How to Spiritually Connect with Your Higher Power

We are all on a spiritual journey, whether we realize it or not. We were made to know our Higher Power, the Divine, God, or whatever name you want to use. A relationship with God is the most important relationship we could ever have. 

The Problem 
The problem is many people have been turned off by organized religion, wounded by churches, priests, fathers, and past experiences. I wonder how many people read the Bible these days. Because of this, many of us don't have a clear path on how to connect to the Divine and we lack the courage and faith we need to move forward in this challenging world we live in. So this week I am sharing some ways I have found to connect with my Higher Power and strengthen my spiritual muscle.  

The Solution

1. The Word of God 

First, let me say this. I believe the clearest and most direct way to know and connect with the Divine is through reading the Bible. Even though the Bible is 2700 years old, human nature has not changed. The need for guidance has not changed and neither has the need for comfort, assurance, and consolation changed. All of these can be found in the Bible. There are many translations out there and you can easily check which you prefer by visiting this website. 

Whenever I had a big decision to make, I go straight to the Bible. The book of Proverbs is a good place to find wisdom about all sorts of important topics. Sure you can go talk to a bunch of friends, but you have no assurance that their "wisdom" will be what you need. Other times, I think of situations in the Bible and apply what God said about it to my circumstance. It gives me peace and guides me to making wise decisions. For more on making wise decisions, enter "decisions" in the search box on my blog.

2. Prayer and Meditation 
As I've stated in my previous posts, prayer is talking to God and meditation is listening. Both of these activities are helpful in connecting with the Divine. 

Prayer is powerful and it is even more powerful when we infuse it with scripture. There is supernatural power in prayer. The Lord is required to fulfill his word so when we quote scripture back to him it does many things. Read about the importance of praying scripture here. 

Meditation is listening to God. With our hectic schedules, how often do we make time to just be still and get quiet? This is when we can hear that still small voice inside. There are many benefits to a regular meditation practice. To learn more about meditation, its benefits, and how to do it, read my posts on it here. 

3. Journaling

I have been journaling most of my life. It helps me process the events of the day, connect with my emotions, reduces stress, and much more. Did you know it has been scientifically proven that journaling can also help boost the immune system and decrease the symptoms of chronic ailments such as arthritis, asthma and other health conditions? Read this article for more. 

The key to journaling is to get your feelings out on paper. Many people, including myself, have a hard time expressing their feelings. Journaling is a good start. The next step is to communicate them to others. Journaling also helps us to identify habits and unhealthy behaviors and their triggers. I have used it to help me manage migraine and break bad habits. 

For Reflection:

Getting to know God is not as scary or as difficult as it may seem. These three activities are a great start. Which one will you pick today? Write and let us know and why you chose that. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. If so pass it on to a friend who could benefit. To join our community and receive my weekly posts simply enter your email on the pop up page or in the space provided on this site. You'll also receive a copy my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". 

Until next time, I wish you peace and stillness and remember...

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

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Why You Need to Journal Daily

A lot happens during the course of the day. And that means a lot of thoughts. I've read that the average person has approximately 60,000 thoughts per day. That is the average person. Many of these simply float by not even recognized by our conscious minds. That's why we wake up in the middle of the night, our brains are trying to process the events and emotions of the day. So this week, I'm sharing 5 tips on how and why it is important to start a daily journaling practice.  

Journaling is a Spiritual Discipline
Did you keep a diary when you were younger? The keeper of secret thoughts and dreams for no one's eyes but yours to see? Writing in a diary is a form of journaling, which is a key component of a spiritual practice. And it is not just for girls either. We all need to get in touch with our thoughts and emotions. Men have a particularly hard time doing this because of the way their brains are wired. And we all know how bad accumulated stress is for our brains and our bodies.                                                           

Benefit #1:Reduces Stress
We all have it. Some days more than others, but it important to process stressful events before our head hits the pillow at night or at least, schedule a time to process the events of the day. When we journal, we gain clarity about situations. It helps us feel less anxious and helps us get to the root cause of our moods so we don't take it out on an innocent friend or relative. Here's an interesting article that talks about sleep and stress. 

Benefit #2: Helps Process Emotions
Journaling helps us to process the difficult emotions and feelings of our day. Often we brush aside any negative feelings, or ignore them completely but our emotions are messengers and we need to pay attention to what they are trying to tell us. Journaling gives us time to process and see just what is bothering us. I have a sticky note to remind me to check in with my feelings during the day. 

Benefit #3: Helps Us Be More Creative
When we slow down our minds, ideas and solutions surface. We can hear from God and that still small voice inside. Thoughts go by so quickly, if we don't write them down, we may lose them entirely. 

Benefit #4: Helps Us Get in Touch with our Needs
When we find ourselves easily frustrated or short-fused, there is a good chance we are not getting some need met. Asking "What do I need right now?" is a good starting point. Many of us are really good at taking care of other people's needs, but not so great at taking care of our own. The other day I was journaling and I remembered I wanted to make a massage appointment. I haven't had one in years, and had forgotten the visit to the local beauty spa. It is important to recognize our needs and make sure they get met so we are in a better frame of mind to deal with others. It's called self-care. 

Benefit #5: Helps Us to Heal from Painful Events
I am a strong proponent of "getting it out", whether it be to a person or on paper. Verbalizing or writing it down is a healthy way of processing an issue or an event. If you don't feel comfortable talking about a situation with someone else, journal it. I guarantee you will feel so much better. Whatever you do, do not keep it bottled up inside you. That is both physically and mentally unhealthy. 

For Reflection
Are you ready to try journaling? I suggest buying a notebook of some kind. I like the spiral-bound kind, which are easier to flip the pages. Choose a nice writing tool, something that feels good in your hand. And then focus on writing down your thoughts and feelings from the day, not your daily to-do list.

If you are angry or overwhelmed, write about it. If you feel depressed or anxious about something, write about it. The key is to get it out of your system and onto paper. There is some sort of spiritual process that releases stress and tension when you put your feelings on paper. You want this to be a sort of clearing process so that when you finish you feel more at peace and calm. 

If you enjoyed this post, do join our blog community by entering your email address in the box on the right. I post weekly on Tuesdays. In addition, you will receive a copy of my FREE eguide "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path"  - a short eguide to get you started on the journey of a lifetime. 

Stay tuned for more on how to ignite the power within so you can DISCOVER YOUR DESTINY!

Until next time, 

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

  

4 Ways Meditation Will Make You a Calmer Person

Life is busy, stressful, and complex. No matter what season of life you are in. It's always something, as I used to tell my mom. Our minds are on overdrive trying to process everything that comes at us in a day. And then there is the nightly news. 

The result? Racing thoughts. Sleepless nights. Overeating, pill popping or drinking alcohol to relax. Sound familiar? This week I'm sharing a spiritual practice that can help you tame your monkey racing mind and stay more present and peaceful during your day as well as hear from God on a regular basis. 

An Ancient Practice 

Archaeologists and scholars believe meditation has been around for over 5,000 years. In this information-over-loaded culture we live in, it is critical that we make time to not only rest our bodies, but our minds as well so this week I'm sharing on the ancient practice of meditation. 

No matter what beliefs you have, you should know that meditation practices have been part of both eastern and western religious practices for ages. The earliest documentation of meditation is found in the Hindu sacred text known as the Vedas from ancient India but it has its own place in Western religions as well. St. Ignatius of Loyola is famous for his book, Spiritual Exercises. The Bible continually exhorts believers to "meditate on things above", meditate on the Word of God day and night and to "Be still and know that I am God". Also we are exhorted to "take every thought captive." That is meditation. 

Can You Please Sit Still? 

In the same way the body needs a good amount of rest to restore and renew itself, so too does the mind.  Often, even when the body is asleep, the mind continues to churn away on the problems and issues of the day. No wonder we wake up feeling unrefreshed. The mind didn't know it was bedtime.

So, how often do you sit down during the course of the day, close your eyes and just observe your thoughts? Most people are so tired that when they do sit down and close their eyes, they fall asleep. Others find it difficult or even uncomfortable to sit still and do nothing. I know, because I used to be this way. 

As a single mom of two boys working at a mentally exhausting career while balancing the demands of home, health, & child-rearing plus trying to fit in a social life, I wish someone would have suggested meditation to me years ago. Sit down and rest my weary mind. 

The rapid advancement of technology has dramatically increased the pace of life and the hurry up, get-it-done-yesterday mindset has side-lined this important discipline. As the rate of stress-related illnesses soar, many are realizing this non-stop physical and mental freneticism is not only unhealthy but unprofitable as well. So how can meditation benefit you?

Benefit #1: Meditation calms our minds and our bodies. 

In the same way the body needs a good amount of rest to restore and renew itself, so too, does the mind. Often, even when the body is asleep, the mind continues to churn away on the problems and issues of the day. No wonder we wake up feeling unrefreshed. The mind didn't know it was bedtime.

When we sit down to meditate, we allow the "mental clutter" to settle. The breath and the heart rate slow which reduces blood pressure naturally. Meditation allows confusion to dissipate and clarity and creativity to spark so we can find answers to our problems and creative solutions. 

There are different forms of meditation so whether your spiritual path is eastern, western or a combination of both, you can benefit from this ancient practice. In eastern religions, there are several different meditation styles. One of them is to focus the mind on something constant such as the breath, a candle flame, or a mantra, which is a word or a phrase such as "peace', "be still", or "I am calm".

The basic premise is that by focusing the mind, the practitioner becomes increasingly aware of the flow of thoughts as they occur and is able to disengage and enter the place of rest where the mind is calmer. I practice what is called Vipassana meditation which focuses on finding clarity and insight in addition to calm. 

Benefit #2: Helps us to connect with ourselves and with God. 
When we still our bodies, the thoughts that jump around like monkeys in our minds settle down as well. This allows us to see what is going on with our feelings and emotions and to get in touch with our inner selves. When we are moving so fast all day, we ignore that still small voice and our deep thoughts and emotions rarely get noticed or even attended to.

The practice of meditation in Christian religions is similar in that one of the goals is to focus and calm the mind. In addition, Christian practitioners also have the goal of calming the spirit and connecting more deeply with God which is done by reading or repeating phrases or words of Holy Scripture or Christian devotions. Early proponents of Christian meditation are St. Teresa of Avila, St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. John of the Cross.

Benefit #3: Brings awareness of our thoughts, feelings and actions.
Whatever your spiritual path, meditation is an important skill that helps us bring more awareness to our daily lives.  Often we go through the day on auto-pilot, barely noticing anything inside us or around us until we plop into bed at night, exhausted. And then we spend the night processing what happened during the day. 

When we deliberately calm our minds, we are more able to identify our thoughts on a moment to moment basis. I've read that the average person thinks 60,000 - 70,000 thoughts per day, and being the deep reflective thinker I am, I probably process a lot more. Yikes!

Meditation helps us become more aware of our thoughts and the type of thoughts. Is this thought positive or negative, anxious, or angry? Thoughts are energy and negative thoughts bring us down and lower our energy and steal our joy. Notice whenever you have left the present moment - today - and wandered either into the past or the future. Meditation helps us to stay in the present moment which helps alleviate anxiety. It also helps us to stay focused and pay attention to what we are doing, rather than be unaware and easily distracted. 

Unawareness of negative, anxious and angry thoughts lead to a vicious downward spiral which often leads to depression and reactivity. Becoming more aware of our thoughts and emotions is a tool to stop this cycle and keep us grounded and calm.

Benefit #4: Breaks the vicious activity cycle.
Many of us run around all day frenetically going from one thing to another. As a single parent, this pace was my norm. Since retiring, I have made a conscious effort to slow down, do less and take more breaks. I have a sticky note that says "Take the pressure off." Continuous activity is akin to an addiction, something that makes us crave more and more. Meditation helps break this cycle as well. 

When I feel like I'm moving too fast, an alarm goes off in my mind "Break time!" and I make myself sit down and meditate for 15 - 20 minutes. If I fall asleep, then that means I'm tired but I don't berate myself for falling asleep. This stopping to meditate breaks the "to do" cycle and mentality. We are human beings not human doings! As meditation becomes a daily practice, we realize stillness is a gift and we will look forward to our times of being still. 

For reflection:

Have you considered incorporating meditation into your daily routine? How might it benefit you, personally? Meditation is not difficult. All it takes is a few minutes a day, start by closing your eyes and taking 3 deep breaths a few times a day. Here are some more posts on meditation to help. 

If you enjoyed this post, join our blog community by entering your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts plus a copy my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". 

If you are interested in furthering your spiritual growth, you might enjoy my newest book, "Ignite the Power Within: 10 steps to Supercharge your spiritual growth" available at your favorite booksellers here. 

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If you 

Until next time, I wish you peace and stillness and remember...

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

3 Steps to a Better Relationship with God and Others

Do you sometimes feel disconnected from others? Far from God?  Your Higher Power? If so, you're not the only one. We all struggle with these times of seeming isolation and loneliness, even the married folk among us. It is in these times that it is even more important to turn inward and listen to that still small voice. 

Sometimes God allows these dry periods so we can come into a more intimate relationship with Him. We may not know exactly how to go about it so today I'm sharing three steps to developing a closer relationship with God.

Personal Story 
I was at a good friend's wedding having dinner, when a gentleman at our table shared that he had read my book, "The Power of Faith". He said he wished he had the same type of faith to help him get through the trials in his life and asked me if I thought if it was possible for anyone to develop a strong faith.

"Absolutely", I replied without a moment's hesitation.

In fact, God promises us this: "You will seek and find me when you search for me with all your heart," (Jer. 29:13). Just as healthy earthly parents want a good relationship with their kids, so our heavenly Father wants a close relationship with us. In the same way, if we want an intimate close relationship with another person or with God, we must be intentional about it.

"Well, how do you do that?" my typically shy and reserved friend inquired.

Now I know many of us are stuck in this sensory, material world we live in. If we can't see, feel, hear, touch, or smell it, we don't believe it exists. God does exist only in another reality - the spiritual realm and, as spiritual beings, we have to get comfortable operating in this realm as well. The good news is the same steps we take when we are serious about getting to know someone are the same steps we can use in developing a relationship with God.

1. Have an open heart.
Just as when we begin to fall in love with another person and believe they want a relationship with us, the same applies to God. We have to believe in our heart that it is possible to have a deeper relationship with God, that He loves you deeply, and wants to have an intimate relationship with you. God wants to connect you, just as much as the spiritual part of you wants to connect with Him. Once we let this truth permeate our minds, we open the doors for an amazing adventure.

2. Spend more time together.
Getting to know God is much the same as getting to know another person. When we make it a priority to spend time with someone, we get to know them at a deeper level. We come to know who they are, their likes and dislikes, their values, how they think. We each have our own way of spending time with God. Some of us like to take a walk by ourselves, go for a hike or a bike ride in nature. Others prefer to listen to relaxing music or work in the garden. Still others find God in a communal approach such as a church setting or a meditation group. Whatever puts you in a calm and receptive state of mind is conducive to meeting with God.

3. Learn how God feels and thinks about things.

In the same way we get to know another person by learning how he or she thinks and feels, we can get to know who God is. He is not some illusive being out there yonder. He is up close and personal. He wants to make himself known to us, to speak to us, and guide each of us - personally. 

These days, when we want to find out information about someone, we do a Google search and look them up on the Internet. We can do the same thing with God, believe it or not. We go to a reliable source and seek information. In fact, God has put much information about himself, his thoughts, his desires, and his ways of operating in one collection of books known as the Bible. 

Now I know many people have a problem with the Bible, saying it's old and antiquated but the truth is not much has changed in the way of relationships and human nature since it was written. And for sure, God has not changed. At all. 

Side note. Did you know that the way experts determine the validity of a manuscript is by how many copies there are of it? Did you know that the Bible is one of, if not the most copied manuscript in history?

When we make time to read Scripture, we learn who God is, what He thinks, and what is important to him. We also open up the channel of communication with Him to speak to us. You will be amazed when you start reading the Word, how some passage will jump right out at you and you will know that it is meant for you. Try it and see!

"One more thing," I said to my friend. "Ask God to reveal Himself to you, and He will." My friend smiled and nodded.

For Reflection

Do you - like Jacob in the Bible - struggle to find God? Do you desire to have a better communion with your Higher Power? Are you willing to put time into your relationship with others? the Divine? 

So there you have it, friends: three steps to developing a deeper relationship with God. Do post a comment, and feel free to share this with a friend or send me a question. If you'd like to join our blog community and receive my weekly newsletter, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll also receive my free guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". And be sure to pop on over to my Pinterest boards and check out all the cool stuff I have collected for you. And do check out my collection of books on faith and spiritual growth here. 

Stay tuned for more positive and practical wisdom to help you ignite the power within so you can discover YOUR destiny!

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

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How to Know When God is Speaking to You

If you're a parent, you know how frustrating it is when your kids don't listen, right? You keep repeating yourself and it seems no one is paying any attention. I think that is how God feels about me sometimes when I run from one thing to another and don't bother to tune in to that still small voice, or worse yet, ignore it. 

God is still speaking to us today. 

So we know that God spoke to people back in the days of the Bible. But God still speaks to his children today. He wants to be in relationship with you and me and what does a good relationship require? Communication. Regular. A relationship can only grow based on the amount of regular and healthy communication. 

God speaks to Each of us Uniquely. 

As I recently explained to my youngest son, God speaks to each of us uniquely. He speaks in ways only we will understand. It doesn't matter whether someone else understands, what matters is that you know when God is speaking to you PERSONALLY .

Personal Story 
This happened a few years ago but first, a little background. Over the years, being a pretty decent dancer myself, I have dated several men who were also good dancers but none of them turned out to be marriage material.

So there was this one guy I had been dancing with on Friday nights who is a really good dancer. I felt like I was in heaven when we danced together. One Friday night, we danced to a particular song and those few minutes were exceptionally memorable.

That weekend, the same song played on the radio, and I started dancing around my condo like Liza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady". All of the sudden, the building smoke alarm system goes off chirp chirp chirping and snapped me right out of my reverie. It was quite the rude awakening, you might say.

I knew what it meant immediately. "Stop thinking about that guy. You know where it will lead if you go down that path again. Danger, danger." The message was LOUD and CLEAR. I have to admit I was a bit disappointed, but I knew that the message was to protect me from making the same mistake again. Where our thoughts go, eventually, we go. 

Now you might laugh it off and say it was just a coincidence, but I know when God speaks to me. And there are no coincidences with Him. If you could have been there and heard that alarm go off while dreamy thoughts danced in your head, it would have scared you smack into obedience too.

Slow Down and Make Time  

A relationship with God is quite similar to any human relationship. A good one requires slowing down and making time to talk to one another and to listen to the other person. Think of Jesus as your invisible friend. 

The problem is many of us are in way too much of a hurry to slow down and listen for God's voice. We are so preoccupied with our plans and our agendas, we care little for what God's plans and agendas for us may be. I have learned that God's plans are MUCH BETTER than my plans. 

God is still speaking to you, too. The best way I can describe it is a strong sense or prompting in your inner spirit. It is easy to dismiss and disregard, but God is trying to guide you and protect you. Start paying attention to that "still small voice". It's almost like a faint whisper sometimes. It's a sensing of someone speaking inaudibly. Practice slowing down and really listening and you will soon recognize how God is speaking to you. 

For Reflection 
Ever have something like this happen to you? What was the message? Did you listen or ignore it and what happened then? God is still speaking to us today and He will use any method to get our attention, even smoke alarms. The question is will we listen and obey, or will we not.

If you'd like to read more about how to hear from God, get a copy of my first book, "The Power of Faith" and read about all the ways God speaks. 

If you enjoyed this post, please leave a comment and do share it with your friends. And pop on over to Pinterest to check out all the goodies I have collected there for you. https://www.pinterest.com/arielpaz/

Stay tuned for more on how to hear from God and 

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

3 Ways to Empower Your Life

Transformation. We've been talking about walking in faith for a few weeks now. What do you want to transform your life? Your relationships? Your future? Your body? This week I'm sharing a powerful technique you can implement today to help you walk in faith and see your life transformed. I'm talking about the power of your WORDS. 

Words are powerful. We know that. They can lift us up or tear us down. They can motivate and push us forward in life. We must be selective - say "Selective" - in the words and thoughts we use to ourselves and to others. I trust that my words encourage and inspire you. So today we'll be taking a look at 3 ways our words can empower us and give us focus so that we can walk in instead of fear . 

                          

1. Combat negativity and doubt
There is so much negativity that comes at us in this world. Negative relatives. Negative news. Negative thoughts. It's a battle - for sure - to stay positive. It is especially important to think on positive thoughts when we are going thru a tough time. When we lose a job. When we get sick. When a loved one leaves. This is when our spiritual practice - our Faith - pays off because life isn't always a bed of roses. 

Thoughts will always come. Who knows where they come from but it is our WORDS that are make the difference. This is why it is so important to speak out words of faith and hope and encouragement. This is what faith is all about - speaking out what we do not see. "I will be healed", "I will be successful". "I will get through this." "I will rejoice and be glad." "Today is a gift." These thoughts will guide our thoughts and our steps forward. 

2. Have a Vision
We must have a vision for our lives. Someone once said "If you don't know where you're going, any path will take you there." We must be intentional in our choices. We don't have to have it all planned out but we do need a vision. 

I want a family. I want to be healed. I want to earn a good income. I want to serve others. The Words says that "He will give you the desires of your heart." What is the desire of your heart, dear one? Are you focused on your past or on your future? I believe each day is a gift from God to fulfill the plan he has for us for good and not for evil. Ask yourself "Who can I be a blessing to today?" God will bless us when we take the focus off of ourselves and bless others. 

3. Be Intentional

We must be intentional with our words. Yes, it takes effort, but if we want to move forward and see our family move forward we have to be intentional in building each other up. I used to tell my son "You can be anything you want to be. You can be the President of the United States if you want to." I was trying to give him a vision for his life, to inspire and encourage him since his dad was never around to do so. 

As we age, it is even more important to have goals and a vision. Some call it purpose. I call it destiny. I don't want to look back on my life and ask did my life really matter? Sure, I was successful. I raised two sons as a single parent. I got a masters degree while going thru a separation and divorce. I endured a stressful career for 33 yrs. I overcame numerous health issues by the grace of God, but writing these blogs posts to encourage others and share what I have learned about the power of Faith is what is really important to me today. My spiritual gift is the gift of Faith which is the foundation of my life. This blog is part of my legacy.

Someone once told me "If you encourage one person, you will have done your job." My goal is to inspire you to develop the power of Faith in YOUR OWN life because life is tough and we need supernatural power to overcome life's challenges.  

For Reflection

What words are you speaking to and about yourself? Others? Are they positive and faith-filled? This week try and catch what you are saying about yourself and maybe, put a positive spin on it. You are rewiring your brain at the same time which is good news. 

If you enjoyed this post, consider joining our community by entering your email in the box above. You'll receive my weekly posts plus a copy of my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". Check out my offerings on Pinterest and my newest book on spiritual growth, "Ignite the Power Within: 10 Steps to Supercharge Your Spiritual Growth",  available at your favorite online bookstore and thru my website. Simply email me at arielpaz08@gmail.com and I'll get it right out to you!

Stay tuned for part two on this topic next week to help you ignite the power within and discover YOUR destiny!

Until next time, keep smiling and keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

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How to Receive Guidance from God

Decisions, decisions. We make a lot of decisions both big and small on a daily basis. Do you have trouble making decisions? Does making them stress you out? Would you like to have more faith in your decisions? If so, this post is for you. 

As a single mom and single lady, I've had a lot of big decisions to make; from dealing with rebellious teenagers to selling the family home, to buying a new condo, to whether to leave my job, to where to relocate my elderly mom who lived out of state. There are also decisions of less importance like where to go on vacation and who to date. What decision is facing you today? 

Why We Have it Backwards
People seek guidance in different ways, and all of them have their place - to a point, but the first place we should go to is the Word of God. Sadly, the reverse is often true. We go to other people or our feelings first, and then when things don't work out we go to God. Maybe. 

Folks, human beings still struggle with the choices of life and the principles of God are there to guide and direct us because - as we know- making the right choice can be difficult. There is a better way. 

                                              

1. Get really quiet.
I mean for an extended period of time. No, you don't have to go to an ashram or become a monk. You can find stillness in your own home, in nature, in prayer and meditation. We have to quiet our minds and clear the mental muddle if we want to tune in to that still small voice. I like to do this in the early morning or while I am journaling. Journaling helps get my thoughts and feelings off my mind and onto paper. It is one of the 10 skills to help us grow spiritually. 

2. Say a little prayer.

This simple step can have a major impact on your decisions and the outcome. Ask God to direct your steps. After all, He promises to give wisdom to those who ask and who are not double-minded (James 1:5).

3. Open the word of God.
Now if you are not a regular bible-reader, sometimes you can just flip it open and start reading. The Lord will often give you the answer. However, it is better if you are somewhat familiar with the Bible so you can know where to look. I ask myself the question "Who in the Bible had a similar situation to deal with?" Another option is to go to the book of Proverbs where there is a ton of practical wisdom that applies to daily life. 

4. Seek wise counsel

This means discuss the decision with people who have good heads on their shoulders, people you respect, preferably Christians. Your immediate family members might be helpful. Or a close-friend. We are exhorted to seek wise counsel (Prov 15:22) from multiple sources.

5. Wait for peace
Do not - under any circumstances - make a decision you are still conflicted about. This is the worst thing you can do because you are not at peace about it. Sadly, I went ahead and walked down the aisle when I did not have a peace about the decision. I guilted myself into it but you can read about it in my book, "The Power of Faith". 

6. Do not ask for a sign.
Sorry folks, and yes, I know there are instances in the Bibles where people asked for signs, but we have to listen to what Jesus said. Matthew 12:39 calls the people who begged for signs "an evil and adulterous generation". For more on asking for signs, see this article "Is it right to ask God for a sign?"

7. Ask if it is God's will 
Now this is the tough part. It is hard to put aside our own feelings and desires, but if we want God's best it is crucial to do so. Our flesh wants to lead us into what will satisfy it, temporarily. We have to have the big picture and think long-term. Will I be happy with this choice 5 - 10 years down the road?

Personal Story
Years ago, in my early dating life, I thought I was in love with this guy. He was Jewish and that was the first obstacle. But God ordained to have him meet with a messianic rabbi, and a former accountant, same as my friend, to explain to him about Christ. Well, we were close to getting engaged, but then when I met his father, who also had the same critical, sarcastic traits I asked myself "You are looking at your future. Is this the kind of person you want to live with for the rest of your life?" The answer was no. 

8. Wait for God's Best 
God has three answers to our requests: yes, no, and not now. We want things on our own terms and our own time-table. We want it NOW. The problem is this -God's time frame is usually not the same as ours. If we rush ahead with our plans before the time is right, things won't work out. I could tell you a story about that too, but not today. 

The yes answer usually comes on very strong. You can sense it in your spirit. Things just fall into place. You have a sense of peace. You ask, seek, and knock and the door opens. 

The no answer feels like a knot in your stomach. Something just doesn't feel right. You don't have peace about it. This is especially important when it comes to relationships. 

Another personal story. 
I dated this one guy who checked all the boxes. Christian - check. Attends church - check. Good job - check. Sense of humor - check. But something didn't feel right. There was a lot of arguing over stupid stuff. I couldn't put my finger on it, even when he wanted to put at $36k ring on it. Then one Christmas, it all became crystal clear. He wasn't the person he was pretending to be. I broke it off before the New Year because once I am clear, I take prompt action. 

The wait answer is harder to accept, because we want things NOW. Things don't fall into place. There are setbacks and delays, but you still sense in your spirit that the answer is not no. So keep being obedient. Keep doing the right thing until the path opens. It can take years but it is important to keep being obedient even when we don't see our prayers answered.

For Reflection
What decision do you need to make right now? What are you feeling in your spirit? Are you feeling a check or a green light so to speak ? These steps will guide you into making the right decision. 

For more on how to develop this skill and 9 other skills for spiritual growth, order your copy of my newest book, Ignite the Power Within: 10 steps to supercharge your spiritual growth".

Stay tuned and until next time, 

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

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