How to Navigate the Storms of Life Using This Simple Tool part 3
/
Photo by Luke Stackpoole on Unsplash
We’ve all been through storms and trials in life. Maybe you’re right in the middle of one right now?
Over the last few posts we’ve been talking about how to believe God that we’re really going to make it to the “other side” during these storms. We’ve learned that as we “listen,” God’s persuasion, God’s faith is birthed in us.
Because it takes listening for this faith to develop, we’ve been learning the skills we need to develop our ability to listen.
If you missed the first two parts, you can check out part one here and part two here.
Today, we’re going explore “Listening” skills to birth God’s faith in us to will help us through the hard places in life.
I love that Jesus never gives up on us. He’s not thinking, “Man, I wish she would just get it!”
He’s walking us through the trials hand-in-hand. He’s loving us as we learn to “Listen.”
2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV
Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
The amazing part of going through a trial is that Jesus has paid for everything on the cross for us already! We have to walk through the trial. But, we don’t have to win the battle. Jesus already has done it for us!
When we focus on the vastness of our Savior instead of the vastness of our trials, we’ll notice more of our precious Jesus instead of the problems.
Here are four “Listening” tools we can use to help us focus on the vastness of our Savior:
Contemplate
Dwell on His nature–love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, self-control. These are all fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22 - 23 AMP
22 But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Notice the fruit of the Holy Spirit not our spirit–it’s His Spirit in us!
When we spend time in His presence, the fruit of the Spirit will be just that, a by-product of our time with Him.
Think about what Jesus did for us by His death and resurrection.
There’s so much more that He’s given us than just a ticket to Heaven.
John 10:10 AMP
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].
John is not talking just about the “sweet by-and-by.” He’s talking about the hear-and-now.
Spend time in Psalms.
It’s a great place to see God’s nature.
David, who wrote most of the Psalms, was a pro at this. Even while someone was trying to kill him, David would dwell on God’s nature and comfort himself. You can do the same (although most of us don’t have someone trying to kill us thank goodness).
Read About Jesus’ Life
Hebrews 1:3a NIV
The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being…
When we see Jesus, we see our Father God.
When we see Jesus healing the sick, we see our Father’s heart.
When we see Jesus loving the broken and rejected, we see how our Father’s heart bleeds for His children.
When we see Jesus reprimanding the religious crowd, we see that our Father hates religion because religion shackles His children with burdens He never meant them to bare.
Photo by Pablo Merchán Montes on Unsplash
Communicate
Stay connected to your Heavenly Father by talking to Him continually through out our day (aka prayer)–not just as a habit in the morning.
Make it a conversation.
Conversations go two ways. Talking and listening.
It doesn’t have to be extended conversations. When you think of something good, thank Him for it. When you notice something fun, laugh with Him about it. When you come across a trial, talk to Him about it.
He is never too busy to be involved in our lives.
Remember, there is nothing is too small (or too big) to talk to Him about.
Saturate
Allow God’s word to permanently occupy our minds.
Try memorizing one scripture a week or even one per month. Then think on it through out the day.
Personalize scripture with personal pronouns, I and (your name).
This always makes it feel, well, personal. You’re reading it for you rather than thinking that passage is for someone else.
Meditate (think on over and over) on His word.
Some good chapters to start with are Psalm 23 & 91 or John 15 (one of my personal favorites)
Appreciate
Go on a gratitude spree.
Get a pretty notebook to record what you’re grateful for. Record even the smallest thing you’re grateful to God for.
Or, if you’re more of a digital gal, a great app for this is called Grateful. You can even add pictures to your journal entries.
Now you’ve got something to look back on to remind yourself of His love, blessings and faithfulness.
Write your Heavenly Father a thank you note.
Describe to Him in detail what you’re thankful for in your life.
As you Contemplate, Communicate, Saturate and Appreciate your Heavenly Father, you will learn how much your loved and how you’re not alone even in the trials of life.
These skills will build up your “listening” skill and God’s faith, His persuasion, will be birthed in you.
So, when those hard times come, and they do, you will be able to “get to the other side” with confidence knowing Jesus is at your side all the way.