Reaching For Joy // Ever-Present PeaceSample

Why It’s Time to Raise Your Head

There are days when you feel invisible, the world erupting with busy and noise. I see you, how you hide. What you have and who you are doesn’t feel enough. Your head is down, your heart tucked away. It’s not that you are trying to keep your heart hidden, at least not consciously. Do you recognize it’s Me now who’s talking to you?

The pain, these years, of doubting your ideas, your decisions, has convinced you of one thing: you have nothing to offer, your value is less than her value . . . and his. The lies you’ve heard your whole life have tangled themselves around you. Swallowing your true identity. But I’ve come to change that. I’ve come to tell you a rescue mission is underway. I never leave you here, in the rubble of pain and self-deceit. Not unless you want me to. But you don’t, do you? Remember, who you see right now, who you feel you are right now, is not who you are, dear one. Only I see with eyes that are pure. Only I see with a love that breaks through pain. Only I can show you who you are.

Only I can show you what and who I see. 

To begin, let Me tell you this: your strength is not far away. Your beauty, your glory, your weapons of fighting the insecurities you face are in you. You struggle to see them, but I want to reveal them to you now. What you see in the mirror, what you see on paper, what you see in the eyes of the people who have hurt you, what you perceive about your qualities, your talents, your worth, is not what I see. And the best way to show you what I see? Well, you’re going to have to let Me expand your mind a bit. Sometimes, it takes knowing that what you see, what you live now, is just a fragment of a moment. Your life is just beginning. This pain may feel like the only thing that shapes you. But that is a small, limited way to look at things now.

Let Me tell you this: I am preparing a room for you, a place just for you. Soon you will see it; you will see that everything I do, everything I make, is with intention, and with extreme care. The struggles you face now break my heart, but they are shaping you, changing you. I have told you this before: there is more than what you see; there is more than what you know. Ask me to increase your faith so that your perception of your circumstances, your outlook, your very self, is through my eyes. I see you in your fullness. I see you in your glory. I see you here on earth and in heaven too, when all is restored, when you realize there is no separation from me, when the struggles and pain and shame and regret are but shadows that frame the glory of who you really are.

So know there is a place I prepare for you, but it is not for you yet, not yet. For there is more for you to do now. There is more for you to know. There are people who I ask you to see with the eyes I give you. There are people who won’t know My love until they feel it through you. For your strength is My love. Your hope is My love. Your glory is My love. Know that I am in you, and I fight for you, so that together, we can work to restore what is broken. I make all things new. In you. In this world. There are so many more rooms I am preparing. Will you join Me in letting the others know? Raise your head now. Raise your head.

Exercise:

The Apostle Peter told us what’s true about our identities, what’s true about our roles in the Kingdom of God. He wrote, “But you are God’s chosen treasure—priests who are kings, a spiritual “nation” set apart as God’s devoted ones. He called you out of darkness to experience His marvelous light, and now He claims you as His very own. He did this so that you would broadcast His glorious wonders throughout the world.” That’s from 1 Peter chapter 2.

Eugene Peterson paraphrases those same words like this: “But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do His work and speak out for Him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference He made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.”

From nothing to something. From rejected to accepted. We are God’s chosen treasure. We are kings and queens. We are now a people set apart as God’s devoted ones. We were called out of darkness. And we said yes to that call. And because of our yes, we’re now partnering with our Father, our heavenly Dad, in telling others of the power that rescued us and now burns within our hearts.

So, when we cower, overwhelmed by our circumstances, distracted, our attention focused only on everything we can see and touch around us, we can easily lose sight of who we are, who He is, what’s really going on here, and our good Father’s presence in our lives, in every moment.

Okay, so, how can we, little by little, day by day, begin to turn our attention back to what is true?

Well, here’s a way: The Ignatian tradition encourages the regular, daily practice of reflecting—prayerfully—upon our hearts, our thoughts about God, and how we’ve seen Him working in our lives and in our circumstances. It’s a way to turn our minds and hearts to God—with purpose, with intention. It helps us to begin to see things a bit differently—to see with His eyes, to see His presence in places we’ve missed Him before. In effect, it works to increase our faith and our gratitude for the incredible things God is doing among us, every day.

The five steps in the Ignatian Prayer of Examen are these:

1. To become aware of God’s presence;

2. To review the day with gratitude;

3. To pay attention to your emotions;

4. To choose one feature of your day and pray from it; and

5. To look toward tomorrow.

So, let‘s try this right now. Get yourself comfortable. Settle in—wherever you are. Relax your body, your legs, your arms, your hands. Drop everything you are doing, if you can. And now, focus your mind on who your heavenly Dad is. How He is loving and present with you right now. Consider what you know of His character, His personality, His abundant love—specifically, for you.

Now, recall of the details of your day today—or your day yesterday, if your day today is just beginning. Recall the moments of waking, eating, working, resting. Spend a few moments running through everything you can remember. And then ask Father to help you see where He was—in the details, in the moments. And then praise Him. Give Him thanks for His presence with you during the day—and for His amazing love and attention.

Now, step back, figuratively, and notice to your emotions. How are you feeling today? How is your heart? What feels heavy? What feels light? What burdens are weighing you down? What is giving you joy and hope?

And ask Father what He wants you to understand about how you’re feeling, right now.

Now, choose one feature of your day—today or yesterday—and pray from it. What is that thing that’s weighing on you? What is that things that is troubling your heart? What is that thing you want to celebrate?

What about your day do you want to give to God? Is there something you want to say to Him? Is there something you want to confess? Do that now.

And, finally, look to tomorrow. What are you looking forward to? What do you want to take into tomorrow? Where do you want to be intentional?

Ask God to show you what He has for you, tomorrow. Ask Him how He would like to direct your attention, your heart, your dreams. And listen for His still, small voice as thoughts come.

Father, thank You. Thank You for choosing me—for making me Yours, Your own son, Your own daughter. Thank You for making me holy, day by day. And thank You for inviting me into Your wonderful work in the world. Thank You for that honor—of being able to tell people about the night-and-day difference between life with You and life without You. I love You so much.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.