righteousness

CBG: Hunger & Thirst

June 25, 2020 — Leave a comment

And [Jesus] opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Matthew 5:2-6

Sometimes, alright if we’re being honest, often, when I’m hungry, I want a delicious vanilla ice cream cone with rainbow sprinkles. When I’m thirsty, I dream of a whiskey cocktail, ideally a Manhattan or a Sazarec. What would be most ideal is an ice cream & whiskey combo meal. And even those things are beautiful creations, I’m left desiring something else to eat or drink very soon after, or I feel sick and sit in regret. Even though it can feel farfetched, there is a way to train my body to desire vegetables and water. There is a way to train my body to long and love vegetables. When my body is in the practice of wanting vegetables, when I receive them, I’m excited. I’m not simply reluctantly eating a plant-based diet because “it’s good for me.” I want it. I see the variety and the possibility in vegetables. I feel physically good. I can be full and not harbor secret desires for cupcakes. It doesn’t mean that I won’t ever eat a cookie. I can still indulge in chips & cookies, but those are no longer the things I run after for satisfaction; they are things I get to have because I am already satisfied. This is hard. I naturally, or have been brought up, to love junk food and carbs. Broccoli currently doesn’t make me skip in joy. It takes discipline, practice and community to retrain the body and mind to center vegetables and see that they, too, can be colorful.

Thus is righteousness. To long, to love, to desire, to know the depths of good for you and others of, righteousness. To see righteousness as worthy to be sought after. To see righteousness as fun as all the other vices. Because righteousness feels close to how we were created to exist; an alignment with the goodness of God. If we can hunger and thirst for righteousness, we can experience an integrity that leads to well-deserved rest.

Prayer: God may I seek what actually satisfies and leads to rest.

What feels unsatisfied and lacking right now?

CBG: Armor

April 23, 2020 — Leave a comment

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplications. To that end keep alert with all perseverance making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare boldly, as I ought to speak.

Ephesians: 6:10-20

Our responsibility is simply to STAND FIRM. We are grounded and centered on our truth — that Jesus is with us, won for us and we have everything we need for this lifetime. We are marked by our righteousness — choosing the difficult, the uncomfortable, honoring integrity and conscience. We are guided by peace — not a need to be right, to be best. We are protected by faith that nothing of this world can defeat us. While it may be painful and hard, and it will be, hope and restoration are our future. Our mind is renewed and sanctified constantly by God. Our weapon is the unchanging yet ever-revelatory word of God. It is both true and flexible as our God is as well.

Prayer: God help us drop our quickness to be offended and quickness to get defensive. Let us stand firm in your love. Help us strip our own human armor. Let us be wrapped in your love. Help us to exist in a world where humans are not the enemy. There is a great enemy that wants to divide us and make us hate each other. And we pray against him, in the name of Jesus, for him to reveal himself and be conquered. God help us. God be near. Help us stand firm.

Creative: Feel your feet today. Really feel how grounded you can be. Come back to it often.

Brave: What has been hard to surrender? A resentment? A hurt? A relationship? What does it look like to let that go?

Generous: Who needs you to see them from their best intentions?