4 things to do when life feels like it is going to take you out?

Sometimes we have a rough day and we feel like we are about to be knocked down. One more push and we are going to fall over. What do we do in those circumstances? Maybe we feel like King David, who is anointed king and then ends up running for his life in the desert. Even after he become king his own son literally tries to take him out. That is just a bad day. But fortunately his lessons speak to us in the age of text messaging and tweets and chats. He teaches us to:

1. Force ourselves to rest in God.

This seems like church talk but is a very practical way to live. David says, “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.” (Psalms 62:5 NIV) This may mean actually changing the talk that is going on in your head. I sometimes need to cut my own patterns of thinking out at the knees. I don’t think I am too off base to imagine David pacing the castle walls saying to himself, “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone.”

2. Be careful what you trust in during times of difficulty.

When I am in a difficult spot, I am looking for how I can fix the situation. I may be tempted to look for those things that can make me feel confident. David reminds us that even if there are external things that we could put confidence don’t trust them. “…though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.” (Psalms 62:10 NIV)

3. Tell God how you really feel.

When things get difficult we may want to turn into ourselves. This can quickly become very destructive. I love David’s picture on this, “pour out your heart to him” (Psalms 62:8) Like a glass that is full I must just let it all out before God. He is the place to hide when bad comes to get us.

4. Create a picture of God in your head and heart.

One of the dangers I face when life gets tough is to lose perspective. Whatever I am facing becomes bigger and bigger. Thoughts of God slide out of view. David reminds himself of two things about God that I have gone back to again and again in my life. “One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God are strong, and that you O Lord are loving.” (Psalms 62:11-12) Turn to a God who is both strong and loving in the midst of the things that would knock you down.

One of these things may give you a rope hold onto, but four of them can help you feel like you are standing on solid ground.

(Bonus) 4 Prayer Lessons for “May the 4th Be With You” Day

I know, I know this is my second post today, but I just had to pass along these prayer lessons for today. Have fun:

1. Never forget to pray for the week and needy. You never know when Anakin Skywalker or Jar Jar Binks will play an important role in His story.

2. Pray for discernment in life. You don’t want to end up kissing your sister.

3. Keep praying, “Lord, teach me to pray.” We will always be padawan learners when it comes to prayer. A great learning tool is my book Enjoying Prayer. 🙂

4. Come to Him as a child. “Truly wonderful the mind of a child is.” –Yoda (From StarWars.com)

So go through this day with Jesus and live long and prosper. (Just kidding, I know that is Star Trek.)

Are you missing out by not connecting to God’s network?

I spend a good amount of time connecting with people. We have booths at conventions to introduce the ministry to people who need to learn about it. I am lunches and coffees with pastors and leaders to hear their heart and see how we might work together. Networking can sound sleazy at times, but my attitude is to build a “net” of connections so that together we can do the “work” that God has given us.

But there is a problem. Let me nerd out on you for a moment. Even if I was introduced to a new person every second, 24 hours a day -7 days a week, for the rest of my life I wouldn’t even meet half the people in the world. And what if I need to meet someone in the other half to accomplish the mission God has for my life. That is why my prayer life is so important.

I love the story of Moses after the mountain. God told Moses he could have Aaron as a partner in the ministry of leading the people out of Egypt. But Moses couldn’t get down the mountain and text his brother to come down and visit him. So God went to work. “The Lord said to Aaron, ‘Go into the desert to meet Moses.’” (Ex 4:27) God was connecting them together.

We do our part, but we are also dependent on God to introduce us to the people that we could never meet on our own. Maybe before you go on with the rest of your day ask God to lead you to someone he wants you to “network” with this week!