Psalm 3:4 NLT

'I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain.'

We can theorise about God and enjoy an interesting dialogue or sermon, but the reality of daily living is where we discover the reality of whether God is truth.

While I pray to God for help and protection, he can seem distant, as my current circumstances seek to overwhelm me. I am very focused on my own emotional and psychological needs and have little need of a theological explanation of the character and nature of God. Words will not soothe my anxieties or meet my felt needs, I need action and change. I need God.

Jayne lives with a chronic pain condition. On rare occasions I have observed her writhe with pain on the floor. Her cry is for God and for pain relief. My cry arises from impotence to help and a desire for pain relief for Jayne. Prayer can create a space in which we each individually and then together draw breath, reorientate ourselves and redirect our gaze on God.

We have both learned the benefits of breath prayer, and using the Jesus Prayer, to manage the situation; Jayne her pain, me my sense of impotence and frustration. We do not pray it as a mantra in an attempt to soothe ourselves. We employ it as we do throughout our day as a means to reorientate ourselves within God’s call and his purpose for our lives today.

Too often prayer is picked up vigorously at moments when we are most under pressure. While invaluable at one level, we have no prayer knowledge to fall back upon and little practice to draw from. We best navigate life’s big personal challenges from a place of regular prayer so that once the intensity of our warfare, which is spiritual, increases we find that familiar path within the extremities of our circumstances.

Your life will face many serious challenges and at such moments you will need to draw upon that habit of prayer and the level of intimacy you have built with God to endure effectively.

QUESTION: How is your prayer life right now?

PRAYER: Thank you for the secret place where I can develop and establish intimacy with you. Be with me today, whatever the next hours bring.

Psalm 3:4 NLT

'I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain.'

We can theorise about God and enjoy an interesting dialogue or sermon, but the reality of daily living is where we discover the reality of whether God is truth.

While I pray to God for help and protection, he can seem distant, as my current circumstances seek to overwhelm me. I am very focused on my own emotional and psychological needs and have little need of a theological explanation of the character and nature of God. Words will not soothe my anxieties or meet my felt needs, I need action and change. I need God.

Jayne lives with a chronic pain condition. On rare occasions I have observed her writhe with pain on the floor. Her cry is for God and for pain relief. My cry arises from impotence to help and a desire for pain relief for Jayne. Prayer can create a space in which we each individually and then together draw breath, reorientate ourselves and redirect our gaze on God.

We have both learned the benefits of breath prayer, and using the Jesus Prayer, to manage the situation; Jayne her pain, me my sense of impotence and frustration. We do not pray it as a mantra in an attempt to soothe ourselves. We employ it as we do throughout our day as a means to reorientate ourselves within God’s call and his purpose for our lives today.

Too often prayer is picked up vigorously at moments when we are most under pressure. While invaluable at one level, we have no prayer knowledge to fall back upon and little practice to draw from. We best navigate life’s big personal challenges from a place of regular prayer so that once the intensity of our warfare, which is spiritual, increases we find that familiar path within the extremities of our circumstances.

Your life will face many serious challenges and at such moments you will need to draw upon that habit of prayer and the level of intimacy you have built with God to endure effectively.

QUESTION: How is your prayer life right now?

PRAYER: Thank you for the secret place where I can develop and establish intimacy with you. Be with me today, whatever the next hours bring.

Psalm 3:3 NLT

'But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.'

A shield is a vital piece of defensive armour. It protects the individual from the blows and missiles from an enemy in the field of battle. As scripture reminds us, the Christian life is a battle. God offers us all-round protection from the enemy. Yet, the shield has to be lifted in our own defence. If I enter into life having left my armour at home, I cannot be surprised if I am wounded. Paul tells us to “Put on the whole armour of God” (Ephesians 6:11, KJV). Here the shield is the faith that ensures we shall advance against all odds. It is only through maintaining my faith that I can consistently resist the attacks of the devil.

God lifts my head high. Who hasn’t been told when things have gone against them to keep their head high? It is a statement of confidence that one has done one’s best. I find that in responding to God, and at times my life apparently not making much sense against the norms associated with life in society today, I am invited to express my confidence by holding my head up, with God’s support. It is an expression of my confidence in God and again his confidence in me. In essence I choose to live entirely for God, and deal with all that seeks to erode my confidence in my God.

Warfare is a part of the disciple’s struggle. There are the assaults from those elements within yourself that are less than godly. There are also pressures from without. Take hold of faith, your shield, and know God has your back, he honours your faithfulness and don’t forget to hold your head up high.

QUESTION: Do you feel battle-weary or refreshed?

PRAYER: Almighty God, I take huge confidence from knowing that you are with me in this battle. Protect me today, and may I lift my head with the knowledge that I am your child and you will go ahead of me.

Psalm 3:3 NLT

'But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.'

A shield is a vital piece of defensive armour. It protects the individual from the blows and missiles from an enemy in the field of battle. As scripture reminds us, the Christian life is a battle. God offers us all-round protection from the enemy. Yet, the shield has to be lifted in our own defence. If I enter into life having left my armour at home, I cannot be surprised if I am wounded. Paul tells us to “Put on the whole armour of God” (Ephesians 6:11, KJV). Here the shield is the faith that ensures we shall advance against all odds. It is only through maintaining my faith that I can consistently resist the attacks of the devil.

God lifts my head high. Who hasn’t been told when things have gone against them to keep their head high? It is a statement of confidence that one has done one’s best. I find that in responding to God, and at times my life apparently not making much sense against the norms associated with life in society today, I am invited to express my confidence by holding my head up, with God’s support. It is an expression of my confidence in God and again his confidence in me. In essence I choose to live entirely for God, and deal with all that seeks to erode my confidence in my God.

Warfare is a part of the disciple’s struggle. There are the assaults from those elements within yourself that are less than godly. There are also pressures from without. Take hold of faith, your shield, and know God has your back, he honours your faithfulness and don’t forget to hold your head up high.

QUESTION: Do you feel battle-weary or refreshed?

PRAYER: Almighty God, I take huge confidence from knowing that you are with me in this battle. Protect me today, and may I lift my head with the knowledge that I am your child and you will go ahead of me.

Psalm 3:2 NLT

So many are saying, “God will never rescue him!”

Faith in God has always been a personal choice. Assurance is a matter of applied conviction. I lean on a promise that I can know within my heart and subjectively experience, yet cannot prove beyond reasonable doubt. My testimony, drawing upon scripture and the tradition of the Church, cannot establish that no other logical explanation can be derived from the facts I present. After all, faith is and will always remain “the reality of what we hope for…the evidence of things we cannot see” (Hebrews 11:1, NLT).

So maintaining faith throughout life with its many twists and turns is a challenge. Many fall by the wayside, the realities of life overwhelming Christian conviction. I’ve battled this myself, but have never been able to deny my very clear conversion experience. Others hedge their bets, making a compromise with worldly wisdom as expressed by the majority of society, and a clear Christian confession. Yet, Christian confession, detached from effective lived Christian practice, runs the risk of conforming with this present culture. The Christian path is always indistinct and each of us has to pioneer a walk of faith encouraged and guided by prayer, God’s word and fellowship with fellow believers.

As I enter my so-called ‘third age’, I am forced to face up to the consequences of decisions I have taken based upon my Christian faith. I’ve enjoyed much of my life, I’ve known real battles both practically and in my Christian convictions. I have failed in many things and I know I am fractured. Yet, I refuse to be condemned by the difference I observe between where my lifestyle choices have brought me compared with many of my age who surround me.

To date I can confirm that God has never failed nor forsaken me (see Hebrews 13:5). The same is not true of my own walk of faith; I have failed God in my own estimation. But God is always there and forgives in a moment. I was rescued and can rest assured I remain in the hands of my rescuer, Jesus.

QUESTION: Have you faced moments of extreme doubt about God’s reality and his capacity to keep you safe?

PRAYER: I walk by faith in you, dear Lord, today, knowing that tomorrow is in your hands.

Psalm 3:2 NLT

So many are saying, “God will never rescue him!”

Faith in God has always been a personal choice. Assurance is a matter of applied conviction. I lean on a promise that I can know within my heart and subjectively experience, yet cannot prove beyond reasonable doubt. My testimony, drawing upon scripture and the tradition of the Church, cannot establish that no other logical explanation can be derived from the facts I present. After all, faith is and will always remain “the reality of what we hope for…the evidence of things we cannot see” (Hebrews 11:1, NLT).

So maintaining faith throughout life with its many twists and turns is a challenge. Many fall by the wayside, the realities of life overwhelming Christian conviction. I’ve battled this myself, but have never been able to deny my very clear conversion experience. Others hedge their bets, making a compromise with worldly wisdom as expressed by the majority of society, and a clear Christian confession. Yet, Christian confession, detached from effective lived Christian practice, runs the risk of conforming with this present culture. The Christian path is always indistinct and each of us has to pioneer a walk of faith encouraged and guided by prayer, God’s word and fellowship with fellow believers.

As I enter my so-called ‘third age’, I am forced to face up to the consequences of decisions I have taken based upon my Christian faith. I’ve enjoyed much of my life, I’ve known real battles both practically and in my Christian convictions. I have failed in many things and I know I am fractured. Yet, I refuse to be condemned by the difference I observe between where my lifestyle choices have brought me compared with many of my age who surround me.

To date I can confirm that God has never failed nor forsaken me (see Hebrews 13:5). The same is not true of my own walk of faith; I have failed God in my own estimation. But God is always there and forgives in a moment. I was rescued and can rest assured I remain in the hands of my rescuer, Jesus.

QUESTION: Have you faced moments of extreme doubt about God’s reality and his capacity to keep you safe?

PRAYER: I walk by faith in you, dear Lord, today, knowing that tomorrow is in your hands.

Psalm 3:1 NLT

'O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me.'

I’ve a tendency to wake in the early hours and often, hard as I try, fail to get back to sleep. My mind fills with anxiety and no matter what I do, God’s peace eludes me. While these are mental thoughts, I can feel them within my physical body; a gnawing in my stomach and a tightening across my chest.

The prophet Isaiah writes that God will keep us in peace if we entrust our thoughts to him (Isaiah 26:3). I both can and can’t do this. I lie awake and quietly pray, yet the ferocity of anxiety can take time to subside.

The Mental Health Foundation defines anxiety as “a type of fear usually associated with the thought of a threat or something going wrong in the future, but can also arise from something happening right now”. In 2013, there were 8.2 million UK cases of anxiety. I find in this the greatest threat to my own mental well-being. It affects my self-esteem and undermines my willingness and ability to face my day. Yet, I have discovered that in acknowledging it before God and continuing to pray, I have reduced its capacity to destabilise me for long periods.

In prayer, I’m attentive to God. While my mind rages, I may quietly recite the Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have mercy on me a sinner.” The rhythmic cycle, repeated in a measured manner, without rushing at the pace my anxiety demands, slows me down. I become attentive to my current surrounding circumstances. I detach myself from the impatient anxiety stirring inside, setting my adrenaline flowing to fight an unwinnable battle. I stop pushing my anxiety away; I cannot hide from it. I seek to take control of what I know I can. I pay attention to the word, the presence and the promise of God. Not as something to aspire to, but as present with me now, despite the ferocity of the enemy’s assault. Slowly the anxiety subsides, and while l don’t recover lost sleep, I do find peace.

QUESTION: How do you deal with anxiety?

PRAYER: Thank you for the gift of prayer. Your word promises that you hear my prayers. I lean on you, my rock and refuge (see 2 Samuel 22:3).

Psalm 3:1 NLT

'O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me.'

I’ve a tendency to wake in the early hours and often, hard as I try, fail to get back to sleep. My mind fills with anxiety and no matter what I do, God’s peace eludes me. While these are mental thoughts, I can feel them within my physical body; a gnawing in my stomach and a tightening across my chest.

The prophet Isaiah writes that God will keep us in peace if we entrust our thoughts to him (Isaiah 26:3). I both can and can’t do this. I lie awake and quietly pray, yet the ferocity of anxiety can take time to subside.

The Mental Health Foundation defines anxiety as “a type of fear usually associated with the thought of a threat or something going wrong in the future, but can also arise from something happening right now”. In 2013, there were 8.2 million UK cases of anxiety. I find in this the greatest threat to my own mental well-being. It affects my self-esteem and undermines my willingness and ability to face my day. Yet, I have discovered that in acknowledging it before God and continuing to pray, I have reduced its capacity to destabilise me for long periods.

In prayer, I’m attentive to God. While my mind rages, I may quietly recite the Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have mercy on me a sinner.” The rhythmic cycle, repeated in a measured manner, without rushing at the pace my anxiety demands, slows me down. I become attentive to my current surrounding circumstances. I detach myself from the impatient anxiety stirring inside, setting my adrenaline flowing to fight an unwinnable battle. I stop pushing my anxiety away; I cannot hide from it. I seek to take control of what I know I can. I pay attention to the word, the presence and the promise of God. Not as something to aspire to, but as present with me now, despite the ferocity of the enemy’s assault. Slowly the anxiety subsides, and while l don’t recover lost sleep, I do find peace.

QUESTION: How do you deal with anxiety?

PRAYER: Thank you for the gift of prayer. Your word promises that you hear my prayers. I lean on you, my rock and refuge (see 2 Samuel 22:3).

Hebrews 11:8 NLT

'It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.'

It is often said that a journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step. Probably a Taoist saying from the sixth century BC, the message is clear. We may have an objective in view but we cannot realise that objective without setting out towards it.

When I decided to research how food impacted Jayne’s health condition, I realised that we must move beyond understanding to action. The consequences was a serious loss of weight as diet improved. We also grew to understand how diet impacts our bodies. The goal was for Jayne to experience less pain. The first step was to take action of understanding how food, dairy, oxalates, carbohydrates, all influenced her pain. As companions, we needed to walk this road together, just as Abraham’s household followed him on the strength of his own commitment to walk into the unknown, confident that this was the route to God’s promise.

In health, participation and security, the ingredients for successful ageing, it is essential that we set ourselves goals. In seeking a new church when we moved home, we both knew that we were looking for community, one that offered mutual support and encouragement. We knew why we chose our church community and why we joined certain groups. We also identified what our contributory gifts were in mission and trained to ensure we were available to offer practical support to struggling families beyond the borders of church.

Understanding the realities of moving into the third age, or passing through any of life’s transitions, requires that you take stock of your current position and determine where it is you are headed. You must determine your priorities and decide how to start to implement them in your daily schedule. To know the truth and not to do it is to disobey God.

QUESTION: Would a journal or some other tool help you record your life goals?

PRAYER: Help me make intentional plans in my life that are guided by your Holy Spirit, so that my life has direction, goals and a godly purpose.

Hebrews 11:8 NLT

'It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.'

It is often said that a journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step. Probably a Taoist saying from the sixth century BC, the message is clear. We may have an objective in view but we cannot realise that objective without setting out towards it.

When I decided to research how food impacted Jayne’s health condition, I realised that we must move beyond understanding to action. The consequences was a serious loss of weight as diet improved. We also grew to understand how diet impacts our bodies. The goal was for Jayne to experience less pain. The first step was to take action of understanding how food, dairy, oxalates, carbohydrates, all influenced her pain. As companions, we needed to walk this road together, just as Abraham’s household followed him on the strength of his own commitment to walk into the unknown, confident that this was the route to God’s promise.

In health, participation and security, the ingredients for successful ageing, it is essential that we set ourselves goals. In seeking a new church when we moved home, we both knew that we were looking for community, one that offered mutual support and encouragement. We knew why we chose our church community and why we joined certain groups. We also identified what our contributory gifts were in mission and trained to ensure we were available to offer practical support to struggling families beyond the borders of church.

Understanding the realities of moving into the third age, or passing through any of life’s transitions, requires that you take stock of your current position and determine where it is you are headed. You must determine your priorities and decide how to start to implement them in your daily schedule. To know the truth and not to do it is to disobey God.

QUESTION: Would a journal or some other tool help you record your life goals?

PRAYER: Help me make intentional plans in my life that are guided by your Holy Spirit, so that my life has direction, goals and a godly purpose.