In recent weeks, I’ve been contacted by a number of friends and readers who’ve been going through some struggles in their Walk, and who were seeking perspective and encouragement. And while I’m always happy to bring Your Message of Hope to the table Father, it did get me to thinking about ways that we can strengthen and temper our Faith in times of trial…
Stillness Sabbaticals
As we discussed a couple weeks ago Father, I’ve found that one of my most effective methods for communing with You is to block off some time, find a very quiet spot, and simply focus on Your Presence. We live in an exceptionally “noisy” world, and with a seemingly constant deluge of activity and information surrounding us, Your Voice can sometimes be more difficult to distinguish in the chaos. Whether it’s to spend time with Scripture or simply to pray in silence for guidance, that respite from the auditory onslaught can become a powerful, spiritual time. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10)
Songs of Praise
Music has a way of reaching into us and touching places that few other things in our lives can. One of the best tools I’ve found for helping to keep my focus on You is listening to the positive and encouraging messages contained in Contemporary Christian Music. Be it listening in the car on my way to work, playing it in the background while making dinner, or streaming it from my iPod while mowing the lawn, today’s talented Christian artists bring the Joy of Christ to my heart every time I listen. “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.” (Psalm 40:3)
Scriptural Mortar
Without question Father, the Bible is the most important book ever written. Through Your Divine Inspiration to those penmen, You’ve Blessed us with the ultimate “Instruction Manual” for our journey while here on Earth. It contains a treasure trove of wisdom, encouragement and rules to live our lives by so as to grow in Your Kingdom. One of the most powerful and compelling ways to nourish our Faith and bring our Walk closer to Christ, is to spend time absorbing Your Word and praying on It’s messages. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
Fellowship
One of our best sources of encouragement, enlightenment and inspiration can be found in the interactions we have with our fellow Christians. Whether it’s spending time together in worship and study at Church, or conversing with other Believers across the globe via the Internet, the support and assistance of Your Followers are wonderful resources to help steady us in our spiritual journey. “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 10:24-25)
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your continued and faithful Presence in our lives each day. Please help focus our hearts to best receive You, and to support others in their Walk as well. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, and strengthen our resolve to live for Your Kingdom instead of focusing on the chaos around us. Amen.
Once again Lord, we come to the beginning of another work-week. It was a harried but enjoyable weekend, with much time spent in the company of family and good friends. Any lack of sleep incurred was more than balanced by the joy of being surrounded by those I love. As I’ve said many times before Father, I am truly Blessed and I thank You.
Today’s Meditations Monday Scripture selection comes from the Gospel of Matthew. As You know, I’ve been praying quite a bit as of late on new ways to reach out and share Your Love with others, and on expanding this ministry to serve those in need more extensively. It seemed appropriate therefore, to focus my thoughts and prayers today on one of Jesus’ most fundamental teachings:
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
Such a significant directive You’ve placed on us Lord! The Light of Your Holy Spirit isn’t for private consumption, to be hidden and contained in silence waiting for others to notice it. Instead, as followers of Christ we’re led to make our joy manifest through actions that glorify Your Presence in us. Service to Your Children is worship in practice, and brings our Walk closer to You in the process.
Heavenly Father, we give You thanks and praise for Your unwavering commitment to Your Children each day. Please fill us with Your Spirit, and embolden us to go forth and share Your Light with others. Strip away from us our selfish natures, and lead us to reach out in love and mercy to those in need. Make us beacons of Your Influence, and guide us to endeavors that best glorify Your Holy Name. Amen.
And once again Lord, we stand at the conclusion to yet another work-week. The weekend ahead is poised to be a busy one, but one where much of our time will be spent in the company of good friends and family, so I’m very much looking forward to it. You’ve Blessed us immeasurably through the souls You’ve brought into our lives, and we relish these times with them.
On my way in to work this morning, I was listening to the local Contemporary Christian radio station when a song came on that I hadn’t heard before. As the music played I found myself inspired by the lyrics, so when I reached the office I spent some time researching the song’s origins. As it turns out, although I hadn’t heard it before the song was part of an album released in 2005 by Paul Colman called “Let it Go”, and is entitled “The One Thing”.
What a great song.
But the one thing I don’t question is You
You really love me like You say You do
We question so many things in our lives Lord, but as long as we cling firmly to the knowledge that You love us unconditionally, all those other concerns pale in importance. 🙂
Heavenly Father, I thank You for the Blessings You’ve bestowed on us this past week. Please continue to guide our motivations and actions to best glorify Your Will, and stir us to act as Your Hands and Feet so that all those around us can’t help but see Your Love. Amen.
Over the last few years Lord, I’ve been “hearing” more and more from You in my daily life and I have to tell You, it’s been a transformational change for me. While I know through Scripture and Faith that You’ve always been with me and always will be, as my Walk has progressed and I’ve learned to “listen” more carefully, I find Your Voice in almost every part of my day.
You speak to me through…
The wave of comfort and peace I get when I reach out to You in prayer.
The quick inner “watch it!” scolding I get after doing something that isn’t in line with Christ’s teachings (eg. Letting loose a nasty comment when someone cuts me off in traffic).
The warm feeling that crosses my heart when I see my children do things that Glorify You.
The quiet urgings I receive each day to step “outside my box”.
The song that plays on the local Christian radio station which delivers a message I need to hear, exactly when I need to hear it.
Feeling Your Presence whisper through the trees when I take long walks in the forest.
The “Spiritual Nudges” you give me to reach out and share Your Love.
And many others…
Heavenly Father, You speak to me in so many wonderful ways and I delight in continuing to discover new ones. As our steps grow closer, I pray that I’m able to hear Your Voice above all other sounds and make decisions that Glorify the Blessings You bestow on me.
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” – John 10:27 (NIV)
To start our week’s conversations Lord, I want to thank You for yet another wonderful weekend. From the “Dinner and Drinks on the Deck” get-together we hosted Friday night, to a relaxing day with good friends on Saturday, and concluded by an inspiring church service and day with my family on Sunday, it was a lovely couple days respite. Thank You so much for those Blessings!
Today Father, I’m beginning a new weekly post which I’m calling “Meditations Monday”. The concept for this recurring theme is to pick a passage in Scripture each week, and then to focus my thoughts and prayers on that particular piece of Biblical wisdom and inspiration. I love the idea of anchoring the week’s conversation in “Scriptural Mortar”, and I’m excited to see where this initiative will take us.
As yesterday was the celebration of Pentecost Father, it seems only fitting that for our first Meditations Monday the verses of focus be taken from the second chapter of Acts, which describe the Descending of Your Holy Spirit on the Apostles of Christ:
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.” – Acts 2:1-6 (NIV)
This was a staggering Gift Lord, and one that continues to define our spiritual existence as Christians today. In that moment of transformation, You Blessed us with access to the most invasive and encompassing relationship with You that our mortal shells can have.
Heavenly Father, we give thanks and praise for this most remarkable and Holy Gift. I pray that we all take this time to search deep inside our hearts and dwell in that Divine Connection to You. Please guide my motivations and actions to best serve Your Will, and make my witness of Your Works effective in sharing that Grace with others. Amen.
Hi, I’m Phil Malmstrom, a.k.a. Phather Phil. I’m self-employed, father of two wonderful young men, an ordained minister who delights in spreading Jesus’ Message of Hope and Love, a science-fiction junkie, an aspiring photographer and above all that one of God’s Children who rejoices in His Blessings each day.
Hi, I’m Phil Malmstrom, a.k.a. Phather Phil. I’m self-employed, father of two wonderful young men, an ordained minister who delights in spreading Jesus’ Message of Hope and Love, a science-fiction junkie, an aspiring photographer and above all that one of God’s Children who rejoices in His Blessings each day. 
