Hard times; loss, surgery, change, trauma - or a horrific news event. Most of these come to us unsolicited. Unexpected. We are told we will suffer. Yet, how we come through on the other side is very important. The result affects our very being and those around us.
There is an overlooked area in which I would like to help you ; a key in our process of overcoming. It is what some refer as having a sense of being. Going through trauma, loss, shock or separation; any of these can cause a sense of disorientation. Over a long term unaddressed, these life-changing events can cause a loss of a sense of well-being and worse, a loss of a sense of being itself.
If you have attended any of my worship “concerts” or events, you may recall I often begin with a time to simply rest in prayer with the Lord. Often included is my song “Breathe In Me.” I start this way because we all arrive in one room from different experiences. Asking God to help us “live and move and have our being in Him” is to allow to God to come into us, to center our souls with Him. It is God alone who aids us in our “being” and more so, in our sense of “well-being.” (See Psalm 139)
It is God alone who aids us in our “being” and
in our sense of “well-being.”
When we allow ourselves to be present to God, we then allow Him to impact us relationally; perhaps through our prayers, praises and worship. I desire all of us; corporately and individually; to encounter Him during our time together.
A traumatic event that goes unaddressed via prayer or counseling can cause us to lose our ability to be present to persons closest to us. We are cut off from beauty, warmth and quiet. It is as though we go through the motions and not be in the “now.” We cannot be present to another if we are not present to ourselves. We need a sense of being and well being.
The world culture today is moving at a frenetic pace. Even if our works are for good causes, it is all “clanging brass” (I Corinthians 13) as there is no space for healing or love. Without love our actions are not accomplishing their intended goal. We need that love within to burst forth. We need Agape Love. (God’s love). We need to “be” with the Lord.
This “being” I am referring to is actually a feminine response to our masculine God. Let me explain. God initiates His love for us over and over:
We were created by God.
- We live and move and have our being in Him.
He sent His son to die.
- For us on the cross.
He caused Jesus to rise from the dead to a bodily resurrected life.
- For us.
These are His major initiatives of love toward us.
- What is our response?
Our response as the Bride of Christ, when we are not wounded or distressed, is of expressive praise, worship, evangelism, discipleship and service. All of those are creative responses. We desire to be fully creative. The Creator of the universe does much for us, thus, we want to create joy and beauty in return.
The Creator of the universe does much for us, thus, we want to create joy and beauty in return.
But this true feminine expression is trampled on in our world today. We must regain it! Too many traumatic events cause us to go on without feeling. Most are aware many of our young girls in school are forced to have their private spaces (God-given boundaries) invaded. Some are taught the way they talk “is too feminine.” The hatred toward women and feminine expression is growing even within Christian communities. If we allow this trend, we then push out expression, beauty, warmth and joy.
What is our response to this assault? Individually we must regain our own sense of being with the Lord and allow it to grow to a sense of well-being. This may sound overly simplistic. Perhaps, but I believe it is challenging to discipline ourselves to regain a sense of being daily in prayer. It is a decision to form a new habit.
Please pray with me a prayer for a sense of being. If you are comfortable place one hand on your heart and raise the other one towards the Lord in prayer. Throughout the prayer, please breath in and out.
Pray this with me - out loud:
“Thank You Lord Jesus:
That You live in the Father.
The Father lives in You.
You live in me.
I live in You.
I praise You Lord.
You, the Creator of the universe
Dwell inside of me.
I am not alone.
Because You are
With me.
I live and move
And have my being
In You.
I am alive in You Lord!
Set me ablaze
With Your Holy Spirit! Amen.
For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. (Psalm 139:13-17, NKJV)
While connecting with God in His Presence, often Holy Spirit shines His merciful light on some dark or wounded places in our lives. We come to see our need and our fallen state. Please stay present with Him in these memories and moments. He will lead you, He will speak to you. God will lead you to forgive others and/or receive forgiveness for yourself. This is the path of sanctification. How beautiful you will be as you press on this path!
As a church we should keep a balance allowing the creative (and even the miraculous) to flow. Let us regain our sense of being and beautiful well-being so that we can!
God bless you!
Kathleen
p.s. For those of you who would like to have Songs In The Night podcast on your device, the last season is available for download here - for a limited time.
In this day and age I often find it difficult to retain my "sense of being" and "well being". It is like I am caught up in a swirl and I can't find my boundaries, my space. The discipline of staying connected with my Creator, who shapes and forms me and pours beauty, joy and warmth into my space sustains my "sense of being" and "well being". Thank you, Kathleen, for sharing your insights.