Lean In
As a Christian, I am so thankful for Easter. I am thankful that my God rose out of the grave and is constantly working on my behalf. Going into Easter this year, I read through the book 40 Days of Decrease by Alicia Britt Chloe. I typically don’t read a lot of devotional books during my quiet time, but I wanted to be more intentional this Lent in preparing my heart and my mind for all the suffering and celebration Easter holds.
In the book, Alicia breaks down the events and moments leading to the resurrection - from the Last Supper to Jesus’ ascension to Heaven. And her challenge was not to fast one thing for 40 days, rather fasting different aspects of our lives like self-confidence, regrets, speeding past sorrow, and denial, just to name a few.
John 3:30 CSB
“He must increase, but I must decrease.””
What I loved most about her devotional book was that it included a small scripture reading every day (except Sundays). I've read through the Gospels many times, particularly the accounts of Jesus' last days and weeks with the disciples. However, I often find myself glossing over the details and missing the small moments that contribute to the bigger moments.
Last year, as I read through the Bible, I made a conscious effort to do more than just read the words on the page. I took time to consider all the details of the stories that aren't explicitly mentioned in the text. Without taking God's Word out of context, I found myself wondering how Peter might have reacted when Jesus predicted what would happen later in his life. After all, every person in the Bible, including Jesus, was human. Just because we don't have a written record of an event doesn't mean someone didn't have a reaction.
The Bible reading from "40 Days of Decrease" typically consisted of around ten verses, which encouraged me to pause and reflect on everything that was happening in that moment.
— Why did Jesus converse back and forth with Pilate, but then was silent until Pilate tried to exert his authority? (John 18:33-38 and 19:8-11)
— Why did the soldiers at the cross want Jesus’ clothes? Weren’t they bloody and marred from the torture Jesus endured before He went to the cross? (John 19:23-24)
— Why did Jesus appear to the disciples the first time when Thomas wasn’t there? Why didn’t He wait until everyone was there? And was the only reason He returned the second time for Thomas’ benefit? Was it to reveal the fragility of Thomas’ belief, that he had to SEE himself rather than just trust what his friends, the other disciples, told him? (John 20:19-20 and 20:24-29)
Again, I’m not questioning the validity of Scripture or trying to add anything to it. But if we simply read the words on the page, we can miss all God is trying to teach us in the moment.
This is where the Holy Spirit comes in. Yes, there are historical documents and theologians that can provide insight from their many hours and hours of research, but it’s only the Holy Spirit that can provide the revelation or rhema word of God that can speak to our situation, bringing clarity, hope, wisdom, and a promise of God’s provision. The Holy Spirit has not audibly spoken to me, but I have felt His impressions on my heart and in my mind. When they line up with God’s Word, I know I have heard from Him.
John 14:26 CSB
“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.”
1 Corinthians 2:12-13 CSB
“Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.”
John 16:12-14 CSB
““I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.”
The Holy Spirit is an interpreter of God’s Word for us. When something doesn’t make sense, we can ask for clarity!
Jeremiah 6:16 CSB
“This is what the Lord says: Stand by the roadways and look. Ask about the ancient paths, “Which is the way to what is good?” Then take it and find rest for yourselves. But they protested, “We won’t!””
There were so many times God gave clear direction, but the Israelites would not listen and they typically paid dearly for it! They didn’t have the Holy Spirit available to them like we do today. God had to make it pretty clear what they needed to do. Today, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit that can whisper in our ear at any moment!
Isaiah 30:21 NLT
“…Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.”
There have been many times someone has come to mind, and I’ve wondered how they are doing. For a while, I ignored it and just thought it was me. Then one time, I actually stopped and sent that person a message, and they responded that they were touched that I reached out to them. That moment helped me lean into the small moments in my day and to stop, listen, and obey when I feel a small nudge. Do I do it every time? No, unfortunately not, but I do try to lean in more often than not.
JOURNAL: Have you felt nudges or impressions to do something? What did you do in that moment? What do you think would happen if you followed through the next time it happens?
1 Kings 19:11-12 NLT
““Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.”
There will be moments in our lives when God does obvious things to get our attention, but He loves when we pay attention to the still small voice that requires us to turn down the noise of everything else so we can hear Him. Lean in to those moments and watch God work!
PRAYER: God, thank You for sending Your Son to earth as a child, only to grow up and suffer humiliation and pain and ultimately death. I’m so thankful He didn’t stay that way. We worship a risen Savior that loves and cares about us! And because He returned to Heaven, we now have the gift of the Holy Spirit. Help me to stop and listen when He speaks - either in nudges or impressions I sense throughout my day. Help me turn down the noise of the world and myself so I can hear Him speak and follow through on it. Thank You for everything You’ve done in the past, everything You’re doing now, and everything You will do in the future! In Jesus’ name, Amen
In the book, Alicia breaks down the events and moments leading to the resurrection - from the Last Supper to Jesus’ ascension to Heaven. And her challenge was not to fast one thing for 40 days, rather fasting different aspects of our lives like self-confidence, regrets, speeding past sorrow, and denial, just to name a few.
John 3:30 CSB
“He must increase, but I must decrease.””
What I loved most about her devotional book was that it included a small scripture reading every day (except Sundays). I've read through the Gospels many times, particularly the accounts of Jesus' last days and weeks with the disciples. However, I often find myself glossing over the details and missing the small moments that contribute to the bigger moments.
Last year, as I read through the Bible, I made a conscious effort to do more than just read the words on the page. I took time to consider all the details of the stories that aren't explicitly mentioned in the text. Without taking God's Word out of context, I found myself wondering how Peter might have reacted when Jesus predicted what would happen later in his life. After all, every person in the Bible, including Jesus, was human. Just because we don't have a written record of an event doesn't mean someone didn't have a reaction.
The Bible reading from "40 Days of Decrease" typically consisted of around ten verses, which encouraged me to pause and reflect on everything that was happening in that moment.
— Why did Jesus converse back and forth with Pilate, but then was silent until Pilate tried to exert his authority? (John 18:33-38 and 19:8-11)
— Why did the soldiers at the cross want Jesus’ clothes? Weren’t they bloody and marred from the torture Jesus endured before He went to the cross? (John 19:23-24)
— Why did Jesus appear to the disciples the first time when Thomas wasn’t there? Why didn’t He wait until everyone was there? And was the only reason He returned the second time for Thomas’ benefit? Was it to reveal the fragility of Thomas’ belief, that he had to SEE himself rather than just trust what his friends, the other disciples, told him? (John 20:19-20 and 20:24-29)
Again, I’m not questioning the validity of Scripture or trying to add anything to it. But if we simply read the words on the page, we can miss all God is trying to teach us in the moment.
This is where the Holy Spirit comes in. Yes, there are historical documents and theologians that can provide insight from their many hours and hours of research, but it’s only the Holy Spirit that can provide the revelation or rhema word of God that can speak to our situation, bringing clarity, hope, wisdom, and a promise of God’s provision. The Holy Spirit has not audibly spoken to me, but I have felt His impressions on my heart and in my mind. When they line up with God’s Word, I know I have heard from Him.
John 14:26 CSB
“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.”
1 Corinthians 2:12-13 CSB
“Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.”
John 16:12-14 CSB
““I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.”
The Holy Spirit is an interpreter of God’s Word for us. When something doesn’t make sense, we can ask for clarity!
Jeremiah 6:16 CSB
“This is what the Lord says: Stand by the roadways and look. Ask about the ancient paths, “Which is the way to what is good?” Then take it and find rest for yourselves. But they protested, “We won’t!””
There were so many times God gave clear direction, but the Israelites would not listen and they typically paid dearly for it! They didn’t have the Holy Spirit available to them like we do today. God had to make it pretty clear what they needed to do. Today, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit that can whisper in our ear at any moment!
Isaiah 30:21 NLT
“…Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.”
There have been many times someone has come to mind, and I’ve wondered how they are doing. For a while, I ignored it and just thought it was me. Then one time, I actually stopped and sent that person a message, and they responded that they were touched that I reached out to them. That moment helped me lean into the small moments in my day and to stop, listen, and obey when I feel a small nudge. Do I do it every time? No, unfortunately not, but I do try to lean in more often than not.
JOURNAL: Have you felt nudges or impressions to do something? What did you do in that moment? What do you think would happen if you followed through the next time it happens?
1 Kings 19:11-12 NLT
““Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.”
There will be moments in our lives when God does obvious things to get our attention, but He loves when we pay attention to the still small voice that requires us to turn down the noise of everything else so we can hear Him. Lean in to those moments and watch God work!
PRAYER: God, thank You for sending Your Son to earth as a child, only to grow up and suffer humiliation and pain and ultimately death. I’m so thankful He didn’t stay that way. We worship a risen Savior that loves and cares about us! And because He returned to Heaven, we now have the gift of the Holy Spirit. Help me to stop and listen when He speaks - either in nudges or impressions I sense throughout my day. Help me turn down the noise of the world and myself so I can hear Him speak and follow through on it. Thank You for everything You’ve done in the past, everything You’re doing now, and everything You will do in the future! In Jesus’ name, Amen
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2 Comments
Good word, thanks!
Good