Category / Abiding in Jesus

bible verse emphasizing the content of the blog
by Karen Twinem

Love Someone You Don’t Like

Generosity means more than giving money. Sometimes the Lord wants you to give something more precious: your kindness. And not just to your own kind.

Working or volunteering in any type of organization introduces you to some people who rub you the wrong way. They think differently than you do. They vote differently. They are too negative, or too nosy, or too bossy, or too difficult in any of dozens of ways.

And then there’s your family. Yes, your in-laws count. Even the cousins.

However these people behave, you do have one thing in common: Jesus loves all of you. And here’s some tough news: Jesus wants you to be loving toward them.

Now, if a person is violent toward your body or abusive to your soul, Jesus asks you to pray for them and keep your distance. But if the person is merely the most annoying human being you’ve ever met, you need to do more.

Pray About It

Take some time in quiet reflection and prayer. Confess to the Lord your struggles and failures in living out His will with this person. It’s always helpful to ask the Lord if you are so focused on the specks in this person’s eye that you are missing the logs in your own.

Are your thoughts about the person making things worse? Are you the mean person in this relationship? Do you need to ask for forgiveness? If the person is also a Christian, reflect on the big picture of Christian love in this post.

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you exhibit the behavior that Jesus seeks. Can you be just a little more friendly? Can you look for ways to be a peacemaker?

Improved behavior for me often starts with praying for the person and for my own behavior. Then I can watch to see if I:

  • Assume the worst about the person’s intentions.
  • Have an elitist attitude toward the person.
  • Expect to be annoyed.
  • Gossip or complain to others about the person.
  • Wish bad things would happen to the person. Or even good things, if it would get the person out of my life.

When you know you are going to see the person, pray about it. Lift the meeting or the moment up to God and ask Him to bless it.

Once you are together, listen to your automatic thoughts. And deliberately practice friendliness. This does not excuse the person’s bad behavior. It is just being kind.

Think about one thing that you can do for this person that is kind and friendly. And do it. Jesus will smile at you in that moment.

picture of Jesus
by Karen Twinem

Abiding in Jesus Eliminates Anxiety

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:4-5 New International Version (NIV)

Abiding in Jesus ends worry. So how can we remain in Jesus, as other translations say?

Brian Hedges on Christianity.com wrote:  “I believe three things are implied: connection, dependence, and continuance. Don’t think of these as three successive steps, but as three interwoven aspects of abiding.” 

1. Connection

A branch is connected to the vine, and a vine to the branch. This is what theologians call “union with Christ.” This union (or connection) is mutual.

2. Dependence

While the branch and vine are connected, the branch is depends on the vine. The vine is not dependent on the branch. The branch derives its life and power from the vine. As John 15:4-5 says, we are dependent on Jesus for everything that counts as spiritual fruit. Apart from him, we can do nothing.

3. Continuance

Abiding also involves continuance. “Abide” in Greek (meno) means remain, stay, or continue.

How Can This Become Reality Rather Than a DREAM?

I believe the first step is to practice the presence of God.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to You.

James 4:8

Become increasingly aware of God’s presence. This requires developing habits that allow you to feel more connected, dependent and constant in Him. The Bible calls this abiding or walking in the Spirit.

This is something that I have been working on for about 20 years.  At first, it takes trust in God’s power and discipline on my part.  Eventually it becomes easier and easier. God worked with me (even an anxious mess like me!!) to develop an increasingly undivided heart toward Him.

And, as it says in Psalm 16:11, “In your presence, there is fullness of joy.” Joy in the presence of pain and suffering is, indeed, a gift from God.

Do you want more of God in your life? Or does that thought frighten you? We are all in different places. If you’re scared, that’s OK. God loves you. Let me introduce you to a person who abided in God so completely that we still talk about it 400 years later.

Meet Brother Lawrence

Nicholas Herman, born around 1610 in Lorraine, was one of the best-known Christians who practiced the presence of God. Lorraine was then a Duchy of France. A parish priest named Lawrence educated Nicholas, who became well read and very interested in a life with God.

Nicholas fought as a soldier in the Thirty Years War. He sustained a near-fatal injury that left him disabled. He was in chronic pain for the rest of his life.

At mid-life, he entered a newly established monastery in Paris. There, he took the name Brother Lawrence and became the cook for the community. The community grew to over 100 members. After 15 years, his duties changed. He worked in the sandal repair shop. Even then, he often returned to the busy kitchen to help out.

While repairing sandals or working in the kitchen, Brother Lawrence discovered and then followed a pure, uncomplicated way to walk continually in God’s presence. For some 40 years, he lived and walked with God at his side.

After his death, some of his letters were collected. Joseph de Beaufort, representative and counsel to the local archbishop, first published the letters in a small pamphlet. The following year, de Beaufort released a second publication. He titled it ‘The Practice of the Presence of God’. In this work, he included the content of four conversations he had with Brother Lawrence as introductory material.

In this small book, Brother Lawrence explains how to continually walk with God. His direct approach to living in God’s presence is as practical today as it was 400 years ago.

Start With Continual Conversation

De Beaufort wrote:

Brother Lawrence related that we should establish ourselves in a sense of God’s Presence by continually conversing with Him. It was a shameful thing to quit His conversation to think of trifles and fooleries. We should feed and nourish our souls with high notions of God, which would yield us great joy in being devoted to Him.

He said we ought to quicken and enliven our faith. It was lamentable we had so little. Instead of taking faith for the rule of their conduct, men amused themselves with trivial devotions which changed daily. He said that faith was sufficient to bring us to a high degree of perfection. We ought to give ourselves up to God with regard both to things temporal and spiritual and seek our satisfaction only in the fulfilling of His will. Whether God led us by suffering or by consolation all would be equal to a soul truly resigned.

So do you have any “trivial devotions that change daily?” Do you think about “trifles and fooleries?” Yes. Me, too.

Brother Lawrence’s life also reflects the Benedictine tradition of ora et labora … work while praying and pray while working.

We have a disadvantage over Brother Lawrence in that we live in a loud time.  Many Christians, we try to combat that through quiet in the morning and perhaps quiet time at night.  But the world often wins during the day. 

The Holy Spirit Works Through Habits

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Hebrews 11:6 New International Version (NIV)

When we become Christians, we receive the Holy Spirit who is with us all the time.  We can trust God to help us build habits that make us more aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit. These habits keep us connected to God.  This is not just for the extremely devout, but can be accomplished by all of us.  What we do need is faith.

There are many ways to draw near God.  Each individual can find the best way for them among many different habits. You might be drawn to one or more of these things.  The goal is not the habit, but to commune with God on a more consistent basis.

Walking in God’s presence has been absolutely essential for me to live with joy and peace under the difficult circumstances of having loved ones with mental illness and all that comes from this. I put my habits into a routine called a Rule of Life. I call this Christian mindfulness.

Kenneth Boa wrote a book called “Life in the Presence of God: Practices for Living in Light of Eternity.”   He also has created a free PDF with many exercises and habits to help you. You can find it here.

Boa notes that we must trust God’s work through the Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds. No book or training guide can get us there, only God.

Here are some of the exercises:

The name of Jesus

Repeat Jesus’ name or some other short phrase, such as “Come Holy Spirit,” to yourself when you are walking, standing in line, waiting and so on.  It also helps to say it when you are in bed going to sleep. 

The thank you walk

When you feel upset or stressed, go for a quick walk.  Thank God for the good things you see around you:  the sky, the clouds, the grass, the flowers. 

The gratitude journal

Record what you’re grateful for in the following categories:

The glory of God’s creation: ____________________________

A material blessing: __________________________________

A relational blessing (someone in your life): _______________

A spiritual blessing: __________________________________

Cards with a Bible verse

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances;for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

This one is a good start.  As other verses speak to you about God’s presence, write them down on cards as well.  You can rotate, and hopefully, memorize these verses to use to connect to God.

Flash prayers

Select situations when you will do a flash prayer, such as:

  • Upon waking
  • While sitting down for a meal/eating
  • Before making or answering a phone call (at work or home)
  • While sitting in traffic at a red light
  • While waiting in a line
  • When lying in bed about to fall asleep
  • Other: _________________________________

Flash Prayer Examples:

  • May I love and serve you and others today.
  • This is the day the God has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.
  • I thank you in all things.
  • I love you, Lord.
  • By your grace, Lord
  • Where would I be without You, Lord?
  • Unite my heart to fear Your name.
  • Other: _________________________________

Seeing God in Encounters

For each person you meet:

  • Assume God is working in that person somehow.
  • Ask yourself, “Is there some way I can share the love or presence of Christ with this person?”

Practicing this with everyone you meet may feel too overwhelming. So start this exercise with category of people: family members, colleagues at work, those who serve you (e.g., waiters/waitresses, cashiers, salespeople, or postal workers), or anyone you meet for the first time.

Imagine how attractive Christianity would be if we were all joyful and at peace with God all the time. Jesus wants us to abide in Him. And we can.

Jesus can help this worried woman
by Karen Twinem

Living in the Present: Jesus’ Teachings on Worry

In Matthew 6:34, Jesus of Nazareth gives some strong commands about worrying. This verse impacts me in multiple versions of Scripture.

Revised Standard: “Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.”

NIV: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

The Message: “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”

WORRY IS NOT FROM GOD

What situations cause you to obsess about the past or worry about the future? For me, seeing someone I love suffer from mental illness is extremely painful. The nature of the illness is that symptoms come and go unpredictably. I never know what today brings. I tend to obsess over the past with “what ifs” or “if onlys” as well as to dread the future.

No matter the cause of our worry, it is never from God.

Jesus commands us not to worry. To help that happen, he says we only need to think about one day: today. In reality, none of us knows what today will bring. But we know, from Jesus, that we can expect trouble in this life.

The Rev. Dr. Robert Allen Hill, in a 2009 commencement address to the seminary, said we actually can expect trouble every day. His rule: “Expect it. Accept it. Address it. Forget it.” Refusing to worry gives us additional strength to do this.

Give Your Entire Attention to what God is doing now

Therese of Lisieux said her sole concern was to carry out the will of God as it was revealed to her second to second. “I just keep concentrating on the present moment. I forget the past and preserve myself from worries about the future,” she wrote.

Two related spiritual disciplines cultivate this ability: recollection (meeting God within yourself) and the practice of the presence of God. These practices are what I mean by the term Christian mindfulness.

Recollection is also called centering down. Below is one simple method:

  • Sit still in a quiet place.
  • Hold your palms down on your lap.
  • Offer up all your thoughts and anxieties.
  • Turn your palms up once your mind is calmer.
  • Receive peace from God.

The practice of the presence of God cultivates alertness to God at all times. You relate to His constant presence through brief acts of recognition and prayer. This allows each activity in your life to be an opportunity to meet God. How?

  • Focus on one activity at a time.
  • Invite God into this activity.
  • Love the person in front of you.
  • Express gratitude to God when the activity is done.

Isn’t Mindfulness Buddhist?

Much talk about mindfulness comes from a Buddhist slant. It has a different philosophical foundation and a different goal from the Christian form. Some Buddhist techniques can be transferable to a Christian with the extremely important addition of focus on God.

Buddhists look at the moment. Christians look at God in the moment.

The present moment is the only place where you can meet God. So we must give up fantasies, impossible dreams, “what ifs” and “if onlys” in favor of living in the present.

Christian mindfulness sees every moment, every person and every activity as an opportunity to meet God. To do this, we must be “all there” in the moment, giving love to God and people.

My guardrails in this practice are a vibrant spiritual life and a commitment to God’s will. I am a structured person. So I keep lists of things I feel God wants me to do in my station in life. (Retired writer, wife, mother of an adult child with schizophrenia, mother and mother-in-law to my other kids, small group leader, and, best of all, Grandma!) Then I do the next right thing, as my husband says.

Christian Mindfulness Can Eliminate worry

“For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind,” 2 Timothy 1:7 says.

Worry comes from a spirit of fear. It is often is a response to stress. Biomedical literature suggests that individuals are more likely to have a stress response if they:

  • Feel they have little control over stressors or are chronically disempowered.
  • Feels they do not have predictive information about how long or how intense the stressful situation will be.
  • Do not have many outlets to vent frustration.
  • Do not have adequate social support for any confinement caused by stressors.

Christian mindfulness reduces the stress response. Being fully present empowers people to take small steps and create real changes to their external environment. So the brain has less opportunity to build scenarios and forecast troubled times ahead.

Inviting God into every situation from brushing your teeth to having that tough conversation with your teenager changes everything. God helps you deal with whatever happens when the time comes.

PRaying the Scripture eases chronic worry

Praying the Scriptures is another spiritual discipline that eases worry. I often pray in the first person, reading the Scripture and saying “I” for “you” or “we.” Here are prayers from three Scriptures, for example.

  • Based on Philippians 4: 6-7: God, whatever today brings, help me not to worry about anything, but in all my prayers to ask You for what I need. Help me to always ask with a thankful heart. And please send your peace, which is far beyond my understanding, to keep my heart and mind safe in union with Jesus.
  • Based on Ephesians 3: 19-21: Help me to come to know your love, even though it can never be fully known. Help me to be completely filled with the Holy Spirit, your very nature. To You, who by means of Your power working in me, are able to do much more than I can ever ask for, or even think of. To You be the glory.
  • Based on Matthew 6:34: “Therefore I will not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

This keeps the mind busy translating the Scripture into prayer. And it brings peace. God will help you with whatever bad thing is stuck in your worried mind. Just concentrate on his presence.

God is in this shower
by Karen Twinem

Is God in the Shower?

Of course. God is in the shower with you. And you can experience it through Christian mindfulness.

This practice allows us to walk in the presence of God in the present moment. Even when we are getting wet.

Showers often are the opposite of Christian mindfulness. (Much more so than baths, but that’s another post.) You turn on the water, get in and suddenly you are pondering yesterday’s meeting. Or that talk with your kid’s teacher. Or what to say to your spouse about the unfinished project that’s taken up the coffee table for weeks.

Why shower like that when you can experience the joy of the Lord as the water sprays on you? It just requires attention and gratitude. If you decide to pay attention to the experience, it can become a calming, precious part of your day.

When you turn on the water, thank God for running water, for hot water, for soap. Many people in the world do not have these things, and you do.

As you clean yourself, pay attention to the smells. Right now I have lavender, rosemary and mint in my shampoo and conditioner. And there’s a spray of eucalyptus hanging from the shower nozzle. God made all these scents. So express gratitude for that.

You can also thank God for a body that works (at least for the most part). And for hair, if you have it. You can wash scars while you thank God for successful operations or, in some cases, beautiful babies.

When thoughts about other people (past, present or future) occur, notice. Lift them up to God in prayer briefly, and get back to experiencing your senses.

As you dry off, offer up prayers for people without the things you take for granted. And ask for the grace to maintain a clean mind, mouth and heart in the day ahead. I usually end the experience with worship music as I dress.

Finding God in water is a good experience. So try to enjoy God’s presence in the shower. You may want to do it everyday.

by Zeeva Usman

Sacred Breaths: Inviting God’s Spirit into Your Daily Rhythms

Editor’s Note: I hope you enjoy this guest post by Zeeva Usman.

Life often feels like a race we didn’t sign up for — a constant whirlwind of responsibilities, distractions, and noise. Between the demands of work, family, and personal goals, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and spiritually disconnected. Yet, amid the busyness, God invites us into a deeper rhythm—a sacred rhythm where His Spirit infuses every moment of our day.

Inviting God’s Spirit into our daily lives isn’t reserved for quiet retreats or Sunday mornings. It’s a practice we can cultivate in the ordinary moments: during a morning coffee, a commute, or even in the middle of a stressful meeting. It begins with intentionality, and it transforms how we live, breathe, and move through each day.

Here are ways to invite God’s Spirit into your daily rhythms, making every breath sacred.

1. Start Your Day with God

The first moments of your day are powerful. They can set the tone for how you approach everything else. Instead of diving straight into your to-do list or scrolling through your phone, begin your day with God.

Find a quiet spot, even if it’s just for five minutes, and acknowledge His presence. Pray, meditate on a Scripture verse, or simply sit in silence, allowing His peace to fill you.

Psalm 143:8 says, “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” These early moments create a foundation of trust and reliance on God that can carry you through whatever challenges lie ahead.

2. Breathe in His Peace

Breathing is something we often take for granted. It’s automatic, and yet it holds incredible spiritual significance. In Genesis 2:7, we see that God breathed life into Adam, making him a living being. That same breath sustains us today.

Throughout your day, take intentional breathing breaks. Pause, close your eyes, and take a deep breath in, praying a simple phrase like, “Lord, fill me with Your peace.” As you exhale, imagine releasing stress, worry, and distractions.

These “sacred breaths” act as gentle reminders that God is near, offering His peace and presence in every moment. Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

3. Turn Mundane Tasks into Worship

We often separate the “sacred” from the “secular,” thinking that worship happens only during church services or quiet prayer times. But God calls us to live every moment as an act of worship, even the mundane ones.

Washing dishes, folding laundry, or commuting to work can become sacred acts when done with a heart focused on God. As you work, offer a prayer of gratitude, hum a worship song, or meditate on a Bible verse.

Colossians 3:23 reminds us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” When you approach your tasks with this mindset, you invite God’s Spirit into the ordinary, making it extraordinary.

4. Invite God into Your Decisions

Life is filled with decisions, big and small. From what to eat for lunch to how to navigate a challenging conversation, each choice is an opportunity to seek God’s guidance.

Before making a decision, pause and pray. Ask, “Lord, what would You have me do in this situation?” Listen for His guidance, which may come as a sense of peace, a conviction, or even through Scripture.

Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages us: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Inviting God into your choices ensures that you’re walking in step with His will.

5. Practice Gratitude in the Moment

Gratitude shifts our perspective. It moves our focus from what we lack to the abundance of God’s blessings in our lives. Cultivating a heart of thankfulness is a powerful way to stay connected to His Spirit.

Throughout your day, take note of the small blessings: the warmth of the sun on your face, the laughter of a friend, or the quiet comfort of a cup of tea. Pause and thank God for these gifts.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 reminds us to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Gratitude not only draws us closer to God but also fills us with joy and peace.

6. Pause and Listen for His Voice

In the busyness of life, we often miss the gentle whispers of God’s voice. He speaks to us in the stillness, but we have to be intentional about creating space to hear Him.

Take a few moments throughout your day to pause and listen. This could be during a walk, a lunch break, or even while waiting in line. Ask God, “What do You want to show me today?”

Elijah’s encounter with God in 1 Kings 19:12 teaches us that God often speaks in the “gentle whisper” rather than the loud and dramatic. These quiet pauses can recalibrate your heart and mind, helping you stay aligned with His Spirit.

7. End Your Day with Reflection

As your day comes to a close, take time to reflect. Where did you see God’s hand at work? How did the Holy Spirit guide you?

Spend a few moments in prayer, thanking God for His presence and asking for rest and renewal. Surrender any worries or unresolved emotions to Him, trusting that He will provide the strength and wisdom you need for tomorrow.

Psalm 4:8 beautifully expresses this trust: “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Ending your day with God’s presence ensures that your heart is at peace and ready for rest.

8. Create Sacred Rhythms for Your Life

Finally, consider how you can establish daily, weekly, and seasonal rhythms that draw you closer to God. This might include setting aside time for morning devotions, observing a weekly Sabbath, or scheduling regular retreats for spiritual renewal.

Sacred rhythms are not about rigid routines; they’re about creating space for God in your life. They help you stay grounded in His presence, no matter what life brings.

Closing Thought

Inviting God’s Spirit into your daily rhythms is a transformative journey. It’s not about striving for perfection but about fostering connection—letting Him guide your steps, calm your storms, and fill your life with His peace and purpose.

Each breath you take is an opportunity to acknowledge His presence. Each moment is a chance to make the ordinary sacred. So breathe deeply, live intentionally, and let your life be a beautiful reflection of His Spirit at work within you.
Author Bio: Zeeva Usman is an experienced content manager at Christian Marketing Experts and a content specialist at Salt of Heaven, where she uses her expertise to create impactful, faith-centered content. When she’s not crafting words, Zeeva finds joy in worshiping and singing for the Lord Jesus, drawing inspiration from her faith to encourage others.

by Karen Twinem

Build a Holy Atmosphere in Church

Jesus said, when two or more gather in His name, He is with them. Can you feel Him when you get to church on Sunday morning? Not all the time.

In fact, sometimes the hassle of getting to church overshadows the joy of being in church. Especially in the first 10 minutes. We can make that better.

What we do in the 10 minutes before church begins can enhance the experience of God’s presence for everyone. Many American churches, including my own, do not particularly stress this. Yet, church-goers can take simple steps to contribute to a devout and loving atmosphere, reflecting God’s presence.

Catholics, especially older Catholics, do better. They enter church quietly, genuflect before the altar (where Jesus is) and kneel to pray. Schooled by the dirty looks of millions of mothers, many Catholics know how to behave themselves while waiting for service to start.

That was me once. God has put this on my heart now because I no longer view the minutes before service as a time to center myself. Instead, I first guess how loud the drum will be as I pick a seat. Then I say “hello” and hug my friends. And I ensure that I have a cup of coffee and that my phone is off. How the mighty have fallen.

Twice this week, I came across Richard Foster‘s comments about “cultivating holy expectancy” before church. This synchronicity is usually a sign that God would like me to pay attention.

In “Celebration of Discipline,” Foster calls on us to behave in a way before church that creates an atmosphere where all can sense God’s presence. This helps those who arrive “harried and distracted.” I have dragged both rambunctious toddlers and resentful teenagers to church, so I know how harried and distracted feels. Now, as an empty-nester, it’s my turn to help build the atmosphere unless of requiring support from it.

Foster, who is Quaker, knows the importance of silence. He writes that, since we listen for God’s voice all week, we should expect to hear it at Sunday worship. To help others sense this, we need to get to church early and pray.

He recommends getting to church 10 minutes early. Once there, try his three suggestions:

  • Be seated and lift up your heart to God. Offer praise. Ask the Holy Spirit to come and make God’s presence obvious.
  • Pray for the pastors, worship leaders and all other participating in the service.
  • Look around to find someone to pray for. God often makes it obvious who needs your help.

I intend to continue greeting my friends who are sitting nearby when I get to my seat. But I also plan to make praise and prayer an important part of the moments before the service begins. How about you?

close up photo of an aching man holding his shoulder
by Karen Twinem

Practicing God’s Presence in Chronic Pain: My Journey with Arthritis and Spinal Fusion

“I dedicate my arthritis including the disability, chronic pain and upcoming surgery to you, oh Lord. I wish to reflect well on your kindness, patience, loving behavior and peace as I suffer with this condition. May your will be done about my energy level and mobility. Show me your path for me, and grant me the graces necessary to display Christ-like behavior to others.”

I wrote this about four months ago as I faced spinal fusion (Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion on L4-L5, to be specific). While my back has been healing well, chronic pain developed in my feet. It turns out that tight muscles in your calf can cause an unstable and very painful midfoot condition called metatarsalia.

I knew I had lots of arthritis when I agreed to the surgery. It’s in my hands, my neck, other places in my back, my knees, and evidently my feet. I dedicated my behavior with chronic pain to serving God. But I don’t think I realized how chronic the pain would be … making me unable to walk at all without orthotics, causing me to consider using the family wheelchair.

This experience has taught me to practice the presence of God in chronic pain. To do that, I have had to continually overcome other effects of chronic pain:

  • The continual hunt for help onIine.
  • The search for shoes that don’t hurt. (I now get two emails a day from OrthoFoot.)
  • Frantic purchases of items for at-home care. (I now have a massage gun and have ordered a kit for cupping my legs.)
  • The presence of “massage, stretch and ice” on my to-do list (three times a day).

Will this go away? I don’t know. Will God go away? Never.

I had to slow down, to take one task at a time. But the way I practice the presence of God remains constant.

Five Steps to Practicing the Presence of God

  • Do the next right thing on the task list.
  • Do it mindfully, paying attention to the work as it progresses.
  • Invite God into the situation.
  • Love the people in front of you.
  • Be grateful for as many things as possible while doing the task.

I am grateful that I learned this practice in other hard times, because it automatically transfer to my chronic pain. I hope that you can try it as well if you are suffering.

Christian woman praying thinking
by Karen Twinem

What Jesus Wants You to Think

Jesus is clear about what he wants you to think. Philippians 4:8 says:

Finally, brothers (and sisters), whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable … if anything is excellent or praiseworthy … think about such things.

That, we all know, isn’t easy. So how do we control our thoughts when our emotions are running the show? Yet, God wants us to change our thinking, so it must be possible. As Paul writes in Romans 12:2 (NIV):

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The New Living translation puts it this way: Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Sanctification is never finished in our lifetimes. So we need to recognize that we cannot control our thoughts without God’s help. He alone will help us to replace the harsh critic in our brains with a loving observer.

It’s a great path to developing humility. We have to recognize that we do not have the ability to master our own minds. We are not as mentally strong nor as fabulous as we think we are. Using the discipline of detachment can stop us from being surprised at our own thoughts. We are not good enough, on our own, to ensure that our thoughts are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.

As we offer the control of our thoughts over to the Holy Spirit, we can begin to watch our own minds. We can observe our thoughts as God does – with gentleness and compassion. With HIs help, we develop an early detection system to see when we are going astray. Just as detachment helps us to pause enough to decide how to react to a bad situation, it also lets us what the stream of thoughts flow and decide if they are going in the right direction.

Linda Kavelin Popov wrote a book called “The Family Virtues Guide: Simple Ways to Bring Out the Best in Our Children and Ourselves.” I used her ideas raising my kids. I have a quote from her that I wrote on an index card long again, so it’s probably from that book. It said:

“We can choose to engage in the Troubled Cs – control, criticism, contempt or contention – or act on our virtues of acceptance, appreciation and assertiveness.”

I like that. Acceptance and appreciation are paths to thoughts that are true, noble, right, pure and so on. And assertiveness gives us the courage to voice those good thoughts to people who might not want to hear them.

So let us bring Jesus’ eyes, ears and ideas to our thought life. We aren’t holy enough for it to go perfectly. But the Holy Spirit is there to help us.

by Karen Twinem

How to Put Aside Anxiety

"Do not look forward to the changes and chances of this life in fear; rather look at them with hope that, as they arise, God, whose you are, will deliver you out of them ... the same everlasting God who cares for you today, will take care of you tomorrow, and every day, either by shielding you from suffering, or by giving you strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, and put aside all anxious thoughts."

Francis de Sales
picture of Jesus
by Karen Twinem

The Church in Crisis: Jesus Who?

“Is the church in crisis? If so, what?” That’s the answer I found in a notebook I retrieved to go a community meeting.

I don’t even remember the meeting where we discussed the question. But my answer is there: “The crisis is that the truth of Jesus has been obscured, often by His own people.”

I wrote it about a year ago, and it’s more true that ever.

Exhibit A: The failure of my Lenten pledge.

I wanted to find a group of committed Christians to deepen my experience of contemplative prayer. The first two Christian groups I tried were miles away from the truth about Jesus. For example, this is the meditation passage I was sent this week from one of the groups:

“Jesus answered: I am the way of love, I am the truth of love, and I am the life of love. No one comes to God except through love.”

Hmmm, that’s not what my Bible says. It would be fairly easy for these folks to persuade others that all religions worship the same God. Because some faiths believe in multiple gods, that’s not really possible. .

Exhibit B: Christian nationalism

Americans aren’t God’s chosen people. Look it up. Self-righteousness, particularly when exhibited with hate and vile name calling, doesn’t reflect God’s character. It makes Jesus look bad when people say they are Christians and hate others, particularly other Christians. These days many people don’t even bother to keep quiet about it.

Exhibit C: Hypocrites

Religious leaders who are hypocrites or abuse their position, hurting others, are poor reflections of Jesus. In fact, the Bible indicates that they are among Jesus’ least favorite people.

I believe, from experience, that a close relationship with Jesus results in love, joy, peace, patience and the other fruits of the spirit. The Lord teaches that you can tell a good tree by its fruit.

How can we reflect the truth about Jesus? Through kindness. Through empathy. Generosity. Listening to understand. Respect. But, most of all, love.

Non-Christians watch Christians. When they see exhibits A, B and C, they think that is who Jesus is. Those of us that want the world to know Christ need to strive for holiness. So when people think “Jesus who?” they can see He’s reflected in your behavior.