FINDING YOUR FLOW

FINDING YOUR FLOW

How Is It With Your Soul?

John 4:14 — NLT

“But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

Psalm 119:41–45 — NLT

“Lord, give me your unfailing love, the salvation that you promised me. Then I can answer those who taunt me, for I trust in your word.

Do not snatch your word of truth from me, for your regulations are my only hope.

I will keep on obeying your instructions forever and ever. I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.”

Micah 6:8 — NLT

“No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

Jeremiah 29:11 — NLT

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Finding Your Flow

Have you ever had one of those days when your brain has so many thoughts bouncing around that you can hardly keep up with yourself? You start thinking about one thing, which reminds you of another, and before you know it, you've traveled down three different roads without ever leaving your chair!

Believe me, I know a little something about that! LOL!

Sometimes we get so caught up in everything we need to do, everyone we want to help, and all the things we need to figure out that we forget to stop and ask ourselves one very important question:

How is it with your soul?

John Wesley, one of the founders of the Methodist movement, encouraged people to ask this very question. It wasn't simply a polite way of asking how someone was doing. It was an invitation to look honestly at the condition of the heart and our relationship with God.

We can tell people we're doing fine while our minds are racing, our bodies are exhausted, and our souls are crying out for a little peace.

We can spend our days checking off our to-do lists, caring for others, serving at church, volunteering at the Food Cupboard, and trying to keep our households running. We can even do good things for all the right reasons and still find ourselves running on empty.

Doing a lot isn't always the same as living well.

And that's where today's Scriptures begin to come together.

1. Stop Looking for Water in Empty Wells

Jesus tells us in John 4:14 that the water He gives becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within us.

Think about that for a moment. Jesus isn't offering us a drink that will satisfy us for five minutes before we need to find another source. He's offering us something eternal: a living relationship with Him that nourishes our souls.

We sometimes look for that same satisfaction in other places. We look for approval, accomplishments, financial security, or the feeling that we've finally gotten everything under control.

But those things can never take the place of Jesus.

There's nothing wrong with working hard, planning for tomorrow, or celebrating our accomplishments. The trouble begins when we expect those things to give us the peace only God can provide.

Ross and I have learned a little about living through seasons when life doesn't go according to our plans. We've experienced worry, uncertainty, and days when simply getting through the day was an accomplishment.

I have even stated I was built for trauma and suffering, to show others we can get through it and still be kind and gentle humans, even if we are a bit silly! Amen!

But, we have learned that God's presence doesn't depend on everything around us being perfect.

Yesterday, Ross had his procedure, and we received wonderful news. He was all clear, and the doctor told him that he won't need to have that procedure again. Ever!

What a blessing! What a relief! What a reason to thank God!

And as the weather turns colder, with the possibility of snow in the next 48 hours, we are especially thankful to have our heat back. After six months without electricity, the simple act of flipping a light switch or knowing we can keep warm means more than words can express.

Sometimes God's goodness meets us in the big moments. Sometimes we recognize it in the smallest comforts.

And sometimes, like a bubbling spring, His peace keeps showing up right in the middle of circumstances that haven't been completely resolved.

The question isn't whether life will make us thirsty. The question is where we'll go when we are.

2. Walk in Freedom, Not Perfection

Psalm 119 reminds us that God's unfailing love and His Word give us hope. The psalmist declares that he will walk in freedom because he has devoted himself to God's instructions.

Now, isn't that interesting?

We sometimes think freedom means doing whatever we want, whenever we want. But God's kind of freedom is different. It means we don't have to be controlled by fear, the need to impress people, or the impossible expectation that we must get everything right.

God isn't asking us to earn His love by performing perfectly.

He invites us to receive His love and let that love shape the way we live.

One of the beautiful Greek words that helps us understand this is eleutheria (ἐλευθερία), meaning freedom or liberty.

In Christ, we are invited to live free from the burden of trying to earn our worth. We can admit when we get something wrong, ask for forgiveness, make things right where possible, and keep moving forward with God.

Another Greek word is charis (χάρις), meaning grace or God's undeserved favor.

Grace reminds us that God doesn't wait for us to become perfect before He loves us. He meets us where we are and helps us grow.

That doesn't mean we stop trying to do what is right. It means we stop treating every mistake as proof that we've failed God.

Ross and I are still learning, still growing, and still figuring things out. Some days we get it right, and some days we look at each other and wonder what on earth just happened! LOL!

Like Sunday when we were getting ready for church. We were bringing a crock pot to put some homemade bean soup in. We worked together to get the ceramic part into a bag, then walked out without the base, so no way it could be used. We laughed because getting older sometimes complicates the simplest of things.

But we realize it is ok, we don't have to have every answer today.

We simply have to keep walking with the One who does.

3. Keep It Simple: Do Right, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly

Micah 6:8 is one of those Scriptures that can bring us back to center when our thoughts start running in every direction.

God has given us three simple instructions:

Do what is right.

Love mercy.

Walk humbly with your God.

We don't need a complicated formula to begin putting these words into practice.

When you're unsure what to do, ask yourself, “What is the right thing to do in this moment?”

When someone disappoints you, ask, “How can I respond with kindness instead of making things worse?”

And when life feels too heavy, ask, “Am I trying to carry all of this myself, or am I allowing God to walk beside me?”

The Hebrew word ḥesed (חֶסֶד) is often used to describe God's steadfast love, lovingkindness, and faithful mercy.

It is a beautiful reminder that God's love isn't just a feeling that comes and goes. It is a faithful love we can depend on.

And as we receive that love, we learn to extend mercy to others.

That includes our families, our neighbors, the people we serve at church, and even the people who get under our skin.

Especially those people! LOL!

Walking humbly with God also means recognizing that we don't have to know everything. We can ask for help. We can change our minds when we discover we've been wrong. We can admit that we are tired and need rest.

We can even laugh at ourselves when our brains take us on a little detour!

God isn't asking us to be impressive. He's asking us to walk with Him.

4. Remember That Your Future Is in God's Hands

Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us of God's promise of a future and a hope.

We need to understand the context of this promise. God spoke these words to His people while they were living in exile, facing a long season of uncertainty. His promise didn't mean that every difficulty would disappear overnight. It meant that their present circumstances were not the end of their story.

And that is an important truth for us, too.

We can make plans, work toward goals, and pray for things to improve, but we cannot control every detail of tomorrow.

Sometimes we worry so much about the future that we miss the blessings sitting right in front of us today.

Yesterday, we could have spent the whole day worrying about the next medical appointment, the next cold night, or the next challenge waiting around the corner.

Instead, we had wonderful news about Ross. We could thank God for the warmth in our home. We could take a breath and appreciate the simple gift of another day together.

Does that mean every problem is solved? No.

Does it mean we never worry? Absolutely not!

It means we can bring our worries to God instead of allowing them to take over every corner of our minds.

The Hebrew word bāṭaḥ (בָּטַח) means to trust, to feel secure, or to rely on someone.

Biblical trust isn't pretending that difficulties don't exist. It's choosing to depend on God while we face them.

We can trust Him with the questions we cannot answer, the burdens we cannot fix today, and the future we cannot see.

And while we're trusting Him, we can still enjoy the blessings He places in our hands.

5. Don't Forget to Take Care of the Temple

Here's where I want to bring our two trains of thought together!

We talk a lot about feeding our souls, but God also created us with physical bodies that need care.

Yesterday, we were reminded that fasting can be beneficial for our bodies. Fasting can also be a spiritual discipline when we intentionally set aside food or another comfort for a time to seek God, pray, and focus our attention on Him.

But let's remember something important: fasting isn't a way to earn God's love, and it isn't a competition to see who can go the longest without eating.

The purpose of a spiritual fast is to draw closer to God, not to punish ourselves or prove how spiritual we are.

Fasting should be approached wisely, too. It isn't appropriate for everyone, and some people need medical guidance before attempting a food fast. There are other ways to set aside distractions and devote focused time to prayer.

We can fast from unnecessary noise, social media, entertainment, or other things that compete for our attention.

We can use that time to read Scripture, pray, listen, and examine our hearts.

Because caring for our souls means more than simply asking God to bless everything we're doing. Sometimes it means slowing down long enough to hear what He wants to teach us.

And caring for our bodies means recognizing that rest, nourishment, warmth, and appropriate medical care matter, too.

God made us whole people, not just spiritual beings floating around in physical bodies!

So let's be good stewards of the lives He's given us.

So, How Is It With Your Soul Today?

Maybe you're feeling peaceful and grateful.

Maybe you're exhausted.

Maybe your mind is racing through a dozen things you need to do before lunchtime.

Or maybe you're carrying a burden that nobody else can see.

Wherever you find yourself today, you don't have to pretend with God.

Take a breath.

Drink some water. Get some rest if you need it. Spend a few quiet moments in prayer. Open your Bible and let God's Word remind you of what is true.

Ask yourself:

Am I drawing from the Living Water, or am I trying to satisfy my soul with things that cannot sustain me?

 

Am I walking in the freedom of God's grace, or am I expecting perfection from myself?

Am I doing what is right, loving mercy, and walking humbly with my God?

Am I trusting God with tomorrow while being thankful for today's blessings?

You don't need to answer every question perfectly. You just need to be willing to bring your honest heart before the Lord.

And if your thoughts wander while you're praying, don't give up! Gently bring them back to Him. If they wander again, bring them back again.

God knows how we're made. He knows the noise inside our heads, the worries we carry, and the love we have for the people around us.

He knows us completely, and He loves us faithfully.

Today, let's stop chasing every answer, every expectation, and every worry long enough to drink deeply from the Living Water.

Let's care for the bodies He's given us, nurture the souls He's entrusted to us, and remember that we don't have to figure out the entire future before we can enjoy the present.

Ross and I are thankful for the good news of yesterday, for the warmth in our home, and for another day to walk with the Lord.

And whatever today brings, we can face it one step at a time, with our hands in His and our hearts open to His leading.

So, my friends, how is it with your soul today?

May we find our flow, not by getting everything in life under control, but by staying connected to the One who holds us through it all.

Thank You, Lord, for taking such tender care of us, Your people. ❤️

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the Living Water that refreshes our souls when life leaves us feeling empty. Thank You for Your unfailing love, Your grace, and the freedom we find when we walk with You.

Lord, we praise You for the wonderful news about Ross's procedure. What a relief and a blessing! Thank You for watching over him and giving us another reason to rejoice.

Thank You for the warmth in our home as the weather turns colder. We know that what might seem like a small comfort to some is a tremendous blessing to us. Help us never to take Your goodness for granted.

Father, teach us to care for our bodies and our souls. Help us practice spiritual disciplines with wisdom, seek You with sincere hearts, and make room for Your voice amid the noise of our busy minds.

When we become overwhelmed, remind us to pause. When we become anxious about tomorrow, teach us to trust You. When we are tempted to demand perfection from ourselves or others, help us remember the grace You so freely give.

Show us how to do what is right, love mercy, and walk humbly beside You. Give us compassionate hearts, patient words, and willing hands to serve those who need encouragement and help.

Bless our families, our church, our pastor, our Food Cupboard, and everyone who is struggling through a difficult season. May they experience Your love through the kindness of Your people.

Thank You for the hope You give us, the promises we can stand upon, and the assurance that we never have to walk alone.

We place today, tomorrow, and all our tomorrows into Your loving hands.

In Jesus' precious name, Amen.

The Lord's Prayer 

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive our trespassers. 

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.

Amen.

BELIEVE, OBEY, BE BLESSED AMEN BOBBA ❤️

Love, Penny 💛

 #Godisgood #faith #devotional