- Get outside.
How do I keep my spirit, mind, and body awake to Christ and His Kingdom?
By opening my heart and hands, by responding to the difficult way, the trail that forces me to come to the end of myself physically and mentally. It’s by walking into the hard things and saying yes with praises. It’s by not striving to escape my circumstances but seeking the JOY set before me.
I am an adventure lover, designed with strength, endurance, and speed to move my body. When I move fast and travel long distances, by body responds by functioning well and experiencing physical pleasure. When I slow down outside of what my body has been designed to do, the exact opposite happens. This is the trail that God beckons me to go down, this is the trail where my awakening begins.
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Luke 9:23
Leading people to the holy places of the wilderness, creating a space where people can experience God’s grace, mercies, and wonder, is where you will find my heart. When I lead a hike, I have to slow down to the pace of the group. This is where I can truly serve the people I lead and create a space for my people to experience God. It’s there, where my spirit, mind, and body awaken to the holiness of Christ that I am able to surrender in complete trust. In this space, HIS LOVE conquers MY FEAR.
2. Get quiet.
Stillness, silence, and solitude keeps me awake to Christ every day. In the quiet place, He shows me who I really am, what I’m feeling, why I’m feeling that way, and what to do with it. He draws out of the deep waters of my heart the things I need to bring to the light so He can heal them and give me His peace.
It’s why we find Jesus regularly getting away to quiet places (Luke 5:16). There He received the identity the Father had for Him and was able to live from that secure foundation, no matter what other people thought or felt about Him. In this place, he could hear the Father’s voice above the tumult of all the others.
Following the example of my Lord, I started with two minutes of silence per day. Then, I moved up to five minutes per day. Now, I regularly sit, breathe, and listen for extended periods of time.
I start by offering myself to the Lord, asking Him what He wants to say to me. Like any relationship, I ask Him clarifying questions when I think I’m hearing something. Sometimes I hear Him quietly speaking to me. Other times It’s just good to rest in His presence. No matter if I hear from Him or just rest with Him, I always leave that time awakened and strengthened for what is needed that day.
3. Move your body and sing.
Last Spring after returning home from Revelation Wellness Instructor Training Retreat, I was hit hard by paralyzing anxiety followed by major depression. I was spiritually, physically, and mentally dead to life and asleep to Christ. Out of desperation, I started to see a therapist, and eventually a psychiatrist who prescribed antidepressants. I hated my life and myself, felt miserable and hopeless, and despaired of life. Day after day for six months I felt this oppression. I had to wait upon the Lord. One day, I began to awaken. Slowly but surely I began to feel the light of Jesus shine on me and I was filled with life, joy, and hope and WORSHIP!
As one who has experienced clinical depression, I know the danger of falling asleep and the importance of STAYING AWAKE. What are some ways we can keep our spirit, hearts, minds, and bodies awake to Christ?
- READ the Truth in His Word: God is WITH us and LOVES us ALWAYS with unfailing love.
- MOVE YOUR BODY. Invite Jesus into our hearts while we move our bodies through prayer and scripture meditation, such as “Revving the Word” Podcasts!
- WORSHIP with song and community. The truth spoken and encouragement given through worship music has the potential to AWAKEN our spirit, mind, and body like nothing else!
Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, if you are asleep in sin or suffering in darkness, I pray you can trust that our kind and powerful Savior is strong enough to AWAKEN your heart, raise you from death to life, and shine His light on you.
Contributors:
- Leslie Wolff a Platoon 19 graduate, is a Lead Instructor for RevWild and a Shepherd for Rim to Him Grand Canyon crossings. She loves hiking, backpacking, and cycling and creates opportunities to share the hope God offers in the wilderness to anyone willing to say “yes”. Follow her adventures: @ijustneedpossible & https://www.facebook.com/ijustneedpossible
- Wes Scheu (platoon 20) is the staff Chaplain for Revelation Wellness and a pastor in Denver, CO. He lives there with his wife, Erin (platoon 19) and his three kids Isaiah (10), Brynna (7), and Lydia (4). He loves enjoying good coffee, good food with people, and getting outdoors with them to meet with Jesus in His creation.
- Misty Prorak is a wife and stay-at-home mom of two kids (5 and 8 years old). She also works at the Salvation Army Kroc Center in San Diego, CA where she leads youth sports activities and coaches youth soccer. You can read more of her story and find worship music on her blog The Joy of the Lord is Our Strength and Song and Instagram @wait.wake.worship.
Thank you for reading along on the Revelation Wellness Blog this week! Do you want to go deeper with Christ in real community? Find a local Meet Up near you starting June 22! A Revelation Wellness Meet Up is an in-person workshop/training event for your body, mind, and soul. This Meet Up will talk about the power of our words and how we keep our hearts, minds, and mouths in alignment with His Truth!
Workout with us in this #wednesdayworkout! For more workouts like this, visit RevWell TV!
CHIVONNE’S FULL BODY METABOLIC – “FORGIVING GOD”
This total body metabolic workout will count you down as you work through the set minutes of time. May time be on your side! (ADVANCED) (PSALM 103:1-5; HAND WEIGHTS)
