More on Staying Connected to Jesus
I plan on our spending more time in the book of Revelation on Sunday mornings over the next few weeks. We’ll be looking at the seven letters to the seven churches of Asia Minor. As we examine the strengths and weaknesses of these churches, we’ll have the opportunity to prepare ourselves for the future God has in store for us as a congregation. I trust that God will give our BRC Future Task Force a vision for our future. But it’s important that we all prepare spiritually for that vision. These chapters in Revelation should help us do that.
In yesterday’s post I began to talk about what it takes to stay connected to Jesus as we live our days. The first thing is that we have to want to. This next Sunday I’ll say more about what we can do to increase our desire.
A second suggestion I’d like to make is that we attempt to bring him to each place and person we encounter during our day. I say “bring” him because if we wait to “get” him after we are there for a while, it may be pretty difficult. Of course, if I’m going to bring Jesus, I have to already have him in my awareness. I have to already be “abiding” in him. That’s why it’s so important for me to connect with Jesus at the very beginning of my day through Scripture reading and prayer. So, first I need to make that initial connection with him, and then I can “bring” him with me into the activities and interactions that fill my day. The point is to never, never go anyplace alone, and to stop thinking of ourselves as living solo. In order to keep the connection, I first need to make the connection. Even if I forget and lose the sense of connection, at least I have a connection to go back to. And the fact is that Jesus is present to be connected to every time.
Of course, there are so many things that can distract or “capture” our attention. One way I can bring Jesus into each situation is to pray the simple prayer, “Jesus, you are my….” For example, if I’m feeling anxious I can say, “Jesus, you are my peace.” If I’m feeling tired, I can say, “Jesus, you are my strength.” If I’m getting ahead of myself, I can say, “Jesus, you are my rest.” If I’m feeling under the weather, I can say, “Jesus, you are my healing” or “You my endurance.” If I’m being tempted, I can say, “Jesus, you are my love.” If I’m feeling depressed, I can say, “Jesus, you are my joy” or “You are my purpose.” If I’m feeling attacked by the enemy, I can say, “Jesus, you are my protection.” If someone is asking me for advice, I can say, “Jesus, you are my counsel.” You get the idea. This is a very simple way to acknowledge and confess that Jesus is EVERYTHING to us, and to bring him into everything we do. This may give us a taste of what the apostle Paul meant what he said, “For me to live is Christ,” as well as, “We take every thought captive to obey Christ.”
I would love to hear any practices you find helpful for making and keeping your connection to Jesus.
“Happy the people who acclaim such a King; who walk, O Lord, in the light of Your face; who find their joy every day in Your name; who make Your righteousness the source of their bliss” (Psalm 89:15-16).
November 5, 2009 at 2:37 pm
This is a very important topic for me. As someone who struggles with chronic worry and anxiety I have come to realize the importance of “getting out of my head” and into my heart, where Jesus will dwell, providing I allow Him to. I have many times made the mistake of calling on Jesus for relief and rescue at the moment of crisis, kind of a fear response on my part, expecting Him to swoop down like a superhero and fix my problems for me. I’ve since come to believe that He doesn’t necessarily work that way. There’s no connection when Jesus is viewed as “outside” of me. That’s why the “Simple Prayer” in the article to me says it all : “You are my…” The important point to me is that Jesus works in tandem with me from within not without. It is my identification with Jesus that gets me out of my ego (head) and into my Heart. This truly works if you let it and I’ve seen first hand how this approach, any situation, can diffuse conflict and also change the way you see things. The challange for me has been to keep at it each day, each moment if necessary. This is very difficult for sure. For myself, however, I find that the Serenity Prayer helps me to connect with Jesus. It helps me to release control that I do not have, to let go and to let Him take the helm.
November 5, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Great thoughts, Tim. I’m glad you decided to join the conversation. Here is the Serenity Prayer for those who don’t know it. Most people have only heard the first four lines. I think the rest of the prayer is helpful as well:
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.
November 6, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Pastor Rich,
Thank you for that last stanza of the Serenity Prayer. I’ve never heard it before and I think it has some very profound and helpful insights.
November 8, 2009 at 6:28 pm
I didn’t know Mario, but I liked seeing him at BRC. He had engaging grin and youthful energy that made me smile. Although I’ve always belonged to a church, I never thought church was necessary to being a Christian. But more and more, I’m realizing that I’ve been wrong. We can gain so much from one another, whether it’s Mario’s energy or Janet’s testimony or Lynn’s greeting.
November 9, 2009 at 5:41 am
Mary Ellen,
Your perseverance and attitude in the face of the challenges of your life are such an encouragement to me. Thanks for your thoughts.