Settle Your Soul (Part 2): Stirred by God's Spirit
Photo Courtesy of Keegan Houser
Stir
What has you stirred up right now?
It could be an exhaustive list of ongoing challenges. Or maybe there’s one glaring issue in particular that comes to mind. Now consider for a moment, the way you’ve been “thinking about” whatever it is you’re dealing with. And ask yourself—
Is that from God?
2 Timothy 1:7 tells us that God’s Spirit fills our minds with “power, love, and sound thinking”. Meaning every anxious thought that attempts to erode your sense of peace, is certainly not from Him.
God knows this toxic and polluted thinking doesn’t just go away on its’ own. Which is why He invites you to“cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7, BSB). When we cast our cares on Him, we become an empty vessel for God.
We create space for His Spirit of Truth to fill us, to“stir us”. This “stirring” is a powerful term found in the original Greek language. It’s defined as an awakening of the mind. It’s used to describe the power of the sea rising up.
God’s Spirit wants to awaken you with a new mindset. His desire is to empower you to rise above all that’s plaguing your heart & mind. Our God wants to stir in you—
a renewed spirit.
THE DISTRACTED HEART
A distracted heart is one of the most deceitful states to be in. You can be incredibly close to Jesus & still end up sidetracked. Luke 10:38 (NIV) records such an instance:
“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.”
In her frustration, Martha voices her displeasure about the situation. To which Jesus replies:
“…My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Martha wasn’t doing the wrong things, she was doing things in the wrong order. Her priority, like ours, should start at the feet of Jesus.
...“What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice…”
If you find yourself feeling as if “everything is important”, let God’s Spirit remind you of the few things that truly are. Make your way back to your first love. Devote yourself entirely to listening to Jesus, before & above all else.
There are times in life when we don’t always know what to do. But we do know the One we should turn to—
it’s always jesus.
THE PARALYZED HEART
There’s a “fight or flight” response that kicks-in when we experience extreme moments of distress. But what happens when the daily tension of life compounds little-by-little, day after day? Often times, we simply shut down.
critical moments tell us a lot about ourselves.
In 2 Peter 1:12 (ESV), we find the Apostle Peter at a critical point in his life. He acknowledges that his own death is imminent & that the Spirit of Jesus confirms this reality. Knowing that death is knocking on his door, what does Peter do? He preaches.
“…I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon…”
He continues to point people to Jesus. He emphasizes the divine power & qualities that we possess as Christ-followers. He “stirs us by way of reminder”—
To live in the fullness of our God-Given identity.
“But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.”
When the going gets tough, by God’s Grace, we keep going. We don’t shrink back & become paralyzed because that’s not in our new nature. We are enduring people, equipped by God Himself.
Realize there are spiritually thirsty people out there, who desperately need the living water of Christ. Recognize your capacity to reach others in your own God-given uniqueness. And respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit in meeting those needs.
“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well.
If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”
God’s great awakening
God wants you to be awakened to the importance of listening to His voice. To be awakened to the needs of His people. And most importantly, He wants you to know what you mean to Him.
No matter where you are in your faith, God has an undying love for you. It’s this very love that stirs within the deepest level of our hearts. May the prayer of the Apostle Paul bless you & lead you into God’s Great Love:
“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully.
Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”
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today’s Takeaways
Anxiety is from the enemy; God wants what’s best for me.
Live in the fullness of your god-Given identity.
God’s love for you is beyond understanding.