Spiritual Fitness & Living With Chronic Pain

If you want to be free and continue to remain free with your life, it is imperative that you make “free” decisions regarding how you live. What I’m speaking about is this. Regardless of pain or encumbrances or anything else, once you’re set free from sin because of Jesus, you are free to live your new life of faith. However, not all is peachy-keen after you’ve been set free.

Everything about this world tries to lure you back into your old ways of living. These attachments abruptly scream at your soul to return to its familiarity of security, safety and comfort. But in reality, if you return to your familiar habits, this is when “free” decisions become tossed aside for easier and lesser choices. Commonly, these types of choices migrate toward the path of least resistance. Simply put, this is not how you make “free” decisions for your life.

Being newly-formed to live under freedom requires obedience and consistency of faith. In a sense, “free” decisions are spiritual ones, which typically do not match up with the idea of living under something less structured, or less principled or something that seems easier in the scheme of life’s twisted complexities.

When you’re free, in actuality, you’ve become a slave to God. While His promised rewards are unfathomable, your current lifestyle, from a practical point of view, will not feel either stable or secure. The idea of freedom and security become anchored when you fully place your trust in God. And to do this, concepts of being obedient to His grace and never doubting His faithfulness are but a few steps in your sojourn toward absolute stability among the uncertainties and vulnerabilities of this age.

Keep me on your favorites.  For more about living with chronic pain and spiritual fitness visit me at www.gordonselley.com.

Yesterday afternoon I found myself standing bedside over an unconscious sixteen year old girl who had suffered brutal head injuries as a result of an automobile accident. Also present in the hospital room stood her distressed mother, as well as a supportive older sister to the mother. This young girl’s prognosis is rather grim, as substantiated by an abnormal EEG of her brain. Decisions about when to “turn off” her life support are seriously being discussed.

As I intently stared into this girl’s lifeless face, her mother slowly began to unfold the heart-wrenching pain from her heart. The nature of unexpected tragedies and the self-probing questions about the will of God inevitably came to the surface.

Lack of time and awkwardness prevent the deeper theological questions to get clearly explained during this type of gathering. Frankly, it’s too late to communicate some of the realities about God to someone who is literally “brain-dead.” Regarding the mother, I’m sure her pain blocked many of my words, regardless of value, from actually being heard. There was apparently much brokenness still unresolved between the dying girl and her mother.

It’s definitely a sobering reminder about the brevity of life. Regardless of one’s pursuits, they are relatively insignificant in view of the short time we have to live. We tend to meander among the distractions from holiness, leading us waywardly into futile endeavors.

My experience yesterday left a few impressions to ponder. First, we must put our hope in the one true God, being willing to live a life pleasing for Him. And second, God gives us the power of forgiveness through His grace. This power of forgiveness will free all who believe from the guilt and shame of relational infractions. As a result, the ability to love, even the unlovable, occurs because of the love of God within us. He redeems and changes us into something new; however, this only happens before we have crossed from life onto death.

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The difficulties of these times have raised the eyebrows of many, ranging from the agnostics (believing in a higher power, but not Jesus) to those of different religions to those of the Christian faith.

Regardless, I believe our nation is currently experiencing the judgment of God because we’ve deliberately turned our backs from Him. The judgment of God leads us back to love. Its purpose is not to be used exclusively as a disciplinary measure propagating moral purity. But rather, God is concerned more about our faith in Him than anything else.

Taking the first steps back to Him include repentance, then walking in belief of God. It has been prophesied in scripture that in the last days God’s glory will fill the entire earth. Just for your information, it has already been poured out from heaven through the death and resurrection life of Jesus. By His love, His Spirit dwells within us, purifying the very heart of our souls.

In summation, if we make ourselves an instrument of righteousness and allow the Holy Spirit to flow from us, then the world will be filled with His glory. That is God’s plan during these times of difficulty – for a Flood of Righteousness to spread among all peoples of all religions. God is the ultimate answer for sin, pain and destruction.

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To participate in this new way of living that I’ve regularly talked about throughout this site, simply…you have to do one thing to experience the richness of spiritual conversion. You must begin with faith. Really…Begin today.

Commonly, many people who proclaim having a belief in Christ, then casually sit on the sidelines waiting to see what to do next.  As a result, they rarely end up accomplishing anything substantial with their lives. The idea about living a new life of faith seems to remain in the idea stage.

This new life I’m referring to applies to the kingdom of God. To live in it, through it, and for it, you have to take a step of faith to begin the process. Waiting for explicit instructions or having blueprints about the risks of living by faith aren’t available to anyone of us. To live by faith is to trust an invisible God who changes you into something new and gives you the ultimate gift of love. It’s eternal, though we still live within the restrictive thoughts of this current life.

If you feel prompted to make real changes with your life, it’s no coincidence. You’re probably being inspired by God to enter into His loving presence. All it takes from you is faith. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1, NASB).

Keep me on your favorites.  For more about living with chronic pain and spiritual fitness visit me at www.gordonselley.com.

To find this place where the image of God resides within us takes some time to discover. We neither find His image by simple inquiry through prayer nor by one’s own attainment of self-actualization. Rather, the discovery of the image of God profoundly occurs once we find out who we really are. In other words, once we find our true self, then we can acknowledge the presence of God within us.

This process of self-discovery does not occur on the basis of human virtue or moral accomplishment. On the contrary, to discover the image of God, we must allow the action of His grace to create our spiritual identity and thus, our ability to grow into His image. I consider this a “likening” process, also known as sanctification, which is carried out by the love of God. As we’re identified with the Spirit of God, our newfound spiritual consciousness further connects us with the vitality of His living Image. This “likening” process practically helps to rid our old self into our new spirit given to us by grace.

Here’s the point…The newness of who we are shows us the truth about the Image about God.

Keep me on your favorites.  For more about living with chronic pain and spiritual fitness visit me at www.gordonselley.com.

Last night I had spent time with God, listening to some music and reading through a few verses. Cherise was feeling kind of lonely upstairs, so she came downstairs to join me, laying her head on my lap while soaking in some quiet time as well.

I couldn’t help but to think about the “image” of God during our peaceful moments together. Without saying anything to each other, it was as if God was speaking loudly to both of us. Neither of us exchanged any verbal communication, though we knew that our brief time together was something special, filled with tranquility and permission to simply let go of the problems of the day.

I believe both of our souls meditated on the “image” of God, allowing Him to nourish the anxieties of our hearts. Down deep in the soul is where we can experience the image of God vividly alive. Because His image literally communicates a spiritual experience with us through our soulful senses, our renewed thinking, and how we interact in love with others. This was so beautifully demonstrated between my wife and me. There was no effort involved on our parts to express anything relevant, except to allow His image of Spirit to create the fulfillment of our spiritual experience.

Entering into His rest stimulates the reality of His image in our souls. It’s a place of movement against the crustiness of the worldly things in our hearts, similar to how the ocean water slams itself against the rocks just off of the beach shoreline. The salt water cleanses, purifies, washes and reforms the coastline appropriately. The true image of God vibrantly does the same for the inner world of man.

Keep me on your favorites.  For more about living with chronic pain and spiritual fitness visit me at www.gordonselley.com.

“Heavenly Father…

I call you by the strength and stability of Your name today…Throughout this weekend I experienced short blasts of fear…Lord, it was like the fear came upon me; I didn’t just create havoc from my own imaginations…’Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a level path because of my foes.  Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries…’I thank you that this walk of faith brings me closer to Your reality…Your voice is truly powerful…When I look into the morning sunrise, I wonder at Your creative beauty.  Since Jake is pondering about You at the beach, I can’t help but to think about how Your voice crosses over the tops of the water.  You’re everywhere, sovereign in Your providence of mankind and creation…Lord, forgive this nation for turning its back on You so flippantly and often.  I personally cry out to You for Your forgiveness of our nation that is stubborn in materialism and power and arrogance…’For there is no authority except from God’…and I pray for wisdom and understanding to penetrate the heart and mind of President Obama…Teach our leadership about righteousness and may Your Spirit guide those who have the authority to make national and international decisions to do so with You as the head…Lord, we’re desperate for You…For those who believe, we long to see Your face…For those who don’t believe…teach all who have been called to evangelism, to speak Your truth in love, abandoning any tone of judgment or self-righteousness…May our hearts be consecrated by the blood of Your grace…In the name of Jesus…Continue to show us mercy and compassion while we sort out this new way to live by faith…I sense today with You that time is drawing near…Continue to guide us in the preparation of Your house…Gird us in Your strength for the final day of salvation…Protect those who are defenseless…And give us discernment by Your Holy Spirit.  It is the desire not to cause anyone to stumble because of our judgmental interpretation of Your Holiness…Thank you for the opportunity to spend time with You, the Holy One…In the name of the Almighty, bless all who desire to pray more and who are willing to fully surrender to You…

May these words be blessed by Your Spirit…Amen…”

Our pains and disappointments are not our final expressions about who we are. We are more than responses to our environments. If we’re angry with someone or express bitterness about unresolved conflict, this does not mean that anger defines our identity. That’s why Jesus commands us not to judge others. While it almost seems natural to discern others by their behaviors, we’re told to refrain from this judgment because it’s not our place to hinder others from discovering their true spiritual identity.

Tough words to live by…Nevertheless, there’s something special to be found within each one of us. Nothing can hinder us from this spiritual birthright, though we oftentimes create barriers to self-discovery because of unforgiveness and hardness of heart.

We’re created as temples for God. Jesus freely gives His Holy Spirit to live within us. And within the core of our being is a transcendent place where very few take time to ever realize the value of sharing with the Holy One. It’s a place where our sins and failures and mistakes do not close the door about having open access with God. In essence, before Him, we’re not fully defined by our reactions to the unfairness of this world. God sees us differently. By His love, He has eyes for us…

I encourage you to discover who you are based on the platform of wholeness rather than on the premise of broken heartedness.

Keep me on your favorites.  For more about living with chronic pain and spiritual fitness visit me at www.gordonselley.com.

If you’re motivated by the pressure to make things right or to always find logical solutions to problems, then I’d like you to consider these few thoughts about newer and better living – the kind of living in which your problems are solved without your total control of every situation.

When wrestling to break certain unhealthy habits or to mend unforgivable wounds, it is imperative not to manipulate the particulars so that certain behavioral outcomes suit your own satisfaction. These personal or relational approaches, whether innate or learned, to solve the humanly unsolvable will bind you to the problem instead of freeing you into the depths of kingdom living.

The action of change occurs when you leave the older, controlling ways for the newer, no matter the struggle. The old code binds you to the law, in which you try to line up everything perfectly for moral approval and hopefully, for love. Yet, the old strategies do not perpetuate an environment for change nor do they facilitate an atmosphere for intimacy.

On the other hand, you can participate in change by becoming more intimate with God. This is how grace practically begins to solve your problems without your notice of its influence. In essence, it’s a matter of passion over pressure. It comes down to the rudimentary parts about trust. If truly desired by you, God will work on your behalf without your daily appraisal regarding the process of change.

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Look around your environment. Typically and almost automatically, your conscious view perceives things by how you feel on the inside. Practically speaking, your inner feelings directly affect how you see things about you. When feeling terrible, people tend to see the darker sides of conflict about them. The chances for light to pour through the cracks are slim when feeling completely depressed and overwhelmed. As a result the vision of hopelessness tends to brush across the canvas of life, shutting out other possibilities of vitality. Good never seems good enough. And bad can seem heavier on the soul than an anvil wrapped around your neck.

If you truly profess belief in Jesus, then your vision about life can change dramatically, as your mind processes things differently. Not everything you see depends on how you feel. Your inner eyesight can reflect the goodness of God without you feeling very well at all.

Let’s think about something that changed my outlook about my outer environment though my inner world acutely expressed painful turmoil. I believe this will also help you to view the reality of the world around you from a fresh and healthy perspective.

When you live in Christ, your own life is not your own. You are an extension of Christ. I’ve got to pause on this thought for a second. Truly contemplate what I’m trying to convey.

You are an extension of Christ, like a branch grafted into the vine, who is Jesus. Hence, everything about your inner world is nourished and transformed by the regenerating love of Christ; and in a sense, making you the “same” as Him because you are united with Him. This sameness is due to His action of uniquely forming Himself within you. Connection and reformation are diligently working on the inner part of your being, so you can see the world differently – specifically from an eternal perspective.

There is a new life awaiting you. It is a life devoted to living for the kingdom of God. Regardless of what’s on the inside, the redemptive power of Christ changes you into something new – in which you will fully see the greatness of this life, despite some unattractiveness found in its outer appearances…

Keep me on your favorites.  For more about living with chronic pain and spiritual fitness visit me at www.gordonselley.com.