DJ: #78 When Scripture Hits Different
You ever read the Bible and got excited about what you read? How about over a scripture you’ve read a thousand times before? I had that happen last night. (I’m so thankful this still happens.) I nearly jumped out of my seat when I read Philippians 4. Which I will now put into the New Nik Translation, verse 6-8, 11-13:
6 Don’t tolerate anxiety in your life. Be grateful! Take everything in your life- the big and small- to Jesus in prayer, don’t hold back or be dishonest.
7 Prayer is your life line, and in it you will find the mystic Peace we all desperately want. The Peace beyond human comprehension.
8 Also, whatever is honest and good, whatever is respectable and kind, whatever makes a place for justice, whatever is innocent as a child, whatever is full of grace, whatever inspires you to be your best self, dwell on it! (Stop filling your mind with bullshit.)
11 And…I finally learned, no matter what, I have enough, and I will have enough.
12 Whether my account overflows or I am overdrawn, whether I am surrounded by friends or sit alone, whatever the situation is, I found the key to every moment.
13 My strength is not from circumstances, but from the Him who gives me the power to endure each moment with grace and joy.
Maybe it’s because this is my life now- prayer, fighting anxiety, fighting bullshit, and finding peace in every moment- but these verses resonated like a kong in my soul. The key to this walk with Jesus isn’t saying or doing the “right thing” at all times. That is an endless hamster wheel of frustration. The key to walking with Jesus is…(wait for it)…walking with Jesus. Everyday.
I don’t know where it comes from, but the idea we receive a magical download from Jesus and all of our problems vanish is a dumb fantasy. It is quite clear though, in scripture, we have a way out of our problems. Jesus says it and Paul confirms Matthew 6:33, “Seek first.” It is a simple yet most overlooked command Jesus gave us.
I think we believe it (pursuing Jesus) is harder than it has to be. And maybe we have terrible expectations of grand visions and angelic visitations. (Years ago I went to a ministry school led by man who claimed such experiences. Many of the students expected the same.) Pursuing Jesus, and the best fruits of it, is an everyday thing. The changes happen in the doing, and can be undone.
If you are reading this (Mom, Jess) the most important thing you can do is sit with Jesus. Everyday. That’s the most important thing. Not eating, not marriages, not jobs, not money. Jesus. That’s the thing.
