there. Suddenly in dismay I thought to myself, ‘He was my guest. I invited Him into my heart! He has come as Lord of my home. And yet here I am neglecting Him.’

I turned and went in. With downcast glance, I said, ‘Blessed Master, forgive me. Have You been here all these mornings?’

‘Yes,’ He said, ‘I told you I would be here every morning to meet with you.’ Then I was even more ashamed. He had been faithful in spite of my faithlessness. I asked His forgiveness and He readily forgave me, as He does when we are truly repentant. 

‘The trouble with you is this: you have been thinking of the quiet time, of the Bible study and prayer time, as a factor in your own spiritual progress, but you have forgotten that this hour means something to me also. Remember, I love you. I have redeemed you at great cost. I value your fellowship. Now,’ He said, ‘do not neglect this hour if only for my sake. Whatever else may be your desire, remember I want your fellowship!’”

Until that moment, I’d never considered how Jesus felt about the relationship we shared. I understood the sacrifice He made for all people on the cross, but I’d never grasped how much He loved me personally. Once I’d asked Jesus to be my Savior, I hadn’t nurtured our relationship. It was like I’d invited Him into my home, but had left Him standing in the entryway. I thought He’d mess up my plans and expect me to do things His way if I let Him in any further.

Hearing that booklet read aloud was a powerful turning point in my faith journey. On one of the final days at Houseboats, I sat on a small beach during solo time and told Jesus things were going to be different between the two of us. Digging my toes into the sand, I wrote a prayer telling Him I wasn’t holding back anymore. I was fully committing to Him, even though it meant making some big changes and hard choices when I got home. I was ready to surrender and have Him not only be my Savior, but my Lord as well. Since then, He’s continued to expand His presence in every room of my life.

My turning point happened over three weeks on a houseboat at the Sacramento Delta. But each follower of Jesus has a unique story about when and how this occurred for them. Recently, I’ve been privileged to dialogue with others about their experiences with Jesus through my involvement with IF:Danville. I’m excited for you to hear them this Thursday during Week 2 of IF:Danville at Home. You’ll have the opportunity to watch interviews with several women who have discovered the joy of knowing Jesus personally and intimately. Each of their experiences is surprising and unique, but also relatable. I hope the variety in their stories will help you to see that God pursues us intentionally and individually to draw us to Himself. 

For more information about IF:Danville at Home, click here.

To read My Heart, Christ’s Home, click here.  

Sonshine Ministries is the camp where I surrendered to Jesus. This summer is the first time since 1975 boats will not being going out due to COVID-19. If you’re looking for a worthy cause to support, consider making a donation to help this ministry stay afloat. Click here to visit their website. You’ll find giving options under the “support” tab.

Be Inspired This Week

Hearing the lock click in the door, I sat up in bed and squinted as light from the hallway streamed into the hotel room. Two women stepped inside, rolling their suitcases behind them. “Hi, I’m Marybeth,” I said as their silhouettes tiptoed past my bed. Surprised to find me still awake, they introduced themselves. It was an awkward albeit memorable way to meet someone for the first time. The whole day had been filled with making new friends as I’d traveled from California to Texas with a group of women from church. We had arrived in stages to attend IF:Lead in Dallas– a conference for women. Some in our group knew each other, but many were meeting for the first time. The common link between us was a shared love for Jesus.

Although the conference lasted only two days, it was loaded with inspiring worship, solid teaching, and impactful testimonies. Our group had a ball together and formed fast friendships. All of us had the same desire to share the incredible experience we’d had with others.

We returned to the Bay Area inspired and ready to begin planning IF:Danville, which would be modeled after IF:Gathering – a larger scale event happening in Dallas in the spring. In case you aren’t familiar with it, IF:Gathering was founded by author and speaker Jennie Allen. It is not only an event, but a ministry impacting people world-wide. Their goal is to put resources in the hands of women in the church to empower them to change lives. 

The group that had attended IF:Lead got busy planning a local gathering. Over time, other friends jumped into the mix to help with organizing different aspects of IF:Danville. Each time we met to plan and pray, enthusiasm for the event gained momentum.

In February, we watched a simulcast of IF:Gathering in Texas and prayerfully chose the talks that would most resonate with our local women. Soon, the programming details fell into place. To make the video teachings more relevant, we asked women in our community to share their personal experiences with Jesus. We thought interviewing them would help others see how personal faith impacts daily life in relatable and practical ways.

The number of hours lovingly poured into preparations for this event was staggering.  All of us couldn’t wait to see how God would inspire those who attended the event in mid-March. Although we were aware there was an unusual virus spreading rapidly around the world, we never dreamed it would impact our plans. It wasn’t until the final days leading up to IF:Danville that the threat of COVID-19 became personal.

I’ll never forget walking into the chapel the morning of March 11 for our final prayer time. The giddy excitement of the previous meetings had been replaced by a somber tone. With a heavy heart, our Women’s Ministries pastor shared the news that our event needed to be postponed indefinitely. County health officials had just announced gatherings over 50 people had to be suspended. Church services, Bible studies, youth groups, and mission trips were all being put on hold.

After hearing the news and shedding a few tears, we prayed together on our knees in the chapel. Despite our deep disappointment, we told God we trusted Him. We believed He’d show us what to do. At a time when people needed hope, we had it ready to share– it was just a matter of figuring out how to do it.

Over time, the Lord revealed a plan. With a bit of creativity and the blessing of technology, we were able to re-format the event to be shown online. So, I’m thrilled to announce this Thursday evening, May 14, will kick off the first of a three week series we’re calling IF:Danville at Home. Now we have the capacity to reach far more than the 400 women we’d planned to welcome to our church on March 13 & 14. 

This week you’ll have the opportunity to hear inspiring stories about how Jesus walked with a teenage girl and a seasoned grandmother through some heartbreaking medical issues. We’ll discover how God used those hard situations to grow their faith deeper. Both will inspire you with their vision for loving others and being intentional about the legacy they’re leaving behind. You’ll also have the opportunity to hear a powerful teaching from Jada Edwards of IF:Gathering. 

The IF:Danville team has spurred on my faith over the past few months and I’m thrilled that they can do the same for you. I hope you’ll join me virtually to be inspired through the interviews and teaching this Thursday at 8pm and on May 21 & 28. And I pray they’ll point you toward the hope found only in Jesus. Be sure to invite a friend who could use some encouragement right now too. For more information, click on the link below. 

http://www.cpcdanville.org/ifdanville/

Final Thoughts on Psalm 23

Trying to muster enthusiasm, I opened my book and began the first week’s lesson. Although Jennifer Rothschild’s Psalm 23: The Shepherd with Me was well written and filled with encouraging Scriptures, it wasn’t drawing me in the way a new study usually does. The topic felt well-worn and familiar; comforting, but not relevant to my current circumstances. It was late February when I began it. Little did I know how much I’d need those reassuring words within a matter of weeks.

My small group met twice to discuss the lessons in person. Each gathering filled us with encouragement and hope as we pored over the richness of Psalm 23. The group’s enthusiasm drew me into the study and helped me to approach it with a more positive outlook. 

As we were in those first weeks kicking off Psalm 23, information about a highly contagious virus that was spreading rapidly began to dominate headlines. Within weeks, coronavirus went from being a news story about events unfolding on the other side of the globe to something that was affecting everyone in our community. Terms we’d never used before like “social distancing,” “flattening the curve,” and “sheltering in place” dominated our conversations. The word “unprecedented” became the quintessential description for the strange times we found ourselves in.

And through it all, Psalm 23 suddenly had fresh relevance in a new context. The chapters of the workbook that had initially seemed a bit too long suddenly brought me hope, encouragement, and reassurance. As shelter in place orders went into effect in our state, I enjoyed having extra time at home to contemplate the truth I found in the lessons. I savored each page and found fresh application from familiar Scriptures.

In her final teaching, Rothschild does a beautiful job wrapping up the study and showing how Psalm 23 illustrates the way God meets all of our needs. For me, it was another reminder of how relevant and practical the Bible is for everyday life. I don’t think I can do a better job than she does closing out the study, so I’ll share some of the points she made that struck me.

Rothschild explains that God provides for us in ways that have been studied in Human Psychology, specifically in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. She describes this theory by American psychologist, Abraham Maslow, “which puts forward that people are motivated by five basic categories of needs: physiological, safety, love, esteem, and self-actualization. In this theory, higher needs in the hierarchy begin to emerge when people feel they have sufficiently satisfied the previous need.” In her book, Rothschild uses Maslow’s visual of a pyramid to show how Psalm 23 reveals God meeting all of those needs. 

The bottom of the pyramid encompasses the most basic requirements of all humans. In order to function properly, we must have air, food, water, shelter, clothing and sleep. Psalm 23 starts by addressing our physiological needs, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Here, God reveals Himself as our primary provider.

Our next basic need is for safety. This includes security of our bodies, employment, resources, morality, family, health, and property. Rothschild points to Psalm 23:2, “He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.” The verse reveals how the Lord provides us with peace and security.

The third basic need of all humans is for love and social belonging—friendship, family, intimacy, and sense of connection with others. Psalm 23:3 describes how the Lord restores us to relationship with Himself and His flock: “He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” Here we see the Lord as the one who heals us from sin so that we can be restored to right relationship with Him. It’s a surprising piece of foreshadowing about Jesus described more completely in the New Testament: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” (2 Cor 5:17-19, NIV) 

Psalm 23:4 also shows the intimacy and belonging we have with the Lord, which even death cannot take away from us: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, For you are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” The Lord is present with us always. Again, the New Testament expands on this: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39, NIV)

Our next need is for self-esteem, respect, and confidence. Psalm 23:5 illustrates this by showing how the Lord honors and esteems us, even in the presence of our enemies: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.” The Lord gives us the power and tools we need to stand firm in the face of our ultimate enemy: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:10-13, NIV)

The final human need at the top of Maslow’s pyramid is self-actualization. Jennifer Rothschild explains that Maslow later clarified and used the phrase “self-transcendence” instead. Self-transcendence is being able look beyond ourselves, our needs and our wants to pursue something greater. It includes a desire for spiritual contemplation and realization. Psalm 23:6 reveals this desire and awareness of the Lord in His followers, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

It shouldn’t surprise me that God’s Word supports what psychologists have discovered–especially because He’s the one who designed the brain in the first place. However, my awe for Him doesn’t stop there. I’m also amazed at how He orchestrated the perfect timing of this study for us. The team that chose Jennifer Rothschild’s book for our group set the calendar a year ago. They had no idea we’d be facing a pandemic and sheltering at home when it came time to open the study. But God knew. It’s just one more example of His love, care, and provision for us personally. David’s words in Psalm 23 and Jennifer Rothschild’s detailed study of them will always remind me of tender moments with the Shepherd of my soul at a time when I desperately needed to feel His presence.

Enjoy Psalm 23 in the song “Surely Goodness, Surely Mercy” by Shane and Shane.

Jennifer Rotshchild, Psalm 23: The Shepherd with Me, Lifeway Press, 2018.

Psalm 23 quoted from the New King James version.

 Information on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs compiled from Rothschild’s Session 7 teaching video and www.thought.co.com. https://www.thoughtco.com/maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-4582571

Through the Valley

Of all the headlines I’ve read related to COVID-19 in the last week, one stood out most: “The loneliness of death in the time of coronavirus.” The story described the agonizing final days of an elderly man’s life. Because he was infected with coronavirus, his daughter was barred from being by his side in the hospital. She lamented, “I couldn’t hold his hand when he took his last breath…I feel like he was alone.” The sense of anguish and lack of hope is heartbreaking.

The mood of that article stands in sharp contrast to what I studied in Psalm 23:4 this week: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (NKJV) This familiar verse reminds us we’re never alone—even when people we love can’t be there. Walking with the Lord means His presence protects and comforts us even as death looms near.

The rapid spread of cornonavirus has forced us to confront the reality that life is finite and we are not in control. However, the threat of death may not be your primary concern right now. Other fears could be lurking in your mind that seem more urgent. Are you worried about a vulnerable family member getting infected, losing your job, or laying off employees? Maybe you’re fretting over missing milestones like trips, graduations, births, or weddings. Perhaps the downward slide of the stock market is keeping you awake at night envisioning your retirement account shrinking. Or maybe you’re feeling anxious about being stuck in a pattern of social distancing with no end in sight. The angst related to the pandemic leaves no one untouched. 

While some of our concerns don’t seem like outright fear, Jennifer Rothschild explains, “Fear shows up in ways we don’t realize. Being overly controlling is fear in disguise. Anger is often fear in disguise. Isolating yourself is fear in disguise. Anxiety and worry are fear in disguise.” (p. 118) She also reminds us, however, that “we can’t always change the valley we’re in, but we can always change our attitudes, actions, and choices in that valley. When we walk through our valleys with our Shepherd, He uses the valleys to change us, to grow us, and to take us to a new and better place. God can use our temporary valleys to create everlasting good for and in us.” (p.116)

As we walk through valleys, our hearts soften to God’s transformative work when we claim His truth. Rothschild explains, “fear focuses on the shadows. Faith focuses on the Shepherd.” (p. 120) To put that idea into practice, I took a variety of verses about fear and personalized them:

God is with me wherever I go. When I am afraid, I will trust in him. I will remember He has called me by name and I am His. He did not give me a spirit of fear but of power, love, and self-discipline. He will strengthen me and uphold me with His righteous right hand. He will answer me when I seek Him and deliver me from all my fears. I will let God’s perfect love drive out my fear. (Compiled from Joshua 1:9, Psalm 56:3-4, Isaiah 43:1, 2 Timothy 1:7, Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 34:4, 1 John 4:18)

Here’s the truth: “God gets personal when the valley gets dark.” (p. 124) As COVID-19 disrupts our normal routines and forces us to confront our fears, we have an opportunity to depend on God like never before. Being confined to home means many of our normal distractions have been removed. With our newfound free time, we may choose to numb ourselves by anesthetizing in front of screens, busying ourselves with household projects, or indulging in our favorite comfort foods. But we also have an amazing opportunity to draw near to the Lord without being in a rush. The pause button has been pushed on the whole world simultaneously. This means we have more opportunities to read, study, think, and pray. “Stillness increases our awareness of His presence…Ask the Lord to help you be still, to listen, and to quiet your heart.” (p. 126) Maybe it’s time to dust off that Bible study book you never finished or to start writing prayers in the journal that’s been sitting on your desk untouched. Go outside and admire the first blooms of spring or listen to music that draws your heart to Jesus. Perhaps God will reveal Himself as your awareness of Him grows in this season of stillness.

If you’re like me, you’re trying to make the most of this time and feeling impatient that there isn’t more you can do.  You’re ready for God to speak but haven’t sensed Him saying anything specific. Feeling restless, you’re craving productivity and purpose. Maybe you’re trying hard to force meaningful family time or searching tirelessly for moments of revelation and insight. Remember, “God is with you in your valley…don’t press to find the grand lesson or insight if one is not clear. Just rest in your Shepherd. Let Him carry you through. Receive His comfort and care.” (p. 126) Stop trying so hard and just be with Him. (I need to look in a mirror as I say that).

Remember that the Shepherd is with you in this challenging season. Don’t let fear consume you. Find your rest and refuge in Him. Take one day at a time rather than projecting into the future. Trust Him and let Him comfort and lead you. Help others to find hope and comfort by encouraging them to draw near to the Shepherd too. 

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” (Psalm 91:1-2, NIV)

The song “Fear No More” by Building 429 seems especially relevant in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Listen now and make it your proclamation against fear.

Jennifer Rothschild, Psalm 23: The Shepherd with Me, Lifeway Press, 2018, Week 4.

Julia Prodis Sulek, “The loneliness of death in the time of coronavirus”, East Bay Times, March 20, 2020, page 1.