I’m fine!

Good morning, cherished one.

How are you today?

No, I mean really, how are you today?

I know you know the socially, western culturally correct response is that you are fine, however, that’s not what we’re about here, in this space.

It’s true of me as well. I get ruffled about something said or something that happened to me or around me. Sometimes I recognize myself overly reacting to a situation that really wasn’t a big deal or possibly wasn’t even about me. Intuitively, I know that something’s stirred up in me and needs some attention.

Usually, though, I think I’m hiding it well. However, my dear man has a way of looking at me that is gentle, but quizzical. It’s a prompt for me to self assess. He sees me, and recognizes that something’s amiss, and so he will carefully ask, “Are you okay?”

The first two or three times he asks, I respond with an irritated, “I’m fine!” And we both know I’m lying to him and to myself. It just takes me awhile to get there. (Here’s the good news: it takes me less time to get there than it used to because I’m working on being honest with him and myself.)

So, it’s time to get real, raw, and honest with yourself and Jesus. How are you really doing today?

Take a moment. Breathe in deep. Let your breath out slowly. Repeat this activity until your shoulders loosen. (Try setting a timer for 3 minutes at first)

And then whisper the thing that first comes to mind. Maybe it’s not what has you tangled up in knots, but a symptom. Let those feelings flow out as you breathe out.

And as you breathe in, receive the truth of God’s word about His true identity. Receive the truth about who He says you are as you are created in His image.

• God is love, so you are loved
• God is advocate, so you are defended
• God is truth, so you are known
• God is just, so you are treated fairly
• God is counselor, so you are understood
• God is shepherd, so you cared for

As you give yourself time to settle, simply admit to Jesus what He already knows is there. Confess it to yourself because you might be surprised at what actually has you tangled up in knots.

His peace meets us in this honest confession. His delight sings over you. And His presence will fill you with an awareness that you are not alone. His goodness is for you, and His truth is transforming you.

And even if your circumstances don’t change immediately, if ever, you are changed by letting God in. Surrender changes perspective. I am changed by my honest surrender of circumstances, and people outside of my control.

Jesus,

Even if _______ doesn’t change, change me.

Thank You.

As you and I become honest with Jesus and ourselves, we become more authentic with the people in our lives. When we become more authentic, our loved ones feel permission to live more authentic. Authenticity and transparency become contagious in our communities, including our churches. Christ is glorified as His light is revealed through us.

This is what we really want, isn’t it?

Let’s pray:

Lord Jesus,

Thank You for who You are: creator, shepherd, counselor, advocate, and lover of your creation. Thank You for being just and kind, merciful and faithful. Thank You for knowing us inside and out, and for loving us in our current state of mind and heart.

Your word says you will never reject us or leave us. You will, however, treat us as sons and daughters. You love us so much that You will discipline us out of Your desire to grow us up. You bind our wounds. You listen to every word and You know every thought. You are not surprised by our humanity. Rather You delight in who You created us to be.

So, Lord Jesus, help us to learn to sit still with You. Help us to learn to be honest with You. Help us to talk to You about everything and to become authentic in Your example. Teach us and help us to keep our eyes on You, and to live honestly before You so that people will see us and recognize You.

Lord Jesus, change me. I want to be more like You.

I love you, Jesus, because You loved me first,

Lisa

Scriptures to ponder with Jesus:

Love:

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭103‬:‭8‬-‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

‬‬Advocate:

“Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend.”
‭‭Job‬ ‭16‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭26‬-‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Just:

“In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.””
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭103‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Shepherd:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭23‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Truth:

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.””
‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Known:

“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭103‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭1‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭139‬:‭13‬-‭16‬ ‭ESV‬‬