“Unslumping yourself is not easily done.” Dr. Seuss

There are a good many things in life that are hard. Usually there is a good reason for it and many of them are worth the effort. In truth just about everything of value is on the other side of hard work. If you find yourself in a slump, use it to remind yourself of the reasons you started walking the path you are on. If it is worthwhile and something of lasting value, keep walking.

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Rom.8.18 “Conversations Within” ts 5/24/2018

“Things turn out best for people who make the best out of the way things turn out.” Unknown

God makes everything work for good for those who love Him and who live life in line with His purposes. This love for God is expressed not in the way we feel about Him but in attitudes and actions that affirm the wisdom of doing what God has told us in His word. Sometimes the way God fixes things in our life is by encouraging us to fix our attitude about them.

“Serve the Lord with gladness.” Ps.100  “Conversations Within” ts 5/23/2018

”Learning to deal with life's disappointments is a normal and necessary part of growing up.” Mary Lou Podlasiak

Life in this place will never be as it should be. I too will not be all that I can be. The key that unlocks the rainbow in these clouds is in the expression, “in this life.” Hope is a wonderful remedy to get out of slumps. Disappointments can teach as much as they can disappoint. I am gratefully reminded that disappointment with myself can be a good thing if it causes me to look for God’s grace. It can be a bad thing if all I do is sit around and mope. Let your disappointments disciple you in the goodness of grace not disable you in the bog of self-pity.

“...and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Rom.5.5 “Conversations Within” ts 5/22/2018

"Do you give as much energy to your dreams as you do to your fears?” Unknown

Being in a slump is the perfect time to work on one of life’s most valuable skills and that is learning how to inspire yourself to get out of one. To inspire is to breathe in--breathe in the air of God’s presence in and around you. If we are down, it is as simple as looking up. Of all the people in the world it was Helen Keller who said, “Keep your face to the sun and you will never see the shadows.”

“And David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” 1Sam.30.6  Conversations Within” ts 5/20/2018

“Slump! I ain’t in no slump. I just ain’t hittin.” Yogi Berra

Most of the people I know feel like they get in a slump sometimes. We usually mean that our performance is off. We have a bad day surfing, or working or just feel that we are generally “not firing on all cylinders” as we say. Slumps are something we all seem to have, and we all want to get over them. I suppose a slump like other trials can deepen our faith by helping to direct it away from circumstances and toward God.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Ps.73.26 Conversations Within” ts 5/19/2018

“Listening is not understanding the words of the question asked, listening is understanding why the question was asked in the first place.” Simon Sinek

God understands. He understands each of us. He walks in our thoughts and sees the motives of our heart. Knowing this can either be intimidating or intimately comforting. I suppose it intimidates those who do not want His company. It comforts those who understand that His acceptance has nothing to do with whether we deserve it or not, but is predicated on His absolute love and therefore commitment to our highest good.

“Before there is a word on my tongue, you understand it all together.” Ps.139 Conversations Within” ts 5/17/2018

Eternal life is knowing God, for it will take an everlasting life to discover all He desires to be for us.

If there is anything God desires for His children, it is that we know Him. This knowing is not so much a knowledge “about” Him as it is a knowledge “of” Him, i.e. knowledge in the sense of experiencing Him. Here is the one thing to attend to in life. Lay hold of all that God desires to be for us in each and every moment. He is wisdom at the moment of our decisions, and strength at the point of our every weakness. He is the motivation to live life as it should be lived--the gumption we feel to do something about a concern. He is the spiritual vitality of all faith, hope, and love.

“This is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” Jesus Conversations Within” ts 5/16/2018

“Knowledge is like a garden; if it is not cultivated, it cannot be harvested. “

If I practiced half of what I know my life would not only be altogether different, but altogether better. It is not a lack of knowledge, but the wise application of it that robs us of physical, emotional and spiritual health. Consider what you know right now that can enable you to live better in the next hour. Keep working the soil of what you have learned with prayer, reflection and actions and reap the rewards each and every day.

“As a tree produces fruit, wisdom gives life to those who use it, and everyone who uses it will be happy.” Prov.3.18 “Conversations Within” ts 5/15/2018

Trivial pursuit

Useful knowledge has value. If knowledge is not useful, then it probably has no value. Americans seem to excel at trivia. Our culture resembles the proverbial river “a mile wide but only one inch deep.” Too much of what we know is googled not seriously researched. We are an internet generation of quips and quotes from works like Moby Dick without actually having read and experienced Moby Dick. Lord work in us a depth of character, and real maturity.

“The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.” Prov.18.15 “Conversations Within” ts 5/14/2018

“Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.” Confucius

Wisdom teaches us that “know how” often begins when we admit that we don’t know how. The attitude that says, “teach me” or “show me how,” reflects maturity and wisdom. We cannot learn anything if we do not realize that we need to learn. It is when we already think we know something that we miss out on a real opportunity to learn something. Be forever the student.
“Desire without knowledge is not good…” Prov.19:2 “Conversations Within” ts 5/13/2018

“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it.” Charles Spurgeon

It is tragic to know and not do. What we know may one day catch us in our lack of doing. It is wise to focus our energies on putting what we know into practice more than just acquiring new knowledge. Knowledge is useful only in practice. It's not what we know, but what we do that is the final measurement of usefulness.

“If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them.” James 4.17 “Conversations Within” ts 5/12/2018

“Confession is good for the soul.” Idiom

Confession is more than coming clean with our faults, it is the soul made clean by God’s forgiveness because we have come clean. When God forgives, we are forgiven--period. How precious that word that “as far as the east is from the west so far has God removed our sins.” When God forgives us, we must often forgive ourselves and quit confessing past sins over and over again. Accept the payment of Christ for your shortcomings and bathe daily in the grace of God’s forgiveness.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1.9 “Conversations Within” ts 5/10/2018

“Cleanliness is next to godliness.” Adage

Who doesn’t appreciate a clean home, and nothing feels quite like a fresh shower to wash away the day. Even so, we should not neglect to keep the soul clean. We can clean up impure thoughts, judgmental thoughts, negative thoughts by refusing to entertain them. Someone put it this way, “You cannot keep birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.”

“Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 5/9/2018

”Do your best, let God do the rest.” Meme

There are certain things that we must trust solely to God if they will ever become a reality. I believe one is asking Him to create a pure heart in us. We look to Him to do something we cannot do ourselves. We may cooperate with Him of course. This is very much like the cry of a drowning man to the lifeguard. Pure undiluted trust is expressed in the prayer that says I can’t but You can. If we want a pure heart we can ask God to create what we can not conjure. 

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Ps.51.10 “Conversations Within” ts 5/8/2018

Do not underestimate the impact of a solitary life lived to God’s glory.” Alistair Begg

I suppose that a pure heart is reflected in a singular devotion. I can imagine that single hearted devotion would give us a singular vision in whatever we do. All things would merge into one supreme motive. For the Christian it is to live our lives for the glory of God. I like the way that one brother describes it. “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”

“To the pure all things are pure.” Titus 1.15  “Conversations Within” ts 5/7/2018

”It is safe to tell the pure in heart that they shall see God, for only the pure in heart want to.” C.S. Lewis

If I am ever to know purity of heart it is because God is able to produce it. Like gold refined in the furnace, so trial exposes and if we cooperate with it, trial removes impurities. Tough times have a way of sharpening our focus on matters that matter. God is a master craftsman. He will not turn the heat up too hot, but just enough to remove the dross of things which distract us from that which is life indeed.

But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. Job 23.10 “Conversations Within” ts 5/6/2018

“The greatest gift you can give another is the purity of your attention. ” Richard Moss

My soul longs to be unlonging. I long to be because I am not what I want to be--pure, unspoiled, whole, free of everything that inhibits the life, health and peace that God intends for all His children. I desire an undivided heart because in my present state my heart is divided. Lord, create in me that purity of soul reflected in your Son--connect the momentary dots until at last purity is my continuous line. 

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Ps.51.10 “Conversations Within” ts 5/5/2018

”The only bad workout is the one that didn’t happen.” Meme

Self-control often expresses itself in things we do, as much as in things we don’t do. It takes a measure of self-control to establish positive habits like walking, or working out every day. We must often drag a lazy body kicking and screaming behind us in order to do what we know is good. This is no less true of any inner disciplines. The work of prayer for others, or setting aside time to nurture our soul on God’s word will require a good measure of self-control.

“The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” Jesus “Conversations Within” ts 5/3/2018

”If you learn self-control you can master anything.” Unknown

Moderation is the practice of moderating oneself  directing one’s desires to insure they do not control the direction of our lives. Moderation is self-control and self-control is moderation. The next time we have a craving for something practice moderating it in one way or another. Say, “No,” or “not now,” or “not at all,” or “just one bite” and stick to it. The only way to be the master is to practice mastering.

“Every athlete exercises self-control in all things.” 1Cor.9.25 “Conversations Within” ts 5/2/2018

”Throw moderation to the winds, and the greatest pleasures bring the greatest pains.” Democritus

Temperance is not an enemy, but a friend to pleasure. Temperance does not despise pleasure it delights in it as a precious gift and does what is needed to insure it is not ruined by overindulgence. Remember listening to that favorite song as a teen over and over until you got sick of it. If you enjoy something, protect it with moderation. Let your love of life guide your enjoyment of pleasure and pleasure will always bring you pleasure.

“Eat just enough honey, too much of it will make you sick.” Prov.25 “Conversations Within” ts 5/1/2018

Live humbly, simply, modestly.

Moderation has many wonderful fruits. The power to say “No” to yourself is a potent way to say “Yes” to your happiness and health. Just learn to say “No”--no to just one more. Sharpen a vision of God’s very best for your life and run toward it one choice at a time. If you wonder what that is, just ask. He delights in giving grace to the humble. 

“For the grace of God...teaches us to say "No" …” Titus 2.12 “Conversations Within” ts 4/30/2018

“In moderating, not in satisfying desires, lies peace.” Reginald Heber

Who wants to be a slave of desire? I would rather be my master rather than my slave. Happiness seems so much more than satisfying mere physical pleasure. There are inner joys to be had. I resonate with Lewis who wrote, "I sometimes wonder whether all pleasures are not substitutes for joy." I would add that pleasure is a cheap substitute if we trade our joy and peace for it.

“The fruit of the Spirit is... self-control.” Gal.5.22 “Conversations Within” ts 4/29/2018

“Be moderate in order to taste the joys of life in abundance.” Epicurus

Wisdom inclines us to eat and drink less in order that we may enjoy more. I have often regretted eating one more piece of pizza, but I have never regretted refusing one. Simply put, moderation is the key to enjoying every gift of God. Less is more and quality over quantity is pleasure without regret. 

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be enslaved by anything.” 1Cor.6.12 “Conversations Within” ts 4/28/2018

“Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax.” Unknown

One of the best gifts that God has given to mankind is the commandment to rest. Learning to rest and relax is a skill that matures over time. It is one thing to still the body and another to quiet the soul. Someone has said, “Just be.” When we stop the body we must also learn to stop thinking and rest the mind. Embrace and enjoy the moment. Open this precious gift and find rest for your soul. There is an Italian phrase I love, “La dolce far niente.” It means, “the sweetness of doing nothing.”

“Thou shalt rest...” God “Conversations Within” ts 4/25/2018

“I've chosen to treat my life more like a party than something to stress about.” Martin Short

We should celebrate life, not endure it. Choose to find joy in all you do. People speak of being in their “happy place.” The heart at peace is always happy. When the heart is happy everywhere is a stroll on the beach, or a walk in the woods. May God grace us to change our attitude and learn to love what we do, not just selfishly do only what we love.

“Always be dressed in your party clothes.” Ecc.9 “Conversations Within” ts 4/27/2018

“Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks!” Phillip Brooks

A stress free life sounds desirable until we realize that without a measure of resistance, muscles grow weak. This is no less true of the muscles of our inner life. Physical strength and strength of soul must be exercised if they are to remain strong and grow stronger. A certain amount of stress is healthy, and especially so when we adjust our attitude to accept and work with it.

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Ps.73.26 “Conversations Within” ts 4/26/2018

“Don’t make an elephant out of a fly.” Zoran Vujovići

We talk about “making a big deal” out of a small matter, or “blowing things out of proportion,” simply because we all do it from time to time. We complain, and when we do we just burden ourselves and others with whatever we are complaining about. Our aches and pains, how hot it is, how long the line, and how heavy the load, always seem to weigh more in the grip of our grumbling. Cease these unnecessary labors, and learn to live light hearted and to hold each day with an easy hand.

“Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice..” Ps.32.11 Conversations Within” ts 4/24/2018