Cultivating Quiet: The Song of the Spirit

Getting to know the voice of the Holy Spirit has proved to be one of the most crucial pieces of knowledge for the wellbeing of my heart and mind.

I remember the “a-ha” moment. I was sitting in a chair, across from a woman who volunteered for our church’s Biblical Counseling ministry. I was struggling with a lot of anxiety—over the most menial things.

You see, I had a desire to please God—a deep one—but upon learning there were a Holy Spirit that worked inside of me, I got all twisted up and confused about when I was hearing from Him and when I wasn’t.

Upon understanding that God communicates with us personally—but not yet having the tools to discern his voice—I would have certain thoughts or inclinations and I automatically assumed they were the Holy Spirit. Basically, if it popped into my mind—especially when I was praying or at church—I assumed it had to be God. Some of these thoughts were really unkind or demanding or shaming. And the amiable part of my nature would just bend to whatever thoughts rolled in. I was being whipped back and forth by an unholy hurricane of thoughts… did I mention I was at a counselor’s office?

So anyways, God used this kind woman sitting across from me to teach me something crucial: not every thought that enters your mind is a good one to take hold of.

As Christians, we get to actively, prayerfully, wisely decide what to do with the thoughts and feelings that come our way. If this sounds like a battle, well… yeah, you’re kind of right! It is a battle, but it’s a battle that’s entirely worth fighting.

At the other end of our silenced enemy, is the song of the Spirit—ringing clear and sweet.

You know that verse about taking your thoughts captive?

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV

That’s the whole idea. We take firm hold of Gospel truth, and tell the rest “buh-bye”. And the Spirit helps us to this end. Because there are ideas that float around—kind of like we talked in the “lies” section of this series—that can wreak havoc in our lives. They don’t lead to the full and abundant life intended for us by Jesus.

Let’s revisit these words of Jesus yet again, as they never stop being vital:

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 NIV

What I would come to learn about many of the thoughts and feelings that entered my mind, is that they weren’t coming from Jesus. The voice of Jesus is the opposite of unkind, demanding or shaming. It’s rich with kindness, offers freedom, and reminds us that we are uncondemned.

And when we learn to identify, abolish, and tune out enemy lies, this kind freedom song is exactly what we begin to hear sung over us. So then, let’s break it down: what do we know to be true about Jesus, and how can these truths help us to better discern the Spirit?

We’ll cover three elements of the Spirit’s voice: kindness, freedom and advocacy. Let’s begin with kindness…

KINDNESS

The first chapter of Ephesians is breathtakingly beautiful. It uses words like “lavishness” and “riches” to describe the nature of God’s pouring out of blessings onto His children.

This chapter reminds us that God calls us his children, in Christ, because of his incredible love for us, and because it pleased him to do so.

Our God is so sweet, you guys. I don’t mean to use a kitschy word and downplay it. But to make you think: God is really, truly kind and gracious. He is so extravagantly good. He is abundant in his generosity—to the point that we actually can’t even comprehend all that’s coming our way because of Jesus:

…“What no eye has seen,
 what no ear has heard,
 and what no human mind has conceived”
 the things God has prepared for those who love him… 1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV

And just to be really dramatic and draw this truth out… get ready for the absolute confetti toss that arrives immediately after that Corinthians verse—and let it serve as a reminder that God wants you to know these things. Here is is again, with the cherry added on top (underlined):

…“What no eye has seen,
 what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”
 the things God has prepared for those who love him… these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 NIV

The Holy Spirit reminds us of the generous riches of God, and all the spiritual blessings he has lavishly poured out on us by His Son. Take stock of a few:

• He has chosen for us to be seen by Him as holy and blameless. Aka, perfect. (I hope all the perfectionists out there just let out a single tear. This is so encouraging!) (Ephesians 1:4)

• He has chosen for us to be called his child. (And for the ones out there who feel lonely, or uncared for—you have the greatest, most loving Parent that ever existed. And he chose you.) (Ephesians 1:5)

• We have the forgiveness of sins; that’s right—our mess-ups and mistakes are wiped out when we turn to Jesus. We undergo redemption; our soul has been re-claimed. (Ephesians 1:7, Psalm 103, namely 103:12)

Do you want to know how we are guaranteed of these incredible truths? By the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the “stamp” on our hearts that proclaims our salvation, sonship, and forgiveness in Jesus. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

So then, if there are thoughts or feelings that come barreling into your mind—telling you that you aren’t forgiven for that thing you repented of, or that God doesn’t want you, love you, or keep you as his own child, or that He simply views you as a screw-up… be encouraged: that is not the nature of the Spirit.

He convicts us of our sin, but it will be done in a way that is hope-filled, with the truth of the Gospel eclipsing the brokenness of our circumstances.

David lays out this concept well in Psalm 32. He acknowledges the heaviness of knowing he sinned—but that heaviness is entirely relieved by the generous salvation he found when he turned to the Lord:

For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. Psalm 32:4-5 NIV

Guilt covers us with heaviness. Jesus sets us free. And the Spirit reminds us of this beautiful truth.

The sweet song of the Spirit reminds our hearts of all of our Spiritual blessings in Christ: we are deeply loved, saved from sin, and given the position of being God’s child. When we learn to identify—and quiet down—the clamoring lies that Christ’s sacrifice wasn’t quite enough, the melody of the Spirit brings harmony to our hearts: we are richly blessed—and eternally secure—in Christ.

The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Psalm 118:14 ESV

FREEDOM

Oh baby. This is a good one. Let’s talk about freedom.

But before we do that, let’s talk about what isn’t freedom: Coercion isn’t freedom. Manipulation isn’t freedom. Harassment isn’t freedom. Torment isn’t freedom. Force isn’t freedom…

But the way of the Lord?

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17

The way of the Lord is freedom.

Because you see, while following Jesus entails taking up a cross—or, being willing to crucify our sinful desires in order to walk His way—this cross isn’t intended to be burdensome.

A burden is something that feels heavy or forced—but that’s not the way of God. He invites us to freely lay our lives down. Truly free—again, not coerced, burdened, or manipulated—but carried along by the Spirit of God working inside us.

Even Jesus wasn’t forced to the cross, but regarding his own life, he said this:

No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again… John 10:18 NIV

This glimpse into the wisdom of Jesus captures the mindset we are transformed into when we become children of God. Our place in God’s family is secure, and sin becomes not something we want to do, but something our flesh does—contrary to our deepest desires. (Romans 7)

In this way, after a person has received the transformative Holy Spirit, their definition of freedom changes as well. If freedom is being able to openly choose—then for the Christian, freedom is the empowerment to choose holiness.

The Christian seeks holiness, not because their relationship with God is on the line, but because holiness becomes the desire planted deep within them by the work of the Holy Spirit. And as they grow in their faith and knowledge of a Loving God, increased goodness is an organic result.

So then, we as seek to discern the song of the Spirit, it’s important to remember that the voice of God doesn’t demand, but encourages. It doesn’t manipulate, but inspires. It doesn’t confuse, but clarifies.

And as we dwell in the Word, in the body of Christ, (and among the song of creation), we become familiar with this nature of God.

Again, the commands of God aren’t burdensome. But rather, we become freed to follow Jesus, in love, with our eternal victory in mind:

This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:2-4 NIV

This is helpful to remember when we are aiming to discern what’s going on inside our hearts and minds. God’s Spirit convicts us, directs us, and reminds us of the beautiful truth of the Gospel—of the ways of God, and of his intentional plans for our lives. If our thoughts or feelings are riddled with an overwhelming sense of dread, fear, or confusion—we can discern those aren’t God’s voice.

• If that voice in your head says “you must do this, or else you’re going to have something bad happen to you” and it sound scary or forceful… that isn’t God.

• If that thought you experience torments you or confuses you, such as “you better figure out what to do, even though it all seems so unclear, or God will condemn you and you’ll ruin your life”… that isn’t God.

• If the feeling you are fighting tells you that you must do something, even if it goes against your own sound thinking, that’s called manipulation: perhaps it goes like this, “even though it seems pure or good to do this one thing, I feel this anxiety that I must do the opposite, or else I’m disobeying God and I’ll be doomed”… that isn’t God.

Life with God isn't dreadful; we have eternal hope. God isn’t afraid, he holds the entire future. God isn’t confused; he is full of Light and clarity.

That doesn’t mean anxieties and unholy thoughts won’t come, but I hope this reminder helps you to grow in your ability to hold fast to what is true and good:

We aren’t coerced, confused, or manipulated by God: we are loved, guided, and free.

Regarding our free life with Jesus, this paraphrase of Matthew 11:28-30 from The Message contains some of the most beautiful language:

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 MSG

This part: learn the unforced rhythms of grace. It’s golden.

We come to Jesus, seek his personal yoke and walk with him. Understanding his goodness, we willingly keep in step with him. Unforced, covered by grace, we begin to understand true freedom.

The song of the Spirit reminds us that we are eternally free. He welcomes our participation into true goodness—not forcing, pushing or manipulating—but rather blessing us with wisdom, giving lavish amounts of love, inviting our hand to dance.

ADVOCACY

Have you ever been in a position where your name was being maligned? (I hope not, but sadly, many of us have.)

Maybe it was your frenemy in middle school. Maybe it was a colleague in a hostile work environment. And if you picture a scenario that happened, what would it have looked like for somebody to have stepped in to defend you?

Whatever image comes to your mind of a person defending someone’s honor, I think our hearts all have a grasp of how good that would feel, and how awful it feels to be accused or written off.

As we continue to explore what the voice of the Spirit sounds like, take diligent note of this fact: the enemy is an accuser, Jesus is our defender. (Revelation 12:10)

While the enemy likes to point the finger at us, and try to rattle off all he reasons we are bad, Jesus stands at God’s side, reminding him that because of his sacrifice, we are eternally labeled good:

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1-2 NIV

Our encouragement above is—not to choose the sin that tarnishes our lives—but to be reminded that, even when we do, our slate has been fully wiped clean by the blood of Christ.

Furthermore, in a beautiful passage in John 14, Jesus describes the role of the Holy Spirit as an advocate: one who stands by our side, pleads our cause, defends our case, and aids us. As we aim to walk out our Christian lives, we aren’t alone; the Spirit lives with us, and dwells within us.

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17 NIV

We have a helper—the Spirit—to support us in trials, and pray to God on our behalf. As humans living in the world, broken circumstances and the sin of our flesh bring hardships, but we are comforted to remember the Spirit interceding for us:

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Romans 8:26-27 NIV

The Holy Spirit is a helpful, interceding advocate.

Everything about who the Spirit is—in agreement with the very heart of God—seeks for God’s people to be uncondemned. The Lord desires that all would come to repentance and salvation:

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 NIV

So, if you have a recurring thought or feeling that God simply doesn’t love you, condemns you even though you’re in Christ, resents you, or has written you off as a failure… let me be so graciously clear with you: this is contrary to his nature.

• The Holy Spirit is the opposite of condemning; the Spirit is our advocate.

• The Holy Spirit doesn’t leave us to our own devices; the Spirit is our prayerful helper.

• The Holy Spirit isn’t resentful; the Spirit is hope-filled and encouraging.

God’s Spirit directs (and redirects) us away from sin. He helps us to see our sin—or harmful patterns that oppose God’s ways—clearly and to want to turn from it; he does so from a posture of love. His voice isn’t accusational. His voice is loving, hopeful, and helpful.

He treats us like a Good Father treats his children. Filled with unconditional love, willing to offer wisdom, redirecting with patience and clarity, and dwelling alongside. Again, he doesn’t hurl confusing accusations, leaving the child to their own defenses. The Spirit reminds us that we don’t need to live in fear, but we can turn to God as our loving “Daddy”:

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15 NIV

The Spirit doesn’t leave us cowering in confusion, worried about getting it wrong. We don’t need to approach decisions shaking in our boots, because the extravagant grace of God covers us. We are held by our Heavenly Father, and the Spirit reminds us of this: we have Christ himself advocating for our defense.

Get to know the sweet song of the Spirit; he is the one who intercedes for us and reminds us of our salvation. He whispers to our hearts that, in Christ, we are not condemned. The Spirit helps us. The Spirit prays for us. The Spirit proclaims to our hearts that we are advocated for.

The Song of the Spirit

This idea of tuning out the noise of this world to learn into the sweet song of the Spirit isn’t a new one. In fact, song is associated with the Holy Spirit many times throughout Scripture.

Song is connected with joy, and an understanding of God’s goodness: and that’s exactly what the Spirit brings about. Enjoy these Scriptures about songs from the Spirit:

• …speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord… Ephesians 5:19 NIV

• Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:16 NIV

As song fills our hearts, they overflow into the lives of those that surround us. See how understanding God’s goodness leads to our singing:

• He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him. Psalm 40:3

• The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy. Psalm 65:8 NIV

• Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Psalm 105:2 NIV

I began this writing describing the chaos that filled my mind when I was unable to discern God’s voice. While times still come where I battle confusion, getting to know the character of God has been greatly helpful when it comes to discerning the voice of the Spirit.

As I’ve come to know the voice of the Spirit, I’ve learned just how naturally, organically, and deeply it comes about. He indwells me, after all.

While promptings from the Spirit may be strong and clear at times, they aren’t demanding. No shouting. No forcing. Often, all it takes is a whisper—and a quiet heart to hear.

Practically, as you venture out into life, I pray you’ll be diligent to consecrate your going-abouts by asking the Lord for a keen, listening ear. Asking him to cover your thoughts, words, and speech. He is faithful! Then, stepping forward, peacefully—but actively—aim to attune your heart to Lord’s voice and follow it.

The fun thing you’ll find is that what may start as a barely-discernible whisper becomes much more clear as you are practiced in attuning into it.

We can learn how to tune into the voice of Jesus—his good, kind, freedom-giving, advocating voice. We can follow him in love, and take up our crosses in freedom.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27 NIV

May we believe in the goodness of God and embrace the song of the Spirit.

I hope this series helped you—from a variety of angles—to cultivate a quiet heart, that you might better understand the most lovely Gospel melody covering your life.

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Other Resources

Book “The Song of the King”: If you spend time with children, or want to enjoy a beautiful story as an adult, there is a children’s book called “The Song of the King” which describes three knights having to make their way through a treacherous, deadly forest called Hemlock to win the ultimate prize of marriage to a princess. Some think they’ll get through by their might or agility—but the only one who makes it through alive is the one who has learned to listen for the King’s song ringing out over the land, and follow it, no matter what noises threatened to get in the way.

Kelli Bachara Podcast: If you are interested in an exercise to help you “turn down the noise”, there is an awesome (and short) podcast I’d recommend: I have a friend (that’s generous—but she’s so cool that I’m going to claim this gal I met once or twice as my friend) named Kelli Bachara who has an incredible ministry. She keeps is simple and points people to the goodness of God. She is a licensed therapist who is passionate about people getting to embrace their freedom in Christ.

One time, I was listening to her podcast, and she has listeners do an exercise. When they were confused in a flurry of thoughts, feeling anxious, or overwhelmed, she suggested this exercise. Imagine you’re sitting in a car and the radio static is turned all the way up. It’s loud and intoxicating, and represents the many thoughts that fill our mind. Take the radio dial and slowly turn it down. Go very slow. Keep turning until all that remains is quiet. Then, listen to that still, small voice deep in your heart. Ask yourself what the still small voice is saying.

Cultivating Quiet: Practical Boundaries for the Deeper Life

I’m so glad you’ve decided to come along on this journey titled “Cultivating Quiet”. So far, here is what we have covered:

• An Introduction: Filled with reminders that we are Cultivating Quiet so that we might rest in the beauty of the Gospel. Choosing Quiet means turning down the radio static of this world, our flesh, and the enemy, and pressing into the sweet songs of grace.

• Enlisting Help from the Rescuer of Souls: This writing reminded us to not embark on any of this in our own strength—but to turn to the Lord for help in our pursuit of Quiet. As we fight against the loud lies and chaotic currents that threaten to sweep us up, we humble ourselves before the Lord, calling on his strength and guidance.

• Get Your Gospel On (Armor Up!): Here, we unpacked the end-goal of enemy attack: undermining our faith and bringing destruction into our lives. We explored how to put on the armor of God daily and to stand firm on the promises of Peace.

• Exposing Common Lies Which Steal our Peace: We have gotten specific about particular lies we might be believing that are preventing us from Resting in the Peace of God.

And now—we are getting practical. I hope you are understanding by now that Peace, Joy, and Abundant Grace have been purchased for us by the sacrifice of Jesus. When we are having a hard time grasping these beautiful truths, often it’s because a louder message has vied for our attention. The noise we encounter is the enemy shouting—trying to confuse us, scare us, and overwhelm us so that we don’t live into the fullness of Life intended for us by our Savior.

This might come in the form of a racing mind, overwhelming fear, anxiety, the heaviness of depression, confusion, and then some. Our goal here is to expose the roots of some of those experiences, and “turn down the noise” so that we can once again hear the sweet Gospel truth.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12 NIV

We are calling the Enemy out for the havoc he has wreaked, and we are fighting back. We have covered the basic tenets of God’s saving help for us, and our identities in Christ. Now, as we hold fast to those key truths, and seek to lean into God’s soft and personal voice in our life—directing us, guiding us, and comforting us—we will break down practical ways to shut down external noise and hear more clearly.

We have spent most of the time so far in the series exposing internal noise. Now, we are turning our gaze outward, and considering what external factors may be impacting our ability to cultivate Quiet hearts.

In other words, are there any habits we have fallen into that could be adding to the noise?

Our Lives Affect Our Hearts (and Vice Versa)

How we spend our days affects our hearts. The choices we make with our bodies impact our hearts, minds, and souls—not to mention the lives of those around us. We are wise to consider where we go, and what we do—especially as we seek to bring our lives into submission under Jesus, our Prince of Peace. (Ephesians 5:15-17, Proverbs 4:26)

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Proverbs 4:26 NIV

I believe our enemy knows this, and seeks to draw us into unwise patterns of living. Some of these temptations make us overtired and cranky. Some just distract us from the state of our souls and from life-giving connections with others.

Perhaps you’ve heard the old adage by Corrie ten Boom, “if the devil can’t make you sin, he’ll make you busy”. He wants to hinder our view of God’s goodness and mercy, to steal our joy, and bring ache to our bodies.

As we aim to bring God’s Kingdom of Peace to our personal spheres, our enemy is trying to sneak in and bring chaos. It’s as though we have cultivated our own little Eden Gardens—where the ways of God are worshiped and fellowship is known—and our enemy is attempting to sneak in and plant weeds.

Thankfully, we are given wisdom from God’s Word, the body of Christ, and the Spirit himself to guide our lives to flourish. Jesus is our good shepherd, leading us to refreshing places. Here’s how he describes himself:

I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. John 10:14-15 NIV

In Jesus, our ultimate victory has already been won! And as we walk through this side of eternity, we follow his voice, trusting him as Our Good Shepherd.

May this post serve humbly as a tool God may use to bring freedom, rest, and joy into your life—by exploring practical boundaries—to the glory of His Name.

We are going to dive into five areas of life we get to set healthy boundaries around—boundaries that actually add to our freedom and enhance our lives.

Boundaries aren’t about being controlled; they’re about willingly following the voice of Jesus. They’re about having self-control—as you, yourself, choose to go where God is calling you. Having boundaries isn’t entrapping you in a set of legalistic rules you’re bound to follow without thinking. Rather, having boundaries is about living a life aligned with your deepest desires, as they align with the will of God.

It’s about running the race God sets before you, unhindered, and about going where God would have you go, boldly. It’s about identifying what’s pulling you off course and offering a firm “NO” so that you can say “YES” to what you truly desire: an intimate life with Jesus, following his course.

We know that our actions impact our heart. But It’s kind of ironic (and a little fun)—to remember that our heart also impacts our actions:

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 NIV

So as we consider the practical actions ahead, we will be touching on the reasons behind the actions. My hope is that by digging into these depths of reasoning, you will grasp at the heart-level “why” these potential boundaries might benefit you. And may the Spirit use that heart-change to prompt life-giving action steps.

We will break down five practical topics involving boundaries:

• what you fill your mind with

• what you schedule

• what you eat, drink, and do

• who you serve

• what you allow as “input”

Prayerfully consider what’s ahead. Process with the Holy Spirit and ask God if there are life-giving changes you’re being invited into.

Walking in accordance with The Holy Spirit leads to our peace, and is a crucial step to cultivating Quieter hearts and minds. So then, this portion titled, “Practical Boundaries for the Deeper Life” won’t consist of black-and-white boundaries as much as it will consist of topics for you to prayerfully consider. Have fun, now!

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Keep an eye out for the “OPPORTUNITIES FOR REFLECTION”. These will provide questions for you to prayerfully consider, as you seek to step into deeper experiences of freedom and peace.

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Choosing Wisdom’s Table (to Protect Your Heart)

As we aim to expose unholy noise in our lives, it’s important to consider the people and places we are investing our time into.

If you opened up your bible to Proverbs 9, you would find an interesting choice laid out: one can either choose to sit at the table of “Lady Wisdom” or “Lady Folly”. Both ladies offer enticements—but one leads to flourishing life and one leads to crippling death.

In other words, there is messaging everywhere about which paths to take in life, and about what mindsets to adopt. Some are messages of wisdom—which appeal to the Spirit within us. Some are worldly messages—which appeal to our flesh.

Life in the Spirit leads to life and peace. Living life according to the flesh is killer.

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6 NIV

The really interesting thing—in light of our talk about Quiet and Noise—is that “Lady Folly” is described as clamorous, or unruly. (Proverbs 9:13) A deep dive into this word would indicate that folly is tumultuous, full of commotion, growling, and boisterous. Folly brings the opposite of peace.

In other words, if a person is to cultivate a Quiet Heart and a peaceful life, they don’t want to come near folly with a ten-foot-pole!

We want to sit at the table of Wisdom, in pursuit of the messages which align with the Spirit of God at work within us. And this is exactly the concept we get to build on as we consider the one who finds Wisdom. Listen to this description of our Beautiful Lady Wisdom:

Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed. Proverbs 3:17-18 NIV

Ahh, did that make you sigh with relief? I loved reading that description of Lady Wisdom. Pleasantness and peace. These are the wise ways of our Heavenly King. Wisdom is the road to life.

Getting practical, I’d love to highlight three core ways we might really treasure Wisdom for all that it is. We will discuss the Ultimate Wisdom of the Gospel, who to avoid if we aren’t into Folly, and some simple ways to plant wisdom into your heart.

As always, let’s get started with the Gospel…

There is an awesome little piece in Ephesians 3:10-11 that brings the concept of wisdom to a crescendo: what God accomplished through Christ displays the Ultimate Wisdom of God. If this is true, then we would be ultimately wise to keep the cross (and ressurrection) at the forefront of our hearts and minds—remembering how God mercifully made a way for salvation by faith. Two posts ago, we broke down the Armor of God, and how to daily keep this knowledge in view. I’d encourage you to read through it as you better understand how to clothe yourself in God’s Ultimate Wisdom.

And this is God's plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God's children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. Ephesians 3:6 NLT

Fixing our hearts and minds on the Gospel is key. Beyond that, to put ourselves in the way of Wisdom, a few things come to mind: avoiding those who mock God’s wisdom, and carving opportunities to soak in God’s true precepts.

We are advised—in both the Old Testament and New—to avoid mockers. A mocker is anyone who scoffs at the good news of Jesus. It’s someone who—when you mention God’s goodness, or other gracious truths—views it as unimportant or even despicable. Mockers ridicule the faith, or find it to be pointless. (Matthew 7:6, Psalm 1:1-2)

Now, please note: people who don’t know Jesus are not automatically mockers. I know labels like “mockers” can feel uncomfortable because we might say to ourselves, “But doesn’t Jesus love everybody?” —or— “But then, who will go to the lost that they might be saved?” —or— “Aren’t we all sinners?”

“Sinner” doesn’t equate to “mocker”. Jesus hung with sinners. Even more, he had dinner with them, took walks with them… he revealed himself to them. (Mark 2:15-17)

And I love the truth that God shines his beautiful grace on both the good and the wicked. (Matthew 5:45)

This wisdom here then, is less about our heart towards mockers, and more about the practical protection of our own faith journeys.

Jesus sent his disciples out to spread the Gospel, but he also said that if people didn’t receive the message, his disciples were to “dust off their feet” and head to the next place. (Matthew 10:14)

I believe that we are called to bring the grace of Jesus with us wherever we go, but to be wise and observing of the response it’s met with. It doesn’t matter how messy, broken, lost, or hurting, someone is; nobody is ever too far for God’s goodness and grace. And if they are thirsty for the living water of Jesus, we ought to share with them and spend our time pouring forth the Gospel.

On the flip side, it doesn’t matter how “cleaned up” someone’s life looks on the outside. If they are riddled with contempt for Jesus, if they view faith as unimportant, stupid, or pointless, I believe it’s wise to walk the other way.

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. Psalms 1:1-2 NIV

Let’s guard our hearts from those who seek to poke holes in our faith—and spend out time instead meditating on the goodness of God, and sharing that goodness with those we encounter.

Did you catch that: meditate on the good ways of God! Plant so many seeds of faith that weeds can’t even steal enough soil to sprout up.

One simple way to do this, is to read a chapter of Proverbs according to the day of the month it is. (August 1st=Proverbs 1. August 2nd=Proverbs 2., etc.) Other ways might be to listen to worship music that fills your soul with goodness. Connect with other believers and allow their spiritual gifts to edify you. Read the Word—any of it, all of it! Soak in Creation.

Whatever you do, choose the seat at Lady Wisdom’s table, and know that peace will follow along.

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OPPORTUNITY FOR REFLECTION: How big of a role does pursuing wisdom play in your daily life? Are there a few minutes of your day that sound enticing to incorporate Proverbs or other Bible reading into? Are there sources of “mockery” you would like to prune away, as a means to a more fruitful spiritual journey?

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Guarding Your Schedule (to Support Your Calling)

I’m very aware in writing this that the word “boundaries” can cause some people to start shaking in their boots. Saying “no” to people can feel really scary, and even if we are doing it for all the right reasons, people can still meet our “no” with contempt. And yet, this isn’t a call to set up the blockade of “no” callously or insensitively, but rather, these boundaries are about boldly following the call of Jesus (and doing so with love and a tender heart towards others).

Eek. Boundaries. What a topic. Let’s not delay any further!

Here’s the good part: setting boundaries around our lives and schedules helps to usher forth the goodness of God as they enable us to walk in his calling over our lives—and love the world in the specific, purposeful way he’s created us to do so.

There are some key Scriptures that remind our hearts of God’s special intentions in crafting us and setting our days. First, there is Psalm 139. Basically the whole thing… but there are a few really impactful verses that discuss God setting forth on the plan of making each of us.

For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:13-16 NIV

The crafting of you was an intentional work. Your very core, or inmost being—your emotions, interests, desires, and thoughts—were designed by a purposeful God. You’re not supposed to want to spend your time just like everyone else. You’re not supposed to want to serve just how your best friend does.

It doesn’t mean we are millennial divas—pursuing self-actualization (to a fault) and special treatment—but simply that we would be wise to seek our Maker as we schedule our days, trusting that he knows us better than we could ever know ourselves.

Just as our salvation isn’t by our own doing, so our good works, and the things we fill our schedules with, ought to be by God’s hand—directing us according to his perfect callings. And therefore, to his ultimate glory. This next goodie—regarding our being God’s handiwork—comes from Ephesians:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV

Because our lives are so intentionally special, I’m gonna go there with the boundaries talk. Even if it’s uncomfortable. Because I want you to shine God’s glorious light in the most full and beautiful way that he has crafted you to. I’m going to invite you to start guarding your calendar, and saying “no” to some things, in order to give a big, fat “yes” to all the Perfect Plans of God.

To begin: a story…

Two summers ago, I was invited to do a Christian book club with women from church. I really liked all of these women. I was interested in the book. And it seemed like a “good thing” to do, right? It was a Christian book study about knowing your identity in Jesus!

So… I couldn’t figure out why I simply didn’t want to participate. Now, sometimes, I believe the enemy can attack good opportunities for fellowship and growth and we ought to be watchful for this, which makes this next move so crucial: I prayed about it. I asked Jesus what he had for my summer.

Honestly, I think I expected him to shift my heart into a yes. But… he didn’t. I felt more convicted in my choice to say “no”. But I felt nervous to decline, too. What if they thought I didn’t care about my identity in Christ? What if they felt like I didn’t like them? What if they thought I just wanted a lazy summer without growth?

Despite my fears, I just had this sense in my heart that it wasn’t what God has for me. I felt a strong “no” in my spirit, and so I decided to decline.

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4 NIV

My fear of what others would think threatened to control my calendar. Leaning into God’s Spirit set me free. And do you want to know what happened almost immediately after I gave my bold “no” to participating?

I ended up connected with a friend who needed childcare in the evenings so she could go to a church group… the same day of the week that my book study would have been on! This was a real believer, who had real needs, who I had the capacity to help because I had protected my calendar.

I was delighted to help her in this way. And the presence of her son ended up being a huge blessing to our home on those weeknights. It wasn’t that I declined the book club because I didn’t want to give my time for “God stuff”; it was that God had a special intention for my time—an intention that brought me life, even as I laid my time down for another church member.

I was able to give my time to her, not begrudgingly, but cheerfully. It was so much better that way.

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 NLT

May we pray continually. When potential commitments come our way, may we ask God what he thinks about them. May we not let fear (of what others think) or shame (over our true interests) control our calendar. God crafted us with intention and if we’d rather babysit a believer’s child versus go to a book club, is it possible he planted that desire in our hearts? Let’s pray and ask him!

The entire Bible is ridden with examples of people who inquired of the Lord… and examples of those who did not. I’ll just tell you right now: things went a lot better for the ones who inquired of the Lord! He loves us, and he wants to give generous wisdom to those who ask. (1 Samuel 30:8, James 1:5)

You may remember, a few weeks back, we dug into Isaiah 30 together. (Revisit it here.) We studied a time when God’s people took matters into their own hands rather than seeking the help of the living God. They were making moves apart from the Spirit of God, and put frankly, this was not good!

May we, by the power of the Holy Spirit, be reminded to seek God continually.

May we step forward as God created us—with the gifts, goals, and passions he has knit inside of us—and seek His Will in every decision we make.

And as we place ourselves under the direction of The Spirit of Peace, may we find that our schedules aren’t over-committed and burdensome with the wrong stuff, but life-giving and intentional with the right stuff—as we serve the world around us in accordance with the will of God.

I’ve had seasons where my schedule was emptier—according to God’s will. And I’ve had crazy-busy seasons—according to God’s will. Either way, when I sought his plans and stepped forward boldly, his peace was with me all-the-while.

May we live freely, boldly, and unashamed as we seek to let the Spirit be our guide.

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OPPORTUNITY FOR REFLECTION: When you make calendar moves, what factors drive you? Obligation? Not wanting to upset anyone? The Holy Spirit’s guidance? Ask the Lord about current choices that lay before you, and see if your inclinations around these events change or remain the same.

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Healthy Choices (for a Vibrant Life)

Okay… it’s confession time. And this isn’t a cutesy confession either. I’m kind of embarrassed to admit this, but at the same time, I believe it’s a great example of what not to do, so here it goes…

Two weeks ago, I watched Netflix until midnight and ate the better portion of a bag of potato chips. Maybe this shocks you. Maybe you’re thinking “What’s the big deal? Sounds like a Tuesday night!”

No matter how rare or regular this might be for you, let’s break down how I felt the next morning: quite dehydrated from way too much salt intake, kind of sick, ornery, and tired. Definitely not like Super Mom.

I was feeling like garbage the next day, and was so snappy with my kids.

I prayed pretty much nonstop the next morning that God would help me with my crankiness… to no avail. Finally, around midday, I cried out. “What is going on, God? I’ve been praying all morning and I still feel as irritable as can be!” Instantly, my heart was reminded of my chips and Netflix binge.

Now, I really hesitated to share this section with you. Because I don’t want you to be like “Wow, this is so shallow…” or “Okay, are you shaming my junk food?” But it honestly felt like an epiphany moment leading up to this writing that how we use our body matters.

How often are we praying for God to give us energy or a happier attitude, but ignoring the sweet, gentle promptings of the Holy Spirit for actual, practical lifestyle changes that would lead to our good?

We have so much freedom in Christ, but am I actually living in that freedom if I “can’t help” but eat trash and stay up too late watching TV? And then I am cranky “out-of-my-control” the next day?

Maybe freedom actually looks like asking the Holy Spirit if there are areas he is inviting you to lean on Him for self-discipline, and in doing so, he will bring about more fruit in your life.

What if God isn’t inviting you to skip the trash food, excessive alcohol, incessant scrolling, etc. because he’s mad at you? What if he is doing it because he is a Father that loves you?

Discipline isn’t easy, but it produces peace. I love this portion from Hebrews, about our struggles with sin:

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. Hebrews 12:12-13 NIV

Choosing self-discipline (or rather, yielding to God’s discipline by the power of the Holy Spirit), leads to peace, righteousness and healing.

In our journey to peace, may we not neglect the loving and gentle discipline of our Heavenly Father! May we cut out what’s entangling us so that we can run our races more freely.

We are given so much freedom in our relationship with God, but to take another angle: not everything we are allowed to do would be good for us to do.

Just because something is permissible, doesn’t make it beneficial:

All things are lawful [that is, morally legitimate, permissible], but not all things are beneficial or advantageous. All things are lawful, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life]. 1 Corinthians 10:23 AMP

Contextually, Paul wrote this verse to church members who were using their Christian freedom in ways that made other people feel really conflicted. I believe these wise words considering the true nature of Christian freedom ring true in most areas. We are uncondemned in Christ, but we are called to walk in wisdom, choosing what is beneficial.

You see, we don’t make disciplined choices because we have to. We do our best to make glorifying choices with our bodies because they are homes to The Holy Spirit.

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19-29 NIV

It’s not about being a health freak or any black-and-white rule... It’s about asking Jesus what he may like to prune in your lifestyle in order to produce more fruit.

At times, he may invite us to feast, to dine merrily and heartily, for the glory of his name. At other times, he may call us to neglect choosing pleasure in our late night Hot Cocoa or Tequila-Soda patterns, so that we can find greater pleasure in Him, and perhaps even heal our physical health a bit!

The questions are these: where is the voice of Jesus leading you, today? And do you trust he is leading you to life and peace? What disciplines could he be inviting you into?

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OPPORTUNITY FOR REFLECTION: What would self-control look like in this season? Or is there a certain area you long for more discipline, but feel “stuck”? Ask God for help, and for his hand to guide you. (Much of this doesn’t come down to right-versus-wrong, but rather holds invitation for more abundant Life as you weed out what isn’t serving Kingdom purposes.)

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Generous Living (for a Free Spirit)

As we seek to set boundaries around our calendar, health choices, and social interactions… may we not forget to tame our own fleshly nature in the process. (Hmm… “fleshly nature” is kind of a gross-sounding phrase, albeit fitting. That flesh is nasty!)

I know it might sound impossible sometimes, but actively choosing to serve others’ interests instead of your own will actually bring so much desired peace into your life.

I tread this ground with due caution, as a recovering people-pleaser; I spent a lot of my life muzzling my own desires and resentfully muscling through doing what others wanted all the time. The fruit of this behavior was contempt and, honestly, a sad heart.

This is not the way of God! So let’s talk about how to live generously, and cheerfully—from the heart, to the glory of God. Shall we?!

To begin, let’s remember: life with God is about freedom. Spirit things are freedom things.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV

So, if you are trying to do what other people want from a place of feeling like you have to—either because a person will be mad if you don’t, or you’ll feel “like a bad person” if you don’t, etc.—that’s not the starting point we aim for.

Shame doesn’t get to drive our lives. And other people don’t get to drive our lives.

We have been given autonomy in our own lives—and we are invited to willingly lay that autonomy down at the foot of the cross, for Kingdom purposes.

The question we must ask is this: what is it about the Gospel that would cause one to willingly lay their own lives down? And not begrudgingly, truly cheerfully. I shared this verse earlier in the post, but it’s worth laying out again:

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV

What’s special about this, is God always seems to be starting at the heart level. And with freedom in play.

So much of the Christian life is about us pouring out what God has so generously poured on us. “We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) “We comfort others with the comfort we received from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:4) So on, and so forth.

Christian living begins and ends with Jesus. If you are having a hard time laying down your own interests, could it be because you haven’t yet grasped the truth that you’re not really laying them aside as much as you’re laying them at the feet of Jesus?

We are able to live generously, cheerfully, only have we have truly understood that God loves us, and any calling he gives us towards goodness will result in our ultimate good—either here on earth or by a very real heavenly reward.

Sometimes we walk around like God just wants us to give up everything—and that’s what it means to “take up our cross”. But lest we forget that Jesus didn’t just take up his cross to calvary, but was actually resurrected in eternal heavenly glory?!

Taking up our cross means following Jesus—first to death, then to life eternal.

May we soak in that beautiful truth, and may the reality of heaven, and God’s “having-our-back” in the present drive us to unclench our firsts from our own circumstances and possessions.

We can trust that if we are called, as followers of Jesus, to live humbly, selflessly, gently, and generously, that this will actually lead to Abundant Life! This invitation to choose to serve others isn’t to your own demise—it’s tapping into a deeper understanding that the Christian life is actually the true route to a joy-filled existence.

Furthermore, and continuing in the thread of Freedom… may we not forget the wise words of Peter:

…people are slaves to whatever has mastered them. 2 Peter 2:19 NIV

If we are seeking to satisfy our own desires, we are actually enslaved to whatever fleeting “want” we have. This is entirely different than observing our God-given dreams and passions, and laying them at the foot of the cross—willingly making yourself a slave to Jesus.

We can lay our desires at his feet, and honestly—he handles them so much better! He came so that we could have abundant life. Peace, joy, and then some! We can trust him!

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10 NLT

In Philippians 4, Paul describes a life of surrender: content with little or much. How does he “pull it off”? He lays in out right here in this oft-quoted piece of Scripture:

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 NIV

We can serve God with the strength that he himself provides.

Because that’s who we are ultimately serving: serving others is a form of serving God. (Matthew 25:40-45) This isn’t about pleasing people, it’s about pleasing God. And it’s not even about surrendering to others so much as it’s surrendering to God’s call on our lives as we trust him.

This is a helpful discrepancy to observe because it can keep us from becoming ensnared by people pleasing, and rather keeping our hearts purely in devotion to the Lord as we serve others.

By laying down our own interests, by living a life to serve Jesus, we actually become unshakably joyful—because we are no longer placing our happiness stake in our own wants being fulfilled.

We, instead, get to surrender those wants to God himself. And remember—he cares about us and our desires! He made good things for our delight and pleasure—but he was always intended to be the source of our blessings. We weren’t meant to strive anxiously for what we want. We were meant to lay our lives down at his feet, trusting his love.

Practice generosity and selfless living, as an intentional rhythm, by the power of God’s Holy Spirit carrying you along—and watch your cup overflow.

Yield to the Spirit, planting seeds of surrender, and watch spiritual fruit abound:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control… Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

Living in accordance with the Spirit is the way to true peace. We can do this by asking God to give us hearts of surrender, and aiming to crucify our flesh as often as we see the opportunity. We are able to do this—not begrudgingly—but with love and cheer, as we grow in our trust that Jesus truly has our best interest in heart and at hand.

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OPPORTUNITY FOR REFLECTION: When you think about not getting your way, how do you feel? Do you want to ask God for a deeper knowledge of his Lovingkindness and Care? Is there a specific area in your life right now that you might try to lay your own interests down, as you entrust your life to God? See what happens when you do: take note of how you feel, and how God provides for your deepest desires.

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Limiting Public Input (for a Refreshing Home Life)

I’m going to talk about social media, but before I do, let me assure you: there isn’t a rant ahead. Well, not really… 

I’m not going to encourage anyone to delete their accounts and move to the Amish country—not any more than I would tell you to avoid Starbucks, the local book store, or any other public sphere. 

Instagram and other forms of social media are a collection of messages, voices, announcements, and propagandas. When we encounter input in the world, we must exercise discernment. This discernment takes energy. And all of these voices—scrolled through at jet-speed—can leave our ears ringing; it can take effort to quiet all that noise.

So, instead of marking Instagram itself as “good” or “bad”, let’s think of it as a busy, public marketplace swirling with inputs—some innocent, some devious, all requiring the effortful filter of being run by our Christian worldview.

Many of us invite this swirling market into our waking moments, our children’s lunchtimes, our bathroom, and our bedtimes. We welcome these messages when our minds feel strong, but also at times of vulnerability: when we are at a birthday dinner, in a fight with our spouse, or having our time alone with Jesus…

What I am going to do, is invite you to prayerfully consider what it does to your heart when you give the “public entity” of social media unlimited access to the private spaces of your home and heart. 

I believe that homes serve a beautiful purpose: they give us a place of rest, joy, solitude, and reprieve—away from the public arena. There is a reason we get get roommates, or get married, or cultivate homes in which we have people whom we relate to, and find rest in places where our values are—for the most part—unassaulted. There’s no place like home. Sweet, comforting, home, where we can let our guard down…

I’m concerned we have set aside this rest by offering the invitation for the public arena to have unlimited access in our homes—places intended to offer us peace, and quiet. Through the means of social, and other medias.

Our battle isn’t against flesh (or apps)—it’s against ideologies and lies. (Ephesians 6:12) And unfortunately, our feeds are ridden with them. I’m not demonizing our apps, but am simply viewing social media as an extension of the world and acknowledging the reality that what we encounter there requires discernment, and if our souls are weary, perhaps it’s causing mental exhaustion, when some reprieve would bless us!

Even if you have meticulously cleaned up who you follow, scrolling through your Instagram feed might feel like playing the game “Two Truths and a Lie”. It’s a place filled with ideas that we take in at rapid speed—as followers of Jesus, we aim to practice discernment with the input we take in, but what an exhausting practice for our mind out take so much in, so quickly!

We call it mindless, but it’s actually mind-numbingly hectic for the discerning soul.

Hear me: I promise, I’m really not saying Instagram is all bad. This is just an invitation to prayerfully consider the quantity and quality of your input. To realistically assess—through the support of prayerful reflection—how much you can take in and how it’s impacting your life and mind.

I had a friend once who took a break from social media. She recalled soaking in a bubble bath and not being able to get over how “quiet” it was. There was no feed buzzing in the background. Because even if we set our phones aside, our minds are often still buzzing with what we just took in, or what we want to share out to the world. It’s thought-consuming, this energetic, nonstop public arena that has moved into our private lives…

This isn’t a shameful reproach, but a loving plea for the sake of your soul: consider what your personal call is regarding social media. And if you feel entrapped, enlist help from Jesus. He hears us; he helps us.

In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears. Psalm 18:6 NIV

As believers, we have been given incomparably great power. (2 Timothy 1:7, Ephesians 1:19)

Sometimes the “I can’t stop scrolling” mentality is a lie from the enemy to keep you stuck. What if you can stop? What if God’s power that is at work with us is greater than worldly power? What if he has already given us ideas for helpful boundaries or inspired us and we just need to take hold and walk in it?

I don’t know what God is calling you towards. I’ve had seasons away from social media, and seasons within it. I do see the benefits of it. However, I will say that my seasons away have felt quieter, simpler, and more peaceful, and if that is what your soul needs right now, I pray you will feel courageous to yield to the Spirit’s promptings and enjoy the blessings that follow.

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OPPORTUNITY FOR REFLECTION: Would you describe your relationship with social (and other) media as one where you feel free, or controlled? Prayerfully consider your deepest reasons for incorporating these apps into your life (pleasure, connection, business, etc.), and ask the Lord if these are the routes he would have you use to accomplish good ends, or if he is calling you away from these spheres. And remember, his saving help is just a prayer away. He desires freedom for you, whatever that looks like!

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I hope this writing has given you some practical ideas intended to help you usher more Quiet into your life. Or rather, to push aside what’s fighting to drown out the Quiet.

Walk forward in freedom, and may these practical considerations add peace to your days!

Cultivating Quiet: Get Your Gospel On (Armor Up!)

Cultivating quiet is about leaning into God’s still, small voice.

It’s about fixing our eyes on Jesus when the messes of life vie for our attention.

This journey consists of clinging to the truth of God when lies start closing in on us.

And while varying circumstances highlight the need to focus our hearts and minds on Gospel truth, Jesus remains the central Savior to it all. What circumstances have led you to realize your need for quiet? Is it external storms or internal chaos? Do any of these instances below resonate with you?

• The One Called to Risk or Obey: Sometimes, we feel like Peter, stepping out onto the water— eager to overcome our fears and walk in obedience, but wearied by the storms around us. Peter found stability when his eyes were fixed on Jesus, and Jesus came through for him when his faith fell short.

• The One Seeking Help, in Need of Healing: Other times, we may relate to the woman we read about in Mark 5:25-34. She was desperate for help and healing. She knew getting to Jesus would require some effort, but her faith drove her forward towards him, despite the crowd pressing all around her. And she found healing.

• The One Tormented and Desperate: And at times, we feel completely crippled. Freedom from torment, noise, or pain feels far off. But the mercy of Jesus is never too far off. At times, we are desperate for him, like the demon-possessed man from Mark 5:1-20, hurting beyond belief—absolutely tormented—and Jesus comes to us and sets us free, so that we can walk forth sober-mindedly and refreshed.

Regardless of which story resonates with you about turning to Jesus for your help, hope, refreshment, and freedom, these things remain true:

Jesus is the critical strength and salvation we need, to be saved from the noise, chaos, and torment that surround us.

This fight for quiet is won by the strength of the Lord. In this writing, we’ll discuss just how to cover ourselves with His strength.

But first, let’s enjoy the pleasant reminder of exactly what the quiet holds for us.

A Quiet Worth Fighting For

As we learn to move past and break down the ungodly noise in our life, we have the opportunity to rest in the gracious reality which remains: the truth of the Gospel. It’s the most beautiful truth in the entire world—a God who loves us, a savior who gave up his life for us, a total conquering of death and evil, eternal life forever.

We aren’t cultivating quiet for the sake of soaking in nothingness! What we are working towards is a flourishing place, in which we have weeded out the untruths—turned down the noise of unreality—so that the beautiful song of Life with God can ring sweetly in our ears.

We are stepping back into the Garden per se, by the atoning work of our Savior. We are stripping back lies and choosing abundant life. We are moving towards Jesus, despite our circumstances.

And to get there, we are armoring ourselves up with the strength of God—so that we can face any battle. And the ground we are claiming in this war—the ground that is rightfully ours in Christ—is the sweet promised land of His peace, joy, and goodness.

Going to Battle

So then, cultivating a quiet heart involves taking up battle against the ungodly noises that plague us.

These noises come in the form of lies, fears, accusations, and then some. But we aren’t abandoned in the battle. God goes with us. Jesus has gone before us. The Spirit is within us. (Psalm 16:8, John 1:14, Hebrews 4:15, 2 Timothy 1:14)

We are in a battle to make our minds, bodies, and souls Kingdom places, as we take all the messages we encounter, and make them subject to the Lord’s Kingship. This is how we fight in his army.

This is an end the church works toward, as 2 Corinthians 10:5 says:

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

We have a real enemy who shouts real lies, and while we make it our mission to embrace lives of faith and true knowledge, the mission of our enemy is to distort reality in an attempt to corrupt our lives and weaken our faiths.

So much of the noise we hear are the truths and lies battling within us, but we have been given every tool to conquer this noise. These tools just don’t always look like what we might expect…

A Meek and Humble Soldier

Just as we see Jesus, in Philippians 2:1-11, walk in meekness and humility—and in the end, become resurrected over every evil power at work—so we follow in his footsteps. Our battle is won through meekness and humility. The world considers this upside-down, but we know it to be God’s wisdom. We lay our own lives down and embrace the life of Jesus, living a life sold out for the sake of God’s call and purposes in our lives, and in full dependence on his salvation.

And just as we saw Jesus venture into the desert and face the lies of the devil head-on through forty days of temptation—and overcome by battling with truth—so we know that having a firm understanding of the truth, and walking in that truth, will be our guard against temptation. (Matthew 4:1-11)

The Gospel is the truth that saves us. The truth we cling to. Jesus said that all who feel weary and burdened are to come to him. He will give us rest for our souls. He will be the means to our quiet. (Matthew 11:28-30)

It’s the most counter-intuitive battle plan in the world: our victory is found in our rest.

Our war is won by our surrender.

We don’t stop fighting for faith; we simply hold fast in big faith that the big fight has already been won.

The enemy is attacking on borrowed time. Jesus has already gained the victory. As we persevere in faith and resist the conquered enemy, may our minds become more fortified, unshakeable, quiet, and guarded in the Lord.

As we step into this next piece from Ephesians about covering ourselves in the Armor of God, may we be keen to remember that it is the Lord’s strength we are covered with. This isn’t about being strong in our own right—it’s about remembering the Lord’s strength surrounding us and working within us; it’s his strength that conquers enemies.

The Full Armor of God

To experience victory, we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus—fully identifying with him, the winner of the war. Putting on the armor of God is like clothing yourself with the identity of Jesus day-in-and-day-out; as we hold fast in faith to key truths, lies begin to bounce off the Lord’s fortitude like arrows bouncing off an impenetrable shield.

Let’s do this thing!

Ephesians 6:10-18 is a key scripture to arm us with the tools required to press forward in the battle of quiet—our battle to turn down the lies and rest in the sweet song of Jesus. Enjoy it below:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Now, if you’re anything like me, you have the full desire to put on the armor of God, but might be asking yourself, “how exactly do I do this?”

Let’s break down each piece of armor listed in Ephesians—after all, we are told to put the full armor on. We’ll discuss what it could look like to incorporate these pieces of armor into our daily lives, as we begin our days in prayer and covering ourselves with the strength of the Lord:

• BELT OF TRUTH: Center your lives on the truth of God. He has given to us in his Word, the church, and all of creation to speak towards the truth of who He is. Interpret God’s Word through the power of the Holy Spirit and trusted spiritual authorities in your life. Feed on his word daily, and ask God to help you discern his truth from enemy lies. Jesus is the Truth—abide in him! (Ephesians 3:14-19, John 16:13, John 8:31-32, Psalm 19:1-4, John 1:1-4, John 14:6)

• BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: Guard your heart in the knowledge of your identity in Christ. He purchased the “legal standing” of your righteousness before God; in Christ, you are not condemned! May we live as children of God, made eternally righteous, and living unhindered by sin as we toss it aside and run the race marked out for us by Jesus. (Romans 8:1-2, Proverbs 4:23, Romans 8:33-34, Ephesians 5:8-10, Hebrews 12:1-3)

• READINESS THAT COMES FROM THE GOSPEL OF PEACE: We are ready for anything because of the true Gospel—bringing peace to our hearts and minds. Our standing with God, in Christ, is unshakable. We may face troubles in this world, but Jesus supersedes the world. He has overcome; eternal perfection is ours, and we are in good standing with the God of the Universe. This peace makes us ready for anything. (John 16:33, Colossians 1:15-20)

• SHIELD OF FAITH: The enemy shoots arrows of accusation at us all day long, but Christ is our shield. Our faith in Jesus is our salvation and no matter what fear, lies, or accusations come our way, they fall to the ground as we hold up our shield of faith. Practically speaking, we remind ourselves daily that we are eternally safe with Jesus and we will be with God forever. (Romans 10:17, Romans 10:10)

• HELMET OF SALVATION: Guard your mind by holding fast to the knowledge that you are saved. You don’t need to earn your salvation; it was purchased for you by the blood of Jesus. Remind yourself of this at the onset of each day, so when the enemy tries to tempt you with lies that we need to earn our keep in the Kingdom, we can call it out for the malarky that it is. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

• SWORD OF THE SPIRIT/WORD OF GOD: We can literally slay lies with this one. When we know the Word of God, and we see an opposing viewpoint come barreling towards our minds and hearts, we can wield our sword and say “NOPE”! The Word of God is an active, offensive weapon that we carry with us, prepared for warfare. The Word equips us for goodness, and to live lives marked by the Spirit of God. (Hebrews 4:12, Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Corinthians 10:5)

• PRAY IN THE SPIRIT: Pray always, all the time, in every way you could think of. Bring your praises, repentances, and requests to God—and in the moments that you have no idea what to pray, simply posture your heart towards him and trust the the Spirit is there, interceding on your behalf. Prayer is about connection with God, inviting his Kingdom to reign forth in our worlds, and making requests before his throne—believing he loves us, and that he cares. (Ephesians 6:18, Romans 8:26-27, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Philippians 4:6, Matthew 6:9-13)

So, there we are! I hope you have some moments today to dig through those linked Scripture verses, soaking in the truth of God’s good armor, provided for us in Jesus.

FUN IDEA: Choose one verse from each section and put it on a notecard, to review and pray each day.

Putting on your full armor daily—essentially, fortifying your heart, mind, and soul with the truth of the Gospel—will assist you in blocking out the lies of the enemy, resisting the temptations of your flesh, and pushing back against the ungodly sway of the world.

And remember, if any of this feels daunting or beyond your grasp, visit the previous section from the Cultivating Quiet series about turning to the God who rescues us—his strength is sufficient for us.

Our strength in the battle for quiet comes from the Lord himself. When the war for our soul feels too much to bear, may we remember the Almighty Strength (and protection) of Jesus:

But you, O LORD, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high. Psalm 3:3 NIV

He is the shield about us. He lifts our head high. May we armor up and remember this truth, as we foster keen ears for the Gospel song that surrounds us.

Stay tuned for the rest of the “Cultivating Quiet” series. Next up: we’ll chat about what specific lies we call out that are keeping us from experiencing the quiet lives with God our souls were made for. I hope and pray it exposes enemy ploys with the good truth of God, bringing freedom and restoration. Thanks for coming along for the journey!

PS—The book of Romans beautifully covers Gospel doctrine. It breaks down key aspects of the Christian faith, making it a great choice for new believers to encounter, or a refreshing choice for those wanting to re-focus on the core of the Gospel. Check out the study below for more information!

Cultivating Quiet: Enlisting Help from the Rescuer of Souls

What is Quiet?

As we kick off this series, let’s talk about what quiet is, and what it isn’t.

Cultivating quiet isn’t about pushing yourself to enter some fanciful, mediative state. It isn’t an emptying of your mind or a numbing to the external realities you face.

On the contrary, cultivating quiet is about chipping away at the anxieties, lies, and other assaults that besiege our souls on a daily basis. It’s about removing the ungodly noise and enjoying the God’s true and faithful presence on the other end of it.

And so, if cultivating quiet is about enjoying our relationship with the Creator, it only makes sense that we involve Him in every step of our journey to get there.

That’s what part one is about: calling on the rescuer of souls for the nurture our souls so desperately need.

As we embark on the mission to cultivate more quiet in our hearts, may this verse from 1 Peter inspire us:

…but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 1 Peter 3:4 ESV

Here, quiet may also be defined as tranquil in its original greek language. Picture a still, peaceful lake: un-agitated, at ease.

God invites his people to come to him, filled with trust, when we require saving help. We see this big time on the cross, and in a million little ways in our day-to-day-lives. This area of seeking to cultivate a quiet spirit is no different. May we go to God first when we are in need.

Where Do We Turn for Quiet?

In Isaiah 30, there is a haunting prophecy rebuking God’s nation of Israel for seeking salvation in all the wrong places. You see, they were in trouble; they made their plans to acquire help—but not according to the Spirit of God. They turned to those around them, to ungodly places. In fact, they actually turned to the places that had once enslaved them (Egypt) in order to secure help for themselves.

And before we write them off as crazy for doing so, let’s ask ourselves a few questions…

Where are you turning for help these days? Are you numbing out anxious thoughts with some lengthy scroll-time on your phone, even though it feels addicting in a way you don’t like? Are you turning to food for comfort—that, while it isn’t bad in itself—draws you into gluttony or over-indulgence that leaves you feeling gross? In what areas does God want to set you free, as you to turn to him to find rest for your soul?

May we never forget that God is rich in compassion and mercy. He was back then, to his nation of Israel, and he still is today. The Israelites sought help in other areas, but may we—by the power of God’s Spirit at work within us—choose to embrace his saving help.

This is what the Lord says about acquiring strength and salvation:

“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength…”  Isaiah 30:15 NIV

As the hurricanes of life surround us, may we be found in the quiet center, seeking the Lord. This, is where true strength lies.

And as we embark on this journey of cultivating quiet hearts, may we not turn to worldly propositions for quiet, or routes that may result in our enslavement. Instead, may we turn to the rescuer of souls. May we turn to God himself, who loves us.

Continuing in our passage from Isaiah 30—after stern rebuke for turning to ungodly means of help—gracious wisdom is offered to the people of God:

People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:19-21 NIV

Do you see the beauty here? As God’s people cry for help, he hears them. As they banish their idols and turn to the living God (who loves them), they are able to discern good direction and walk in it.

Today, as believers, we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit to teach us and direct us:

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26 NIV

We are in a battle against noisy lies that try to push out the Spirit’s true wisdom and direction. We were made for God’s truth—and the quiet restfulness that comes from believing and walking in those truths.

Humbly Seeking Help

We need to both humbly seek the Lord and his truth, and allow his truth to settle our agitated hearts.

Psalm 131 is a short psalm holding profound wisdom; it encourages us to quiet ourselves as we hope in the Lord. (You can read it here.)

We were made for dependence on God, and the topic of cultivating quiet is no difference. May we adorn ourselves with quiet, as we saw in 1 Peter 3:4—and may that quiet spirit bring grace to both our own lives, and the lives of those around us.

As with any spiritual endeavor, being at the end of yourself is a good place to begin. Approaching the Lord in humility and full dependence sets you up to see his goodness shine forth in gracious provision. So, as we begin this series on cultivating quiet—an uphill battle in today’s society—let’s go to our strong rescuer, believing what his Word says is true:

In Scripture, we are prompted left-and-right to go to the Lord with our needs. A few examples of this are below:

• Needing wisdom: We can ask the Lord of wisdom, trusting him to generously provide it. (James 1:5)

• Needing care: When we go seeking him and asking, we believe we are met with his fatherly care. (Matthew 7:7-8)

• Needing strength: We trust him to be strong in our weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

• Needing help: We believe he hears the cries of the distressed one. (Psalm 107)

• Needing forgiveness: We believe he is rich with forgiveness for the repentant heart. (1 John 1:9)

A soul desperately in need of quiet is no difference. God is our life-source.

Finding Rescue in the Savior

Psalm 18:16-19 is the most beautiful illustration of God’s heart to rescue his people from harm’s way and bring them to safety. I hope you enjoy it:

He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.

He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.

They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support.

He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me. Psalm 18:16-19 NIV

May we remember the truths outlined here as we approach this journey towards quiet. The Lord delights in us, he rescues us, and his faithful care is our sustenance.

May we be strong in his grace. (2 Timothy 2:1)

May we move forward towards the quiet knowing that the safest place to be is at the end of our rope.

If you are hungry for stillness, desperate for a quietness of heart… turn to Jesus as your very first step. Sometimes it’s as simple as acknowledging in your heart that you need him.

Sometimes it’s the tiniest little prayers, deep inside of us, that make all the difference. Because of the one we are praying to. And remember: we don’t have to “feel different” after praying to believe that he hears us.

We just get to take steps forward—fighting for faith—and pressing our minds to remember that whether we feel it or not, he is fighting our battles, catching our tears, and leading us along good paths for the sake of his name. (Exodus 14:14, Psalm 56:8, Psalm 23:3)

    “…he refreshes my soul.
 He guides me along the right paths
 for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3 NIV

As we move forward through this series together, let’s remember that quiet spaces are worth fighting for, and that our strength in the battle comes from the Lord himself.

Stay tuned for the following parts of this series, titled “Cultivating Quiet”.

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If you want to walk along some beautiful Psalms, finding rest in God’s character along the way, check out “Summer in the Psalms” in my shop. It’s not just for summer! This beautiful study will shine the light of God’s truth into your heart year-round. :)

Cultivating Quiet: An Introduction

I’m afraid, as a society, we have traded in the song of the Spirit for radio static.

The beautiful reality that surrounds us—the truth of God’s love, provision, generosity, and grace—gets drowned out by cheap thrills and malevolent distractions.

And I’m not willing to go down without a fight. As Christians, we are armed with every tool we need to push back against the noise of the present age with all the truth and power available to us in Jesus.

The series ahead is titled “Cultivating Quiet”, and while it may sound soft and sweet, it’s actually a battle cry! This series is an invitation to take back the peace, the joy, and the song that Christ gave his all to fill your life with.

This series is about armoring up against lies and boldly setting boundaries. It’s about pressing into the voice of God and living in the beautiful Spiritual narrative that is ours as believers in Jesus.

Stepping into stillness gives your heart space to hear the soul-filling songs that surround us.

To venture into quiet spaces is to give you a greater opportunity to really soak in the kind and gentle realities of God. For example: by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are reminded of lavish gifts passed onto us through Jesus. (1 Corinthians 2:12) As believers, we are whispered the secret thoughts of God straight into our hearts. (1 Corinthians 2:10) Furthermore, the Spirit tells our hearts that we are securely held in God’s family, as his beloved child. (Romans 8:16)

If this is just a microscopic preview of the truths our souls are being spoken, why can it feel so hard to hear it sometimes?

Because, my friend, we are in a battle. And the enemy we are fighting hates peace, joy, rest, and every other good thing of God. Lest we fret, remember: the ultimate war has already been won.

As Paul tells us in the book of Philippians, we get to take hold of that for which Jesus took hold of us! He has already gained us Spiritual Victory and we are citizens of heaven. (Notice the verb tenses there.) So then, in this world, we are privileged with the call to invite God’s kingdom to come as we embrace his truth and ways in every area of our life.

So often, our battle begins in quiet places where our souls are able to hear and be reminded of the powerful truth that fuels our journeys.

So then, let’s not roll over and get pummeled on this side of eternity! Let’s fight for quiet. Let’s fight for truth. Let’s fight for the ground we have been given in Christ! Amen?!

If you were looking for a cutesy little series about birds chirping and soft, still waters… don’t worry… we will get there. But only after we take up our armor and fight for that beautiful space.

Here’s what we will cover in the series ahead:

• Part 1: Praying to the Rescuer: Inviting the Power of God

• Part 2: Spiritual Armor: Clothing Yourself in the Gospel

• Part 3: Exposing Common Lies that Steal Our Peace

• Part 4: Practical Boundaries for the Deeper Life

• Part 5: Living A Full Life in the Spirit

As the end of this journey, I believe what you’ll find is that God hasn’t been hiding from you. He is an ever-present source of love and goodness, and I hope this series enables you to shove some of the blockers out of the way that you might be able to truly taste and see the beauty of God all around you.

Let’s go!