{"id":4023,"date":"2022-07-23T10:13:46","date_gmt":"2022-07-23T14:13:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=4023"},"modified":"2023-02-27T22:29:22","modified_gmt":"2023-02-28T03:29:22","slug":"kept-day-and-night-even-when-we-feel-unprotected-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-3-2-3-3-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=4023","title":{"rendered":"Discipleship Rhythms: In the Flow of God’s Spirit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Remaining in the Flow of God’s Spirit<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Ezekiel 47:\u00a0 <\/em><\/strong>1<\/sup><\/em><\/strong>Then he brought me back to the\u00a0door of the house; and behold,\u00a0water was flowing from under the threshold of the house toward the east, for the house faced east. And the water was flowing down from under, from the right side of the house, from south of the altar. 12 <\/sup><\/strong>By the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all\u00a0kinds of\u00a0trees for food. Their\u00a0leaves will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their\u00a0leaves for healing (NASB).<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Story<\/h2>\n

A two-branch creek runs in front of and behind the barn in our back yard. During heavy rains, debris, mostly dead branches and leaves, but sometimes trash, impedes the flow of water.<\/p>\n

These deterrents in the stream remind me of how my soul can get clogged up. So much of the world’s happenings can hamper my focus on Jesus. He tells us that, when we come to Him, Rivers of Living Water (His Holy Spirit) will flow from within us. [1] When I focus on the debris, and not Jesus, the source of the River, my life gets clogged up and I become stagnant.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0Four years ago, a young friend asked me to help him remain in the flow of God\u2019s Holy Spirit. I was somewhat taken aback that he would ask me, but I agreed to walk with him and share what I\u2019ve learned about abiding. In the years since, we\u2019ve both learned so much about staying in Jesus’ flow within us. It\u2019s amazing how our relationships with God can exponentially deepen when we share our struggles and insights with another.<\/p>\n

Following are a few principles we’re turning into life rhythms.<\/p>\n

Abiding in the Flow<\/h3>\n

\u00a0Free the Debris<\/h4>\n

John Eldredge has produced a very useful tool called the One Minute Pause<\/em> App. I\u2019ve been using it to take vital steps toward remaining in the River of God. The app encourages us to free the debris in our souls by regularly giving everyone and everything to God.<\/p>\n

This practice, called benevolent detachment, keeps the worldly distractions out of our hearts and gives us soul space.<\/p>\n

This clearing out of the debris, which obscures the flow of God\u2019s Spirit, refocuses our minds, will and emotions on Him and not the complexities and tragedies of life.<\/p>\n

It’s amazing how regularly surrendering our wills, and trusting in God and His will, keeps our souls in peace and joy. Refocusing on God’s eternal purposes, above the fray of the day, keeps us hopeful, no matter what troubles we face.<\/p>\n

Be Nourished by God\u2019s Flowing River<\/h4>\n

Ezekiel, in the verses above, speaks of water flowing from the temple of God. He writes about many flourishing trees on both sides of the river. These waters bring nutrition to the trees as they provide fruit for food and leaves for healing.<\/p>\n

This reminds me of what David wrote In Psalm 1. He compares men, who walk uprightly and delight themselves on God\u2019s law, to be like trees planted by streams of water. \u00a0<\/p>\n

As we delight in God, and walk in His ways, His Holy Spirit nourishes our souls like nothing else. We were designed for God\u2019s River to flow freely though us, filling us with His joy and love. His flow satiates our soul to complete satisfaction. As we delight in Him, luscious fruit is produced, healthy green leaves flourish and eternal prosperity marks our lives.<\/p>\n

Abiding in the river of the flow of God\u2019s Spirit directs us into His design for our lives. As this happens, God more and more becomes our Joy and Delight, the Sustainer of our Souls.<\/p>\n

Be a Blessing<\/h3>\n

Since, while traveling in the flow of God\u2019s Rivers of Living Water, love, joy and kindness are produced, we become a natural blessing to others, even if we don\u2019t realize it. When we\u2019re in the flow, the people around us sense something different. It’s Jesus in us, though they may not realize it.<\/p>\n

Blessing others is a matter of obeying the new command Jesus gave us the night before He was crucified. This is\u00a0My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you (John 15:12<\/strong> NASB).<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

These words summarizes all of Jesus\u2019 commands.\u00a0 As we follow it, the flow of God\u2019s Spirit is super charged.<\/p>\n

Jesus tells us that as we love others as He\u2019s loved us, we will dwell in His love and our joy will be filled to overflowing.[2]<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not big into video games, but I remember the Pac-Man power up. In fact, the way Pac-man was super charged when it ate the power pellets, became the formula for power-ups across gaming to this day. When Pac-Man ate the power pellets, it was super charged to take on all foes.<\/p>\n

But Pac-Man\u2019s power was short lived.\u00a0When we lay aside our own agendas and follow Jesus, by sacrificially loving others, our own love and joy are continually powered up because it’s not ours, it’s His River flowing through us.<\/p>\n

Ours job is simply to ask Jesus, “Who do You want to love through me next?”<\/p>\n

Practice the Rhythm<\/h2>\n

Begin now. Get alone with God and clear out the debris which clogs up the flow of His Spirit in your life. Gain soul space. Have a conversation with God and:<\/p>\n

Cast all your anxiety on him\u00a0because he cares for you (I Peter 5:7<\/strong> NIV).<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Throughout the day, be nourished by God Himself. Enjoy Him and thank Him for all He has created around you. Be vigilant in ensuring that He alone is your Highest Delight.<\/p>\n

Be a blessing. Develop a \u201clove first\u201d look at the day. Rather than focusing on what needs to be done, see your duties as opportunities to bring you to the folks God wants you to love.<\/p>\n

Prayer<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Lord, please<\/em> keep me in the flow of the Living Waters of Your Indwelling Holy Spirit. You designed me to function at full capacity when I\u2019m abiding in You. Show me quickly when the cares of this world have clogged Your flow. Please stop me when I try and do anything apart from You. <\/em><\/p>\n

You alone are my Highest Joy. Please show me quickly if any idol supplants You in my heart. I want to love others as You\u2019ve loved me, but I know this starts with my full knowledge of Your love for me. Show me quickly when I believe lies about Your love. Please direct me to disagree with all falsehoods and agree only with Your truth. I love You Lord. Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n

[1] John 7:37-39<\/p>\n

[2] John 15:11<\/p>\n

Previous posts in our From Duty to Delight Series:<\/span><\/p>\n

Discipleship Rhythms: From Duty to Delight<\/a><\/p>\n

Discipleship Rhythms: Rules don’t Rule Us<\/a><\/p>\n

Please Check out the new Cola City Podcast<\/a> . Discussions that impact the vision of reaching every man, woman, and child.<\/p>\n

Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God\u2019s nearness in the midst of life\u2019s adventures.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Subscribe below to get email notifications of new posts. We post a few times a month. Thank you for reading.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>Novels by the Author:<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Rob Buck<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What happens when a professor figures out how to send messages to his younger self to try and avoid the suicide of his best friend? Did he change more than he bargained for?\u00a0\u00a0Beyond Time<\/a><\/p>\n

By finding two undelivered letters in a old shack deep in the woods, Cassie and Daniel unknowing set off a series of events which uncover a plot to wipe out a whole family\u00a0Hope Remains<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Story<\/p>\n

A two-branch creek runs in front of and behind the barn in our back yard. During heavy rains, debris, mostly dead branches and leaves, but sometimes trash, impedes the flow of water.<\/p>\n

These deterrents in the stream remind me of how my soul can get clogged up. So much of the world’s happenings can hamper my focus on Jesus. He tells us that, when we come to Him, Rivers of Living Water (His Holy Spirit) will flow from within us. [1] When I focus on the debris, and not Jesus, the source of the River, my life gets clogged up and I become stagnant.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0Four years ago, a young friend asked me to help him remain in the flow of God\u2019s Holy Spirit. I was somewhat taken aback that he would ask me, but I agreed to walk with him and share what I\u2019ve learned about abiding. In the years since, we\u2019ve both learned so much about staying in Jesus’ flow within us. It\u2019s amazing how our relationships with God can exponentially deepen when we share our struggles and insights with another.<\/p>\n

Following are a few principles we’re turning into life rhythms.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4027,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2120,2564],"tags":[41,2546,1789,890,1417,1866,2545,2541,2554,2540,1445,2539,616,873,2489,1105,2551,2537,2538,1160,47,408,2048,430,2561,18,2562,97,214,555,196,510,189,134,2513,2543,7,656,99,2563,2555,2548,2550,2565,2559,2544,1227,2560,350,2144,573,19,1938,2558,2547,2542,2552,2556,2557,1510,262,2154,1034,2549],"class_list":["post-4023","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abiding","category-releasing-the-debris","tag-abide","tag-abiding-in-the-river-flow","tag-abiding-in-the-vine","tag-abiding-love","tag-be-a-blessing","tag-being-loved-by-god","tag-benevolent-detaachment","tag-clogged","tag-complete-satisfaction","tag-creek","tag-david","tag-debris","tag-delight","tag-delight-in-god","tag-discipleship-rhythms","tag-emotions","tag-ezekiel","tag-ezekiel-471","tag-ezekiel-4712","tag-flow-of-the-holy-spirit","tag-fruit","tag-fruit-of-the-spirit","tag-fruitful","tag-galatians-221","tag-get-alone-with-god","tag-holy-spirit","tag-i-peter-57","tag-indwelling-christ","tag-indwelling-holy-spirit","tag-indwelling-presence","tag-indwelling-spirit","tag-jesus-christ","tag-john-1512","tag-john-155","tag-john-737-39","tag-john-eldredge","tag-joy","tag-living-waters","tag-love","tag-love-first","tag-luscious-fruit","tag-mind","tag-nourished","tag-one-minute-pause","tag-pac-man","tag-pause-app","tag-power-of-god","tag-power-up","tag-psalm-1","tag-rhythms","tag-river-of-god","tag-rivers-of-living-water","tag-satisfied-with-christ","tag-sense-of-jesus","tag-soul-space","tag-stagnant","tag-streams-of-water","tag-sustainer","tag-sustainer-of-our-souls","tag-sustaining-joy","tag-time-alone","tag-trees","tag-video-games","tag-will"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4023","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4023"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4023\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4609,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4023\/revisions\/4609"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4027"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4023"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4023"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4023"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}