How to Live in Victory Over Your Circumstances

Life has its challenges, for sure. Some of us are facing illness or health challenges. For others, it could be a broken relationship, financial stress, or loss of a loved one. Some of us are facing more than one of these. Storms often seem overwhelming and insurmountable while we are going thru them, but the key is to keep our focus on the Resurrection power of Jesus Christ. And that my friends, is why we celebrate Easter. 

A Little History Lesson
Jesus Christ was a real person, not just a prophet, not just a teacher, who lived about 2000 years ago. More importantly, he was the incarnate Son of God which means he is personification of Holy God. He became flesh so that we may know who God is and what we wants of us, to believe in him and to follow him. The Garden of Eden plan didn't work out. The Ten Commandments didn't work either, so God chose his one and only Son, Jesus, to come down from Heaven to this earth to show us how it's done. 

The Problem 

Jesus did many miracles. Raised people from the dead. Gave sight to the blind. People were flocking to him everywhere. But. He was becoming too popular with the Jewish people. The Jewish religious leaders of the day were afraid of losing their power over the people and of the Roman soldiers having to step in. It was all about control, power, and ego. Not much has changed has it? Look at Putin for example. 

The Decision

Jesus was persecuted by the Jewish leaders of the time which led to a shameful and humiliating death on the cross at the hands of the Roman govenor, Pilate. He knew Jesus was an innocent man, yet he gave in to the misguided people. He, too, was weak and afraid and was already under scrutiny from Rome. It takes courage to do the right thing. 

Atonement

Until then, the only way to absolve people of their sins was by the shedding of blood, usually an animal, typically a lamb. Blood is the only way to atone for sin and Jesus willingly surrendered his life so that our sins could be atoned for once and for all eternity. This is why Jesus is called the sacrificial lamb. And this is why we take communion - to remember that only the blood of the lamb can make us holy in the eyes of God. 

 

What This Means to Us

The fantastic news is that when we meet with a situation that seems impossible to us, we can call on the name of Jesus and he can turn it around. I have seen many miraculous breakthroughs,  healings, and solutions because of prayer and calling out to Jesus. There is supernatural power in the name of Jesus Christ. Yet, so many of us fail to use this power and then wonder why we struggle. 

When we celebrate Easter, we are reminded of new life and transformation, victory over sin and death, triumph over evil. When we look at the cross, we are reminded that new life can come out of what appears to be dead. When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, we receive Jesus' Resurrection power thru the Holy Spirit. This is why I pass on Buddhism, Islam, and all the other belief systems out there. Only Jesus rose from the dead and only He can bring life from death.

Personal Story
I have seen this power in action in my own life many times. God has restored me from several serious illnesses that the doctors could not figure out. I remember one stroke specialist at Johns Hopkins scratching his head and muttering to himself about the vestibular migraines I was having. 

After a bankruptcy and a nasty divorce, Christ has restored my finances and moved me to a place of provision and abundance. After being raised in a chaotic and dysfunctional home, he has replaced fear, worry, and anxiety with faith, peace and joy. He has given me peace after my oldest son decided to estrange himself from me. And that is what I want to share with you, dear friend. No matter what painful things you have gone thru, Jesus can heal you. He can give you a peace that passes all understanding. That is why I put all this effort into writing this blog. Jesus has transformed my life. What he has done for me he can and will do for you when you put your trust in him. 

   

We were not made to endure all these things on our own. Jesus is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. When we feel alone, we can remember how alone Jesus felt on that cross. He understands what we are going through but nothing can compare to what he went through. 

Peace through the Pain  

Easter is a time to be transformed. God sees every pain and hurt we endure. He sees our fears, our shame, our guilt,  and he wants to renew us by transforming our minds. We were not meant to live stressed out, anxious, defeated lives fearing when the next shoe will drop. 

When we accept Jesus, we learn to trust, to have peace and hope despite our circumstances, and to forgive those who have hurt us. His plan for us is for good and not for evil. No matter what mistakes we may have made or what others may have done to us, God is able to make us new and whole again. This is the power of the Resurrection. 

A time for renewal and forgiveness.

Easter is a time to let go of the old, and embrace the new. It is a time to let God heal our hearts, by filling it with the great love he has to offer us through His son, Jesus Christ. It is up to each of us whether or not we choose to receive this free gift of grace and love. 

My life has been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; so in a spirit of humility and thankfulness, I offer some reflections on what Easter means to me, and I trust that they will encourage and comfort you as well. When we pause to look at the cross, somehow it puts our "light and momentary afflictions" into perspective.

Easter reminds me that:

- I always have another opportunity for transformation and change

- miracles still happen when I believe 

- God's grace is sufficient for me

- Jesus paid the price for all my sins and mistakes, past, present and future

- God is always there no matter how far away I drift from Him

- no matter how dark it may look on Friday, Sunday is coming

- when I wonder "Does God really love me?" all I have to do is look at Jesus' outstretched arms on the cross and hear him say "I love you this much"

- when I am suffering, I know Jesus has suffered so much more than I ever will and that makes my pain more bearable

- no matter what I have lost or how much I have been hurt, misunderstood, or mistreated, God can bring healing and peace to my soul 

A Prayer to Remember
Here is one of my favorite prayers that helps guide me on how to handle the adversities of love. May it encourage you today. 

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;

O
Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

For Reflection 

Where do you want to see new life? What seems dead? Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God? Do you believe in the Resurrection? If not, will you accept him into your life as Lord and Savior today and allow him to restore and renew you? 

If you are a believer, will you rededicate your life to him and live the abundant life he promises us? We are each on our own spiritual journey and it is up to us which path to choose. 

May God fill you with his great love and peace. May he heal your broken places, and make you new. Amen and amen. 

If this post has encouraged you, join our community by entering your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly newsletter plus a copy of my free guide on finding your spiritual path.

Stay tuned for more positive and practical wisdom to help you find healing, wholeness, and harmony and discover YOUR destiny!

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

How to Incorporate Prayer in Your Daily Life

When life throws you an unexpected curve ball who is the first person you turn to? Your spouse? Your best friend? Your mother? What about those times when you don't know who to turn to? Who will understand? Who will comfort you? 

This is when I suggest the first person you talk to is Jesus. As in any human relationship, the first step to getting to know someone is to talk to them, and it is the same with getting to know God. Prayer is one way to communicate with God. 

Many people minimize the power of prayer, sadly. They talk to everybody else, and talk to God last, if at all. This is backwards. Man's wisdom will never equal the wisdom of God. When you need guidance, direction, healing - turn to God first, then turn to your friends. 

Super in Your Natural
There is supernatural power in prayer, especially if you combine it with scripture. Woah! That is a double whammy of power. James 5:16 says this about prayer: "The fervent prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." In other words, we need to put energy into our prayers. Prayer moves the hand of God. 

                                     

Miracles Still Happen 
I have seen many miracles in my life thanks to the power of prayer and God's great grace. I have been redeemed from anxieties, afflictions, addictions, health issues, financial bondage and much more. I encourage you to read my inspiring true story, "The Power of Faith: a journey to healing, wholeness, and harmony."  In it, I share a different perspective on how to view the inevitable trials and tribulations of life that are sure to come our way some time our another.

I also share the faith lessons I learned that will help you strengthen your spiritual muscle as well. Happy to say that it is now available in audio format here. Please leave a review wherever you found the book. 

Benefits of Prayer 
Prayer helps us to relax and find peace. It strengthens us knowing there is a divine power that cares about us and we are not left to our own devices. Some situations we cannot handle on our own. This is when we need to ask for God's help. Prayer also helps us to connect and feel closer to God. 

Often we think God is some distant being way out yonder, but really he is right beside us, all the time and his name is Jesus. Prayer activates the hand of God. Just like a loving father when his children cry out, God hears the cries of his children and he commands his angels to get to work. One of my favorite verses is this promise: "God hears the cries of his people and he answers them. He rescues them from ALL their troubles." (Ps. 34:17). Notice the inclusion of the word "all". That doesn't leave anything out. God is here for you and me whatever we are going through. 

Prayer Shifts Our Focus
In times of trouble, we tend to dwell on the situation. We ruminate. We overthink. We let the problem or situation consume us and steal our peace. Prayer helps us with all of that by shifting our focus from the problem to the All-Mighty God who sees and controls everything.

This is why is it so important to know who God is. One of God's attributes is omnipotent. You know what that means? He has ALL power. Nothing can stop him from working on our behalf. Nothing. 

Prayer shifts the burden from our shoulders to God's shoulders which are much more capable of holding them. You know that song "He's got the whole world in his hands." 

For Reflection 
What situation would you like to give to God today? Is it a health concern? A relationship situation? A finances thing? Whatever it is, I encourage you to take it to Jesus today. Right now even. I'll help you get started:

"Lord, Jesus. I lift up to you (insert your situation or person_______.) Please heal, help, comfort, guide me/them in this time of need. Lord, you hear my prayer and I trust you to answer in your perfect timing. Jesus, I ask for your peace and presence as I go thru this storm. I thank you in advance for everything you are going to do and I pray this all in the mighty name of Jesus." 

If you enjoyed this post, please share it with a friend. This world needs a spiritual practice more each passing day. 

If you enjoyed this post, do consider joining our community of growth-oriented folks. Simply enter your email address in the box provided on the right and you'll receive my weekly newsletter. You'll also receive my free ebook "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path" to help you along your spiritual growth journey. 

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Until next time, thanks for reading, and

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 
Follow me on Facebook, X, Pinterest and Instagram @Arielpaz 

                

Special Edition: 7 Ways to Combat Fear and Anxiety

There's a lot going on in the world these days that can raise fear and anxiety levels. Are you feeling fearful or anxious these days? What topics control your thoughts and conversations? Have you lost your peace and joy due to world events? Fear is the big brother and anxiety is it's relative. The two are closely related, so if you struggle with either of these, this post is for you. 

In case you haven't realized, human beings have a negativity bias. This is a psychology term that means the human brain is hard-wired to thrive on the negative. This is why the media puts out so much negative news, because it knows negativity and fear attracts viewers. It's easy to get sucked in if we don't realize this. 

This focus on fear and negativity steals our joy and our sense of peace. It also saps our energy by dragging us down to a lower energetic level. Have you realized this? 

Fear is contagious. 

The media is full of bad news: lootings and fires, stock market drops, the latest mass shooting or Hollywood scandal, the virus and the pandemic, the war in the Ukraine and the Middle East and now the dreaded tariffs. The list goes on and on. 

People are buying guns to protect themselves. Others are refusing to go out of the house. Before you know it, that's what you're talking about to your friends, family, and anyone who will listen. You'll think about it at night and ever so slowly fear will permeate your psyche. You will start making fear-based choices. I've heard several friends recently tell me they don't want to do things or go places because they are afraid. 

Fear begets fear. What we dwell on is what will manifest itself in our lives. So this post is dedicated to helping all of us conquer the enemy of fear because peace begins within each of us. 

First of all, let's realize one fact. No one knows when our last day on this earth will be. When it's our time to go, it's our time to go so why live in fear? Why let fear steal the joy from each precious day? When I used to teach yoga, I would tell my class, "Every day is a gift. That is why it's called the present". 

It is a perspective I choose to value each day and not take life for granted. We have a choice to live a fear-based life or a faith-based life. Fear sucks our energy and keeps us back from pursuing our goals, our dreams, and our destinies. We tell ourselves things like "I'm too old", "I'm too uneducated", "I'm too undisciplined", "I'm too -----" you fill in the blank. These are all excuses that masquerade themselves as reality, when they are really fear dressed in disguise.

So how to counteract this pervasive thought pattern?

1. Realize we may have been programmed to think negatively.
Some of us, myself included, were raised in a negative environment. Our parents may have been worriers, fearful, anxious, unmotivated. Yet that doesn't have to be us. We are free to think and choose differently from our parents. It is never too late to change our thinking no matter how old we are. Or how young :)

2. Cultivate a positive mindset.
Begin to reprogram your mind. Start by reading positive literature. Like this blog for instance :)  Write down affirming statements. I use those little yellow post-it notes to remind myself of whatever way of thinking or habit I'm working on changing. It takes time to cultivate a positive mindset but with diligence - over time - we will soon be thinking more positive hopeful thoughts and less negative, fear-driven ones. There is always another way to see things, no matter how bad they seem at the time. 

Our thinking patterns wire our brains. The longer we think negative thoughts, the more negative we will become as we age. We must make a conscious effort to think positive thoughts if we want to live a happier less fearful life. 

3. Stop feeding your mind negativity.
Pay attention to what you are putting into your mind. Sure, we need to keep up with world events, but we don't have to listen to the news as much as we think we do - to keep up. The news is on repeat. If you missed it tonight, tomorrow it will be on again, and again....

Pay attention to what movies you watch. Are they about murder, killing, psychotic behavior? You don't need to watch that. When the consumer stops paying for this junk, maybe the producers will start making better programming. 

All of this is input into our thinking. As we used to say in the IT field, GIGO: garbage in, garbage out. If we want good output, we have to program our minds with good input. 

Recent Decision

My physical therapist told me that she doesn't watch the news because "it's so depressing." I realized she is right - it is depressing. So instead of parking myself in front of the boob tube every night at 6:30, I decided to watch the news every other night. The stories will still be pretty much the same. And I can use that hour for more enjoyable purposes. Ta da! A choice to have less drama and more joy. 

4. Develop self-confidence.
Know who you are. You are a child of God. You have power. You are fully equipped for your journey. Read positive books. Hang around people who are uplifting, growing, and encouraging. Listen to inspirational and motivational speakers. The more we listen to positive influences, the better self-image we will have of ourselves. You are wonderfully made. You are unique and a masterpiece. There is no one else like you. Don't try to be someone else. Be YOU!

5. Refuse to give up.
Life has its setbacks, that is FOR SURE. But I like to look at these as opportunities to alter my course. Setbacks usually mean I need to change my thinking about something. The Bible calls this "repentance". When I change my thinking, I can then change my actions which will produce different results. Failure is not an excuse to give up. Failure motivates us to try a different approach. Look how many times Thomas Edison failed when he was trying to invent the light bulb. 

6. Let Go of Control

This is a biggie. We have to realize - in the moment - what we can control and what we can't. We can't control the weather, the stock market, the government, other people. However, we can control our reactions and responses. We can control how much we invest in the market. We can control our attitudes when things don't go our way like in the recent election. So many people were and still are so - excuse me - p---ed off and they took it out on others. All we can do is vote. We can't control outcomes. We can't control aging, but we can do our best to stay in shape and eat right. Get the point?

7. Trust God.
God is for us. He has our back. Yes, bad things happen but God works stuff out for our good whether we realize it or not. Even the worst scenarios have a silver lining if we look for it. Read my book "The Power of Faith" and see how God orchestrated my life and turned it all for good. We may not see the silver lining at the time, but there always is one. 

God loves us and wants the best for you and me which means you should want that for yourself. Every day we have choices of whether to act out of fear or in faith. I choose faith. I have made a decision to never make a decision based on fear. If you are indecisive, ask yourself this question "What fear is holding me back from making this decision?" Then ask God to give you the faith to trust him. 

Step out of your comfort zone. Try something new. Connect with someone you want to get to know. See less of someone who is causing you grief. Don't let fear keep you from moving forward in your life and your relationships no matter what is going on in the world.

God rewards Faith. When He sees us stepping out of the boat, He will move heaven and earth on our behalf. We will see miracles happen. Obstacles will move out of our way and doors will open. Sometimes we will even get a sign of confirmation that we are moving in the right direction. Contrary to popular thought, signs come AFTER we have taken a step of faith, not before. When we see life through the eyes of faith, rather than fear, we will have more joy, more energy, and more motivation. 

For Reflection

Do you find yourself dwelling on negative thoughts? What are you afraid of these days? What event from the past might be coloring your perspective? What could you do in this life if you weren't afraid? Will you make a decision to choose faith over fear from now on?

I hope this post has given you some ideas on how to conquer fear in your life. If you want more energy, see more progress in your life, and feel more alive, I encourage you to put some of these steps into practice. Love to hear your feedback here or on Facebook or Instagram.  

If you'd like to join our community, enter your email address in the box provided. If you'd like a copy of my free e-guide entitled "How to Develop a Spiritual Practice." so you can learn 10 ways to strengthen your SPIRITUAL MUSCLE, simply drop me an email and I'll get it right out to you. 

Until next time, here's to living a more faith-filled life and remember - 

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

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Now is the Time for Prayer

Are we in the last days? As I sit here watching the snow come down like blankets of huge cotton balls from the sky, I wonder. Yesterday, it was 81 degrees in Maryland and for the first time ever in March, I put my A/C on due to the humidity. It strikes me as very unusual. 

                                            

Then you have a kidnapping of an 84 year-old woman, Nancy Guthrie, for no apparent reason. No ransom money has been collected. No signs of the captors or the victim. Taken from her bed in the middle of the night. I wonder. 

Now we have the attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel. President Trump is claiming Iran was about to attack us, but where is the proof? This is the same guy whose campaign promise was to end wars, not start them. 

What are the repercussions from these decisions, again I wonder. Did the "victory" in Venezuela give him confidence to do this? What did his advisors say? We know he did not get the approval of Congress. He did not announce to the American people, like other presidents. I don't know about you but I was both shocked and dismayed. 

Did he consult his prayer advisors? European leaders? We may never know. But we do know what the Bible says about the end times and we know what it says about rulers who turn into despots. Now I am not fearful, just cautious. This, folks, is a time to turn to prayer, because only prayer can move the hand of God and thwart the hand of the enemy. 

It this Lenten season, I encourage us all to spend extra time in prayer, for our country, for the world, and for our families. Everywhere I look, I see division instead of unity; hatred instead of love, war instead of peace. What do you see, friend?

For Reflection

What do you make of the recent world events? There is power in prayer and you have the power to change the world. Collectively we are an army of God and a force for good. Will you join me in praying for peace in our world? This post is not meant to scare you, but to encourage you to pray and to remain watchful. 

If you enjoyed this post and would like to join our blog community, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts to encourage, inspire and motivate you.  I'll also send you a copy of my free e-book entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path" for yourself and to share with a friend.

Do pop on over to Pinterest and check out the collection I've curated on a variety of interesting topics. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter/X @ArielPaz08. 

Stay tuned and do email me or leave a comment if this post has resonated with you. Until next time, 

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

How to Draw Nearer to God this Lenten Season

Most of us are really busy. I'm retired and I'm still really busy. We have our daily schedules, our agendas, our plans and our projects. We like our routines, our meals and our lifestyles. These give us a kind of comfort and stability in this topsy turvy world we live in. How often have you heard yourself say this:
"I don't have enough time to ......" You fill in the blank.

The Busyness of Life 
The stuff of life can keep us so busy and so stressed out, we rarely have time to do what Stephen Covey, author of numerous best selling books including "7 Habits of Highly Effective People", calls "Quadrant 2 Activities".

Quadrant 2 activities are those activities which are important but not urgent or pressing. Some of them include planning, prevention and improvement. It includes spiritual practices such as prayer, journaling, fasting, and meditation. 

These habits are all crucial to our well-being, but none of them are critical or urgent. Therein lies the crux of the problem. We are addicted to the urgent and we neglect the important, as Stephen Covey says. 

Wake up calls 
Sadly, it is not until life gets uncomfortable and some crisis happens such as a sudden illness or a job loss, a breakup, or an epidemic, that stops us dead in our tracks. It is then - maybe -  that we say "Whoa, wait a minute. Maybe I need to slow down and rethink my priorities". 

When things get uncomfortable, scary, stressful, or painful, it is time to surrender, not resist. God uses everything in our lives to make us more like him and lead us into our destinies, which is - by the way - to be more like his Son, Jesus.

These times are wake-up calls of sorts. God is trying to get our attention. He may be leading us away from certain activities, jobs, situations, places, or people. He may be trying to get us to change our attitudes and behaviors. He may even want to send us help. 

God is always trying to get our attention onto what really matters. We may resist and rationalize. When God is calling us to let something or someone go, it is important to stay with the discomfort, even when it interrupts our busy lives and messes with our agendas. God has the plan. What we need to do is let go and surrender to it.

Go With the Flow

You've heard the phrase, I'm sure. But that is easier said than done when something difficult happens. We tend to fight it, escape it or look for ways to avoid dealing with it. Yet, none of these is helpful. When difficult situations present themselves, the best thing we can do is to surrender and accept instead of denying or fighting against it. Try to deal with whatever it is in a calm and focused manner. Stressing out and getting upset never helps anybody. This is when we need the help of the Holy Spirit to come to our aid. 

Personal Story 

So my elderly mom, who lived out of state, had a few falls back in 2024. I tried to tell her she needed daily care, but she would have none of it. Then, it happened.

In February, she fell and fractured her back - at 94 yrs of age. She called me as the EMS team was taking her to the ER. Now, I could have freaked out, but praise God. I didn't. I said a quick prayer, stayed calm and collected and talked to her all the way to the hospital, thru the x-ray process, and back to her room, trying my best to keep myself and her calm. At least I was connected to her, even if I wasn't there physically. It is in times like these that a spiritual practice comes to our aid. 

When We Don't Understand
Life is full of mysteries. Why is my mom/son/husband/boyfriend acting like this? Why did I lose my job? Why did this happen to me? We don't always understand why things happen but we can trust that whatever it is is ultimately for our good and God's glory. When the questions whirl thru my mind like the swirling winds of March, my natural tendency is to try to figure it all out but the truth is....

We don't have to figure it out. That's our ego egging us on, stressing us out. We need not fret or worry. I believe trying to figure it all out is a way of maintaining control, and we all know how that works out. All we have to do is trust. Trust that God sees us. Trust that God has the answer even when we are at wits end and have tried everything. 

When we don't know what to do next, it is time to wait on God. Let go and let God as they say in recovery groups. When we don't know what to do next, like Samuel said when he heard the voice of God, we need to let God know he has our attention, "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening", then listen and wait. The answer is always the same.

Come a little closer. Let that go. Trust me. 

Scripture says this: "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you." (James 4:8). I often think that God allows these situations to draw us closer to him. I know I have a tendency to drift. How about you?

For Reflection 
What is it that God is working on and in you today? What is he calling you to let go of or to embrace? Are you willing to listen? To surrender? To obey? Jesus is calling you to come a little closer this season. Perhaps, like me, you sometimes get too caught up in the busyness of doing that you fail to hear the still soft voice of Jesus that beckons us to sit at his feet, just like Mary of Bethany.  

Close your eyes and listen to this song by Dierks Bentley. Jesus is saying the same thing to us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVGw7FbohY4&feature=kp

If you enjoyed this post and would like to join our blog community, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts to encourage, inspire and motivate you.  I'll also send you a copy of my free e-book entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path" for yourself and to share with a friend.

Do pop on over to Pinterest and check out the collection I've curated on a variety of interesting topics. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter/X @ArielPaz08. 

Stay tuned for more on the purpose of Lent and until next time, come a little closer!

Ariel Paz

The Truth About Resisting Temptation

Temptation. It comes in many forms but do we recognize it in the moment? Is it a sin to be tempted? Is it a sin to give in to it? Who really tempts us and why? Since we are in the season of Lent, I have been pondering these questions and perhaps you are too. 

What is temptation? 

The dictionary says it is "the desire to do something, particularly something wrong or unwise". I think of synonyms such as testing and trying. In my mind, this could apply to a lot of things. Who or what tries my patience? Who or what tests me? What do I do that is wrong or unwise? 

The Lord's prayer says "Lead me not into temptation." Jesus knew the lure of temptation. Remember what he went through with the devil in the desert during those 40 days of fasting. Whew. I have trouble fasting for more than a few hours. 

Have you heard the acronym "HALT"? Don't let yourself get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired because that is when we fall into temptation.

I feel like I am tempted everyday - by my bad habits, by family members, by my desires, by loneliness. Jesus knew all about these, that is why he told us to pray not to be led astray by temptation. We are tempted when we are with others and when we are by ourselves. It is a constant battle within. 

Temptation comes in many forms. 

Food, alcohol, chocolate, chips, pizza. They appeal to our appetite but what is our appetite for exactly? Is it really for food or for something else such as a comfort for loneliness, anger, frustration, etc? When tempted with turning stones into bread to satiate his hunger, Jesus answered "Man does not live by bread alone, but by the very word of God." (Matt 4:4) In other words, we often turn to externals such as food, alcohol, sugar, caffeine, and shopping to satisfy, satiate, and comfort us when really we should turn inward and apply God's word to comfort and console ourselves. 

The temptation to glorify ourselves. 

The devil tried to entice Jesus to throw himself down from the pinnacle off the temple and call on the angels to rescue him. We are not to tempt God. Many people claimed "God will protect me" as their reason for not getting the Covid vaccine or going to the doctor or getting that test done. Or they claim "God will provide" instead of looking for a job to pay their bills. To me this seems like putting God to the test rather than taking personal responsibility. God wants us to do our part and THEN he will do his. 

There are other ways we try to glorify ourselves. Having to have the last word. Not admitting fault. Trying to outshine others by our travels, our intelligence, or our knowledge. We want all the credit, the acclaim, the recognition, to be a big whig and to look good in front of others. None of us want to look bad. Ever. We don't like to take responsibility for our faults and weaknesses. We don't like to admit we made a mistake or said something hurtful. We like to blame, shame, and judge others to make ourselves feel better. But, does it really? Or do we feel worse? 

We think we achieve great things and material wealth all on our own accord, but it is God who gives us the talents, the abilities, and the opportunities to achieve these things and so the glory belongs to him alone. Remember the story of Daedelus who flew too close to the sun. 

The lure of wealth, power, fame, beauty, youth and status. 

People want to be popular, admired, accepted, well-known, "in the cool crowd". Remember the high school cliques? They made you feel excluded and less than.  Many people thrive on adulation as evidenced by all the buzz on social media, but as we see in Jesus' case, the crowd's opinion is fickle and can change on a dime. 

Don't we know how known and loved we are in the eyes of God? I think we sometimes lose track of that fact. How much he loves us - no - adores us, despite our flaws, our faults and our failures. God knew us even before we were born. "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you." (Jer 1:5).  We are uniquely and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). In fact, God calls us a "masterpiece" (Ephesians 2:10). Nothing here on earth can even come close to that kind of love and recognition. 

We often look to others for approval and acceptance, when it doesn't matter what other people think of us - at all. God sent Jesus to this earth to die to cleanse us from all unrighteousness so that we can have full access to the throne of grace, because only blood can cleanse us of sin. When we accept Christ as Lord, we are found righteous, approved and accepted. Our sins are forgiven. Case closed. 

It's all about the Ego 
The bottom line is temptation comes from our flesh aka our ego aka the devil. We look to the wrong things to comfort us, to give us a sense of worthiness, and to make us feel good about ourselves when really Christ is the answer to all our identity problems.

When we come to truly know who we are in Christ, we don't succumb to the temptations of the flesh as much or as often. We are more willing to accept the will and sovereignty of God and to acknowledge our humanity and the humanity of others. 

For Reflection
This Lenten season, let us each ponder the ways in which we are tempted and why. We all have our weaknesses and our sensitivities. Let us humble ourselves before the cross instead of judging because "There but for the grace of God go I". Let us pray for God's grace and mercy and extend that grace and mercy to others. 

I hope this post has given you food for thought as we prepare our hearts during this holy season. If you'd like more positive and practical advice, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts plus a copy of my newest ebook entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". It is not an accident you are reading this. Perhaps it is time for you to discover a new spiritual path. Get your copy today and find out. 

Stay tuned for more on healing, wholeness, health and harmony so YOU can ignite the power within and discover YOUR destiny!

In the meantime, 

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

Lent: A Time to Look In the Mirror

When was the last time you looked in a mirror? This morning? In your car? Many of us spend lots of time in front of the mirror: primping, styling our hair, and making sure we look just right before we head out the door. Now I am all for looking your best, but how often do we look inside and consider the fact that our inner person is even more important?

I think Michael Jackson realized this when he sang this powerful song. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ocJNahTwok

On stage since a small child, Michael was always in the limelight. He had the glitz, the glamor and the fancy clothes. But as we all realize sooner or later, the glitz, the glamor and the lights fade all too soon and then where are we? When all is said and done, how much time have we devoted to shining up our souls? 

Lent is an ideal time to take a look within. 

It's a time to get alone and get quiet with ourselves and God. Too many of us are focused on outward success: money, possessions, fancy cars, jewelry, prestige. Now I have nothing against outward success but true success has nothing to do with money. How many of the rich and famous are inwardly destitute? Lonely, unhappy, and unfulfilled? Commit suicide? Look at Michael. 

True Success
True success  is about  growth, change, transformation, and becoming a kinder, humbler, more peaceful person. It's how we feel about ourselves, the steps we take to heal our hurts, pains, and insecurities, and then what we can do to make a difference in this hurting world of ours. 

This is what Lent is really all about; it is an opportunity to work on our spiritual and emotional selves and ask ourselves how we can become more like Jesus. We need to turn our eyes away from what the rest of the world is doing, and focus instead of what God would have us become. We need to realize the world lives in exact opposition to how God would have us live. 

Each of Us in On Our Own Journey 
We are each on our own spiritual journey, like I say in my books.  The obstacles we encounter in life are stepping stones to healing, wholeness, and harmony.  The rest will come when we get our priorities in order. "Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you," (Matt. 6:33). The kingdom of God, as it says in the Bible, is righteousness, peace, and joy. These are all inner, spiritual qualities. 

So, when was the last time you took a good look inside? What did you find there? Be honest with yourself but remember to see yourself and others through the eyes of love with compassion and mercy, just as Jesus does. We each have our own wounds that need healing but no one ever healed by shame, guilt, or condemnation. We heal by being loved and Jesus showed us how much he loves us when he died on that cross.

For Reflection:

Are you aware of what hurts or pains you need to heal? Where is there  brokenness? Is there someone you need to forgive this season? Spend some time this week with Jesus and ask him to heal your broken places and make you whole so you can move forward into YOUR DESTINY!

Love to hear your comments on this post. If you'd like to find healing, wholeness, and harmony and ignite the power within so you can discover YOUR destiny, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts plus a copy of my free e-guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". Sometimes we need to find a new path to grow spiritually and this short ebook will get your started. 

Until next time, remember you have the power to make that change!

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz