This guide is reproduced from our Ten Minutes with God blog of 12/26/2021. We hope you will find it useful in your quest to become closer to God.
Epiphany
"Epiphany" is a word meaning "sudden realization." But it is also the name for a season on the ancient liturgical calendar and it celebrates the revelation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God: the arrival of the Magi, the Holy Spirit descending at the baptism and the transfiguration.
Pastor Adam focused on the arrival of the Magi in his teaching this week. It was only because of the grace of God the wise men were led to the "epiphany," (or sudden discovery) of the Savior child. Adam challenged us to make room for the grace of God's leading in our own lives and to consider if we might discover Him in new ways. Could there be an "epiphany" waiting for you in this season? As we begin a new year, is there an invitation from God to discover Him and make room for Him in new ways? Pastor Adam spoke of letting God love you. How might you open yourself up to that love in the days and weeks to come?
A way to make room for God is by establishing life-giving rhythms of spiritual practices (often called spiritual disciplines) in your life. From the beginning, the church linked the desire for more of God to intentional practices, relationships and experiences that gave people space in their lives to keep company with Jesus. Spiritual disciplines can be a tool for an epiphany--a "sudden realization" in your life of what a life WITH God and His love truly looks look. You don’t find time for Jesus and spiritual disciples, you make time. As you consider the wise men bringing gifts to God, have you offered gifts to God but failed to offer Him your entire life? Perhaps some of these spiritual practices can help you make time and space for offering your ALL to Jesus in 2022. Will you give him permission to change you from the inside out and allowing His love to break through in new ways?
INVITATION: This week's "Ten Minutes With God" introduces different ways to spend time with God. Many of these aren't the "main stream" spiritual disciplines, but take things a little deeper and are more specific. Some may be things you never even considered "spiritual" before. Yet every day things can be infused with the holy. This "Ten Minutes with God" is offered as a study for this week, or perhaps for use as a mini retreat to take into your entire month of January. You might try a different practice each day this week, or each week this month, and see if there seems to be an invitation from God in any of them for different ways to spend time in prayer, the Holy Scriptures and/or worship.
We all go through different seasons and transitions in our lives, and that often includes how we best connect with and worship God. Ask yourself: What is feeding my soul these days? Is it a dry period? It could be that simply changing your rhythm of connecting with God might be helpful. Could there be an "epiphany" waiting for you in some new spiritual practices? The practices offered here (and there are many others) will form patterns of rest, quiet, study, reflection , prayer and action that transform your ways of being and doing - not just when time is set aside for them - but in the midst of every day life. They transform from the inside out. Think about it: we don't drift into a relationship with Christ that is deep and mature. It takes intentional action. Are you ready to incorporate such life-giving rhythms into your life as you journey into 2022?
Spending time in prayer and scripture is extremely easy and rich, yet we sometimes need "permission" to try new things. We need space. We need companions on the journey. Our prayer is that this week's "Ten Minutes With God" mini-retreat is just that: a companion to help you find and follow Jesus in personal ways that are transformational in your life with God. It is an invitation to recognize and tend to the longing and desire in your heart. Enjoy God. Enjoy the process.
PRACTICE: Emotional Attachment to God: Our earliest relationships matter. Relationships, fears and traumas (capitol T and small t traumas) end up playing out in our spiritual lives in general. But they can also play out in our relationship with (and ability to attach) to Jesus. For many people, feeling safe enough to know and be known - by significant others and by Jesus Christ - needs to come through therapy, counseling, and sometimes Spiritual Direction. However, for many of us a focused time studying and meditating on the true character of God can be helpful in regard to healthy attachment and an openness to an intimate relationship with God. What about you? Could you have some misplaced distrust of others projected into your relationship with God? Might there be an invitation from God to begin focusing on emotional attachment and knowing/being known by Him? In today's practice, which could stretch out into a month, or even the entire year (keep in mind this isn't a "race" or a program, this is about relationship), we look at scriptures that help build a safe attachment with God and his true character. Nailing down what you believe about God is crucial to your relationship with God. You might consider ways of being in scripture mentioned in other suggested practices this week (Lectio Divina might be particularly helpful). God invites you to rest in Him. As you read and meditate and pray with these verses, allow yourself to experience the security, safety and love that are yours in Jesus Christ. Each scripture is short. Sit with it. Pray with it. Take it with you into your day, marinating and turning it over and over, asking God what HE wants you to see and learn and know. You might even stay with a certain verse for days at a time. Again.....this is about relationship...not "doing it right" or winning a competition.
Isaiah 54:10 Ephesians 3:14-21
Deuteronomy 31:8 Philippians 1:6
Psalm 23 Hebrews 10:23
Psalm 34:4 Hebrews 4:14-16
Psalm 61:1-2 I John 3:1
Romans 8:15 Luke 15:20-24
Luke 15:4 Isaiah 49:15
PRACTICE: Rhythms of rest (sabbath): Are you weary? Do you constantly feel in a rush? Theologian and teacher Dallas Willard famously said "Hurry is violence to the soul." Perhaps this scripture speaks to you in this season: "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly. (Matthew 11:28-30, The Message). And Pierre Teilhard de Chardin said, "We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey."
Silence and solitude are ancient Christian practices for a reason. They cultivate listening and we begin to let go of ourselves, our egos and our agendas. God does not usually interrupt us or push us around. If we choose to ignore God, he allows it. Therefore, if we wish to pray by opening ourselves up to the possibility that God will speak to us (and He will), teach us and transform us - we must allow SPACE and MARGIN in our lives. One of the beautiful things about practicing these "quiet" spiritual disciplines is that God breaks through, showing how loved we are - - - even when doing what seems like a whole lot of "nothing!" Come to Him. Just as you are.
Today you are invited to be intentional about gently saying "no" to the endless stream of thoughts and feelings and distractions that make up our world, in order to listen for and say "yes" to the thoughts and feelings that may be the voice of God in your life. Discernment will come as you practice. Consider setting an alarm for once or twice during the day for a set amount of time to be still and silent: maybe 3 minutes? Maybe 5? Offer what you can, not what you can't. Your mind WILL wander. Don't beat yourself up about that. In fact, consider it a gentle invitation and opportunity to re-focus on Jesus again! Many people find it helpful to have a "word" to graciously bring your wandering mind back ...perhaps "Jesus" or "Abba" or "shepherd." A prayer as you begin might be: "Jesus I believe. Help me in my unbelief" (Mark 9:24). Don't we all start out in a state of unbelief that what feels like "doing nothing" can help our growth and end up being productive and fruitful?
Perhaps one of the best ways to begin practicing solitude is notice times when silence occurs naturally in your day. Try to begin to appreciate these times and savor them. Don't quickly try to "fill" them with some distraction, stream of consciousness or noise. Time in the car, time in line waiting, walks, exercise--why not view these as opportunities rather than as wasted time? Let God know you are attempting to use this time for HIM, ask for His presence and guidance, and then be quiet. See what happens. Notice thoughts and feelings and even your own distractions. Are you at peace? Angry? Sad? Confused? Did a memory come to mind?
Try these exercises several times during the day (or days to come). Once you begin to ask yourself (and God) the questions, you might consider journaling your impressions. You will learn to begin to listen to the "inner voice" of the Holy Spirit and drink the water from the pool of God's care. Silence becomes - over time - not an enemy but a welcome guest. It might even become something you crave and desire. Could this be a practice you cultivate for prayer and worship in this new year? Even modern brain science espouses the benefits of silence, solitude and "sabbath" to our nervous system. Could there be an invitation from God for you in this spiritual practice? Do you feel drawn to it? In the original monastic communities they practiced "praying the hours." Could this be helpful for you, i.e. have set times each day when you are intentionally practicing silence and solitude and simply listening for God's "still, small voice?"
PRACTICE: The Sacred Ordinary: From the very first moments of waking to the drifting off into sleep tonight, consider each occurrence, distraction, interaction, and chore as holy. Slow down and pay attention. Paying attention and noticing are often considered spiritual disciplines and practices in and of themselves. It is often called "practicing the presence of God," and it is the cornerstone of what is considered the contemplative lifestyle. Today we are slowing down and noticing the holy in all the ordinary mundaneness of a day. Maybe they are not so mundane after all? Maybe it brings purpose and value into each moment of each day? It might even be good to notice what it does to your mood and outlook toward the day, toward people, toward tasks, etc.
This is perhaps the most stubborn of Christian heresies: the idea that there is any part of our lives that is truly secular, untouched by and disconnected from the real sacred work of worship and prayer and God's involvement. This plays out in our tendencies to speak of the "sanctuary" or "church" as somehow more important to God than the workplace or the home. Or to think of pastors or priests as "more important" or closer to God that those who work in convenience stores or office complexes. Consider also that many people seem to consider "non profit" work to be somehow more holy than playing on the playground with your children.
The Word became flesh. The Word went fishing. The Word slept. The Word woke up with morning breath. This uniquely Christian belief of the incarnation is amazing and life changing. The secular is shot through with the sacred. Begin to intentionally notice that today. The very act of worship is made up of ordinary stuff. You do not have to be in a certain place or with certain people to worship.
Today try being intentional about noticing every. single. thing. Ask for the help of the Holy Spirit. Slow down to notice everything: our bodies, our pleasures, our fears, our fatigue, our fights, our food we eat, the playfulness of the kids or pets, the birds in the trees, the people in the stores, etc. These are in fact the very things of our spiritual formation and transformation into the frail but infinitely dignified creatures we were meant to be and shall become as God changes us over time. And He is NOT in a hurry. Don't miss his everyday work in your life by rushing through it and not noticing!
PRACTICE: Lectio Divina: Encountering Scripture through sacred reading : This sacred reading of scripture is a living conversation between you and God. It is being open to allowing Scripture to read and master you as opposed to you mastering and figuring out scripture. It is not really "Bible study" as such, it is closer to praying with scripture and although it has been around "forever", it is not a well known approach to interacting with scripture. Sometimes we can get caught up in reading and studying the Bible to get religious information and the "right answers" to confirm our own ideas about God. Lectio, on the other hand, engages a different part of the mind and soul. This method of being with God in scripture can open up scripture reading in new ways and can often lead to deepening and growing personal intimacy with Jesus Christ. Maybe it is a tool to enhance your prayer life and your Bible reading? Many people who have trouble with reading and studying the Bible find this contemplative, prayerful way of being in Scripture refreshing and powerful in their life with God. This method of being in Scripture is more about formation than information. It welcomes the Holy Spirit to speak into your life through the pages of Scripture. Are you willing to listen?
Lectio divina - as a formal prayer practice - has four steps or phases. However, these steps are not meant to be mechanical or used as a "formula" that you must perform correctly to "get it right." Lectio is a model for a living conversation between you and God. Just as a conversation with another person has rhythms, ebbs and flows, allow this same dynamic to happen in your time with God! Most people do, however, find it helpful to distinguish between the four phases somehow. Use these phases as a model and then make it your own:
Lectio (listening/reading): Select a short scripture passage and read to yourself or out loud. Suggested is a favorite psalm or story from one of the gospels. (Some other suggestions: Isaiah: 40-1-8; 43:1-7; 44:1-5 or 49:1-6). Read the passage several times, allowing the words to sink deep. This gives way to listening for a word or phrase from the passage that seems to stand out for you. Scripture is the Word of God. God is calling to you through the text; deep calling to deep. Focus on this word or phrase that seems to rise to the surface.
Meditatio (meditation): Allow your heart and mind to follow your word or phrase. Pray for the Holy Spirit to be your guide. What images come to mind? What thoughts and feelings? Perhaps a memory is stirred? Consider repeating your word or phrase a few times and allow yourself to deeply listen.
Oratio (prayer): Any good conversation consists of both listening and speaking. Up until now, you have been listening for the "still, small voice of God" in your heart and mind. Now as you wait for the words to arise from deep within, let yourself be aware of what you most desire to say to God. Be honest and open.
Contemplatio (contemplation): Every conversation comes to an end. This is a place of rest and stillness. This is a place where you feel you have nothing left to say or notice or ask, and God has also fallen silent. Consider offering gratefulness to God for this time as you close.
Don't be discouraged or angry if you felt distracted and seem to think a bout everything EXCEPT God! We live in a society that places ultimate value on productivity and this is more about cultivating fruitfulness. The slow, deep, internal work of God. Trust God. Trust the process. Prayer is not a product; it is a relationship. Just as you don't over analyze the chemical nutritional benefits of every bite you put into your mouth toward your overall health, do not over analyze any individual time in and with the "bread of life." It WILL produce fruit in its time! Consider how you might pray for the Spirit of God to help you during these times.
PRACTICE: EMBODIMENT PRAYER/WORSHIP: It is common in our culture to sometimes keep our faith in our head. Thinking, learning, and studying are very helpful and are spiritual disciplines in their own right and help us to know God better. However, many people find it extremely helpful to take their prayer and worship time out of the "box" of trying to focus, attend and be still (bow your head, close your eyes and fold your hands), and move prayer to a place that involves more heart and body. This may not be how you pray from now on, but perhaps there may be seasons in your journey with God where it is powerful and helpful. Perhaps there is an invitation from God in this spiritual practice as you move into 2022?
Your body holds both a lot of information and an enormous amount of emotion. Have you ever thought about "listening" to your body in regards to your relationship with God? God did not make us disembodied spirits. We are formed and made in material bodies that come form the dust of the earth. Just as we are able to communicate to God with our hearts and minds (notice how even the language is physical), we are able to reach out to God with and through our bodies. It is how we experience beauty, love, joy and peace. As you consider your life, your temperament and your personality, you might find you are more of an "embodiment" (tactile, movement) type person. If so, the Embodiment Prayer/Worship practice might be a holy pathway to connecting with God. Does this resonate with you? Have you ever thought about making movement into prayer?
Most people find it helpful to begin with some form of deep breathing and noticing, committing the time to the Lord's purposes. Common is what is known as a "body check in" (bringing attention from head to feet, checking in at each space and listening and noticing), then commencing with prayer. The actual practice of embodiment prayer can look many, many ways. Below are a few ideas:
Take a walk. How might you think of this time as a "pilgrimage" with Jesus?
Intentionally notice your senses (this can even be done the same time as a walk if helpful), noticing what you see, smell, taste, touch, etc. and turning it into prayer and sharing with God whatever bubbles to the surface. Many people find this practice also helpful with Scripture reading. You can enter into the scripture reading and notice what it might smell like, look like, etc. It is often particularly helpful to place yourself into the story and then notice all your senses within the story (A good place to begin is in the gospels).
Hold a cross, light a candle, look at a special art piece as you spend some time talking and listening with the Lord;
Consider a different body position for prayer: laying on the floor, kneeling, bowing, etc.
Create something in an attitude of prayer. Some examples: cooking, drawing, gardening, music.
PRACTICE: BREATH PRAYER: We make the command to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17, KJV) more difficult and mysterious than it needs to be. Perhaps it’s a simple matter of making prayer the “main business of our lives,“ a phrase Richard Foster uses in Celebration of Discipline (probably the "Bible" of spiritual disciplines). When prayer becomes a major life activity, we experience what it means to offer a sacrifice of praise to God continually (Heb. 13:15), devote ourselves to prayer” (Col. 4:2), and pray “in the Spirit on all occasions” (Eph. 6:18). Our perpetual self-talk — the chatter in our head as we commute, prepare sandwiches, or do exercises — can be transformed into a continual conversation with God. More intimacy with Jesus will most certainly occur as you weave conversations with Him in and around your every day life and schedule. If it seems you run out of things to say, someone or something will come in front of you, and you have your new prayer topic! A lot about this practice is noticing and paying attention. Who is in your presence? What emotions are you noticing? Where are you going? Is there a way to turn the situation into a breath prayer?
Offering breath prayer is a way to slowly transform self-talk and attitude. There is a lot we are not in control of (have you noticed that?). Breath prayers helps us - in the long run - be more focused on God than on ourselves and our situations. Perhaps it would be helpful to notice what is going on (ex: I am nervous about my upcoming surgery) followed by a simple: "Lord, I lay this at the cross" or "I commit this into your hands." It is a way that helps us become less willful and more willing. Surrendering more to God and less to fear.
Many people use an ancient breath prayer known as "The Jesus Prayer." It is a prayer found many places in scripture, "Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me." The pray-er of the Jesus Prayer cries out to God in a continuous manner.....just like blind Bartimaeus (and others) in scripture. A number of elements in Christian tradition encourage the practice of speaking a word or phrase repetitively. Such as the Lord's Prayer. Or the Psalms. Or the Jesus prayer. This type of practice, if performed in an attitude of prayer as opposed to a mechanical repetition with little awareness of the content, develops the skill of contemplative and quiet concentration and focus on a single point. That single point is the God of the universe. When that becomes your focus, your life is transformed.
To those of us who have spent our energies reciting long lists of prayer requests, breath prayers may seem simple and infantile, but they aren’t. Breath prayers are so simple that they’re revolutionary. They can be transformational and life altering. Is there an invitation for you in this spiritual discipline?
PRACTICE: JOURNALING. "In the practice of journaling, we build a bridge between two worlds - the world of God's Word and the world of our words - in an attempt to communicate to ourselves and others that which God would have us hear and know" (Daniel Wolpert). Through journaling, you can share experiences from prayer or Bible study, Lectio, or track what you notice in every day life. Writing can also stand on its own as a way of encountering God because it cultivates both listening and noticing - two keys to a prayer life. As we attempt to journal experiences of the Holy, we enter into that silence from which God speaks.
There are many ways to use writing as prayer so try what resonates with you! Two methods many people find helpful are presented here:
1) Basic journaling with the focus not merely on events of the day but on your relationship with God. Then wait and listen. Be open to what God may say into your heart, mind and soul. Do not second guess what God might say or might not say. And be aware that what you hear and write might very well feel like your own words and questions. Take a step of faith and trust a conversation is taking place! Remember to remind God and yourself of your intention to hear and listen for God.
2) If open-ended journaling seems too vague, you may find a specific technique to be more helpful. Draw a line down the center of the paper. The left column will hold your thoughts and comments. The column on the right will hold God's. You are the scribe for both. Begin the conversation with a thought, a question, a desire or a reflection you wish to bring to God. Then listen for impressions, replies, reactions, etc. and write it down in God's column. This may sound awkward, but as you have an attitude of listening and silence, along with an intention directed toward God, you will begin to have better discernment and know some of the replies are from "beyond yourself." As you place yourself at GOD'S disposal, you are able to hear and sense the voice of the Shepherd. "My sheep know my voice" (John 10:27).