Lean on Me vs. Lean on Jesus...I Choose Jesus
For conversations you might never have
with people you might never talk to
…go
catch a plane.
I had an interesting
conversation with a man on a plane last week. Sadly, his mother had died
and he was headed across the country for her funeral and to be with his 12
siblings. He shared with me that he was speaking at a conference at a church
when he received the news. I thought we probably had much the same story. But,
our philosophies, though tiny similarities showed up at times, were not the
same at all.
Still we had a great discussion.
I learned more about his view of meditation and yoga, and I shared why I can’t possibly
be good enough, no matter how deep I go into myself. I am a sinner. His
perspective was that through grace (which I totally believe God has given us
grace through Jesus Christ, Eph. 2:8-10) and working for a state of
consciousness (I totally disagree…Jesus paid it all. I don’t have anything to
add that could save me more than what Jesus has already done, Galatians 2:20-21)
that one can find the “christ” in you.
In Texas we say,
“You are the spitting image of your momma!” I’m not sure why it’s spitting, but
it just means, you look like your mom. Though I might look like my mom,
everyone would agree I am not her. It’s the same with God; though we are
created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26), it doesn’t mean we are God. We have
similar qualities: ability to love, forgive, mourn, show anger, but that
doesn’t make us “God.”
About Jesus my
new friend said, “He was a good man, but there have been lots of good men. We
don’t feel that God requires a sacrifice to make us right with Him.” I wanted to cry.
The gentleman
(whose meditation name I can’t remember…I wish I had asked what his mother
named him) was very nice. Neither one of us changed the other’s mind. But in my
heart, I was grieving for him, not just the loss of his mother, but for the
years meditating inwardly rather than meditating on his Maker. In his type of
meditation, one loses all faculties to open the mind – which I believe opens
the mind up to deception (see link below)
“…for Satan himself masquerades as an angel
of light.” 2 Cor. 11:14.
What might seem to be enlightenment is, according to the
bible, a path to darkness. Isn’t that the same lie Satan has presented from the
beginning saying “God isn’t enough…here’s more”?
I woke up this
morning with Philippians 4:13 on my mind. “I can do all things through Christ
who gives me strength.” It occurred to me that we often stop with “I can do all
things…” That’s what mystical religions teach. And, it’s what I often attempt on
a daily basis even though I have the strength of Jesus Christ through the Holy
Spirit available to me. But, I CAN’T do anything on my own; beat my own heart,
make myself breathe. Those are things God sets and keeps in motion. So, why do
I try to run through my day without Him? Or we could ask, “How do I walk with Him
through the day letting Him be my strength?”
Here are some
thoughts – ways to lean on Jesus for strength as you live your day:
1.
Before you get out of bed, even if a baby is already
crying, sigh a prayer to Him, “I need You, Lord. I surrender the day to You.”
2.
Place scripture in front of you…dry erase on
your mirror, a notecard in the car, a screen shot on your phone. (I’ll include
some of my favorite verses below.) Say the verse aloud and you’ll memorize it
(and maybe your kids will, too.)
3.
P.R.A.Y. (this is biblical, conscious meditation
or talking between you and God. Phil. 4:8)
A.
Praise
Him for things He has done (all the things He created, loving me enough to send
Jesus to die for me…)
B.
Repent:
I ask God to bring to mind anything that I’ve done that would hinder my
relationship with Him (i.e. Sins…how I’ve spoken to my husband, jealous
thoughts toward a friend who “has it all,” etc.)
C.
Ask
specifically for the needs in my life (“Please provide a friend for my
daughter”, “Help me know how to manage my day”, or even “I want to make
something creative for dinner…help me see what that would be.” Your details
don’t wear Him out.)
D.
Yield
to Him: meaning you believe Him to be trustworthy so you trust Him with the
outcome of the day. He sees, knows, and uses everything. He is too good to
waste anything, especially the hard things we’ve been through. (“Lord, I trust you with all that I’ve asked,
to do as you see best.”)
4.
Tune into music that turns your heart toward
Him.
5.
One Place
(an app) offers radio programs from people and organizations like Chip Ingram,
FamilyLife Today, Focus on the Family, etc. I LOVE having this as I drive.
Hebrews 12:1-3 sums
this up best. “…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so
easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer
(author) and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the
cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not
grow weary and lose heart.” Leaning on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my
faith, I won’t grow weary, but will have strength for all things.
Blessings…
Sharon
For more on this:
“This only have I
found; God created mankind upright, but they have gone in search of many
schemes.” Ecc. 7:29
Some favorite chapters and verses:
Jeremiah 17:7-8, Proverbs
3:5-6, Ps. 139, James 1
Ps. 146, I Peter 5:7, Ps.
34:4-5
