Yesterday I read in My Daily Bread that we should change up our spiritual exercises. That when we get into a habit of doing prayer a particular way every day then it becomes so habitual. It goes on to say that you might be effected by a particular situation that you need to lead a devotion of prayer for temptation or for a time of peace. “Variety in your spiritual life will help you to lead a richer life and a fuller one.”
I decided to take this on this morning, being that I’m out of my usual routine anyway, visiting family so I knew we were going to do a heated yoga class this morning. (Yes, it says ‘heated’…we did an hour and a 1/2 yoga class in 85 degrees.) I knew the only way I could get through this class was to pray through it and it was so peaceful! Even though my body aches it was a very cool way to begin the morning both in exercise and prayer.
The weather is another way I’m connecting with God. Yeah, yeah, all my friends in Texas right now are probably saying a few choice words but I can’t help but sit outside when it is 70 degrees and breathe in the sweetness of God’s gift in this non-humid air. This is what is key, recognizing God in everything. I think that is what gets a bit confusing. We have movies/books like Eat, Pray, Love that focus on spirituality coming from within…which is fine IF you know that ‘from within’ is from the Holy Spirit inside of you and you are then offering it up to the One who Created you. If we begin to turn ‘within’ and everything is ‘I’ and “me” then we leave room for the enemy to take a hold of that thinking and soon the two greatest commandments are forgotten:
Matthew 22:37-40
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not putting that book or movie down, I have yet to read it and I do plan to. But I have just heard various reports and I felt ‘called’ to share that tidbit of information as to why their might be some ‘issue’.
The evening has just begun and I look forward to spending a relaxing evening with Neal, John and Lisa, possibly in ‘Little Italy’ in Cleveland. If I am to see God in everyone then I’m certain I’ll see God in so many forms it will be quite amusing. 🙂
Blessings
Shannon