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PASTORS CORNER
Pastor Steve Sep 02, 2010
I try to get to the gym two-three times a week because I know that physical health and well-being are dependent upon regular exercise. When I keep a consistent routine I feel better, am less stressed and have more energy for ministry. But in trying to keep up with all the activity of four daughters, household projects/chores and the full schedule of pastoral ministry, I often sacrifice my exercise routine to the busyness of life. When this happens I lose – I am less healthy, have less energy and more easily discouraged.
Just as we need to be mindful of our physical health there are other components of who we are that must also be in balance. To be healthy people we must be aware of the various aspects of who we are as physical, social, intellectual, spiritual and emotional beings. God created us as whole persons to have a healthy balance in all areas, because one effects the others. We come to find that each of these areas are broken at some level and are in need of God’s healing.
As followers of God we desire to grow spiritually – to mature into the likeness of Jesus Christ. We read our Bibles, pray, attend worship, Sunday school and small groups – but even though we go through the motions we don’t seem to mature in our walk with Jesus like we desire. We find ourselves still “blowing up” in anger at family, friends or co-workers. We live trying to win the approval of others, pretending to be people we are not. We bury our hurt when someone offends us and we say “yes” when we want to say “no.” This leaves us unsatisfied, frustrated, even depressed. So we put on an act of being a good Christian, while there are layers of emotional baggage buried and unaffected by God’s transforming power. Know you’re not alone, emotional health is often overlooked in our discipleship journey. Yet, there is a process by which we can find health and move toward spiritual and emotional maturity.
Beginning in October, we will begin a sermon series entitled “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.” This series follows the book by Pastor Peter Scazzaro, which addresses the issue of emotional and spiritual heath. In Scazzaros’ own journey as a pastor, where his personal life, marriage and ministry came near destruction, Peter found that “it’s impossible to be spiritually mature, while remaining emotionally immature.” He also discovered that combining a focus on healing our emotional health, with practicing the presence of God through contemplative spirituality moves us along the journey of spiritual maturity.
Over the eight week series I invite you to make a commitment to attend worship each week, connect with a Life Group and practice prayer using “the daily office.” (A spiritual discipline of practicing the presence of God 2-3 times daily through brief but intentional prayer.)
God desires to heal our brokenness, transform our lives and give us great joy in living in His presence. As we find healing we become who we were created to be and God’s love and grace can flow through us as a blessing to others.
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Eph. 4:22-24
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