How to Know God & Yourself Better

It's Spring and you can't help but notice the new growth and new life all around us: the daffodils peeking through the grass, the blossom buds starting to appear on the trees, the empty birds' nests. Nature spends the winter in darkness, hibernation, and rest and now as the season changes and the sun comes out more, it is time for rebirth, renewal, and transformation. This is what Lent is all about - renewal, rebirth, and transformation. 

Yet to have these, we must put in the time. This Lent, has it been business or busyness as usual or have you made some time for self-reflection, study, and journaling? I hope so! 

Personal Journey

For me, Lent is a season to get to know myself and God better. The two of us are a team. I cut back on social activities and fleshly pursuits so that I can use that time (I prefer the morning)  to reflect and connect more with my emotional and spiritual self, with God, and with my purpose. The social activities will always be there, but Lent is a time to devote to my spiritual growth and that doesn't just mean going to church once a week. No, spiritual and emotional growth is an inside job and no one can do it for us. 

Time spent in spiritual pursuits is time well-spent. Journaling, prayer, reflection and solitude brings emotions and issues to the forefront where we can process them. Otherwise, they stay hidden in our sub-conscious mind and will continue to rob us of our peace and joy throughout the year. 

So let's talk a minute about God. 

Who is this God? 
If we want to know God, who He is and what he desires for and of us, there is no better way to do this than reflect on the personhood of Jesus Christ. After all, he is the embodiment of God (Spirit made flesh) and by studying his life, his words, and his actions, we can learn how to treat others, how to live a life of integrity, how to love ourselves in a balanced way and how to find our purpose.

People seek God in all sorts of ways, but sadly so many ignore the very person of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God. At some point in time, we each must ask ourselves the question "Who is this Jesus?" and "Why did he die for me?"

Jesus is Our Example 
Jesus is the perfect example of a life well-lived; a life of service, sacrifice, and purpose. Jesus knew his destiny and dedicated each day to fulfilling it. He made it a priority to heal, to help, and to encourage those who were hurting despite the constant derision of those in power. He was a friend to the poor, the outcast, and the lonely. 

Most importantly, Jesus followed the will of God, not his own will, straight to death on the cross. Guiltless, he paid the penalty for all of our sins in one sacrificial act of atonement on the cross. Your sins and mine have all been washed white as snow. Who else can do that for us? 

When Jesus died on the cross for you and for me, the veil in the Jewish temple was torn which means there is no longer a separation between man and God for those who believe in Christ. We can now come directly to God, without fear, trepidation, or the need of an intercessor such as a priest or guru. No matter what we have done in the past, our sins are forgiven. We are redeemed and set free from our past, our mistakes, our guilt and our shame. And that, my friends, is worth celebrating! 

For Reflection 
If you have not considered Jesus lately, friend, I encourage you to take some time to get quiet this Lenten season and do so. Jesus was not simply another teacher or prophet, as some religions teach. He is the one and only Son of God, a friend when we feel abandoned and rejected. He is the incarnation of God on earth who died so that we can have true peace, joy, abundance, and an inspired life of service and joy. Will you get to know him this season?

If you enjoyed this post, do join our community. Simply enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my free eguide, "How to Develop a Spiritual Practice" as well as my weekly newsletter. We're all about personal development and spiritual growth and my goal is to help you heal, grow, and flourish. 

Stay tuned for more on igniting the power within so you can discover YOUR DESTINY!

Until next time,

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz 

Part 3: How to Hear From the Holy Spirit

Do you often ignore that still small voice and then later regret it? Are you sensitive to the vibes you get when you meet someone new or enter a restaurant? Do you trust your intuition? Many of us have been told "Oh, you're too sensitive" or "Oh, get a tougher skin". Can you relate? Our feelings and our sensitivity to that still small voice are gifts we have been given to help us navigate through life, avoid danger, and make good choices. Let's face it we live in a rough and tough world and people who are "sensitive" are often criticized. Well, this week I am writing to encourage all of us to tune out those folks who criticize and get back in touch with the Holy Spirit and her gentle guiding. So, how do we live by the Spirit in this loud and fast-paced world?

                                                      

Find Time to Get Quiet
We live in a noisy world. From the constant rings, dings, and beeps of our phones to the loud blasts of construction everywhere to the steady barrage of news and information coming at us. All this noise separates us from ourselves and from the Holy Spirit who is often trying to communicate to us. When we make time to get quiet, we allow our spirit to connect with the Holy Spirit. God is always speaking to us, the question is "Are we listening?" 

Distractions abound and it is up to us to make the decision to find stillness so we can hear that still small voice. Being still goes against our 'get it done now" culture,  but the Bible clearly exhorts us to  "Be still and know that I am God" (Ps. 46:10). Did Jesus ever hurry? I don't think so. He made time daily to be still before God and if he made it a priority, so should we, don't you think?

Listen to Your Body 

Our bodies are also vehicles through which the Holy Spirit can communicate to us. I notice that my stomach churns when I am having a difficult conversation. Migraines - as horrible as they are - also have messages and it is up to us to discern what that message is. Just this past weekend, I had a terrible one. After figuring out the physiologial cause, the deeper spiritual message to me was to spend less energy on other people's problems and focus more on my health and my problems. Yes, I am a recovering codependent with an elderly mother. 

Read the Bible 

I cannot stress this enough. People have stopped going to church and many have lost their connection with God. A good way to reconnect is to spend time reading the Bible, the most copied manuscript of all time. It is the inspired word of God. In it, we can learn more about the Holy Spirit and how God wants us to live. 

There are nine fruits of the Spirit which means behaviors that show we are living not according to our flesh (ego), but more like Jesus. Do you know what they are?

1. Love

2. Joy

3. Peace

4. Patience

5. Kindness

6. Goodness

7. Faithfulness

8. Gentleness

9. Self control 

The more we exhibit these characteristics, the more loving person we become. We will be more tolerant of others. Have more joy, and find the peace we all seek. 

For Reflection 

Do you make time to get quiet on a daily basis? It is one of the steps to building our spiritual muscle and one way to grow spiritually. Which of the fruits of the Spirit could you need help with? If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, the next step is to ask for the Holy Spirit to fill you and then focus on one of the fruits to practice in your daily life. Sticky notes around the house are a good reminder. 

If you enjoyed this post and would like to join our community, simply enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts AND a copy of my free guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path", and remember, communication and community are a two-way street so feel free to connect with me and others on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @ArielPaz08. 

In the meantime, check out my other offerings on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Apple. Pop on over to Pinterest and enjoy the collection I have curated for you. I just recently started posting on Instagram so follow me there too!

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned as we learn more on how to ignite the power within so you can take back your life and discover YOUR destiny!

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

Part 2: How to Live a Life Empowered by the Holy Spirit

Do you need more boldness? Have trouble speaking up or making decisions? Made poor relationship choices? If so, then this week's post is for you. Last week we talked about who the Holy Spirit is and this week I'm sharing on what the Holy Spirit does for us, which is a lot. 

                                                

As you may recall from last week's post, Jesus told his disciples that when he ascends to Heaven, he would send the Holy Spirit. On the day of Pentecost, Jesus breathed on the disciples and said "Receive the Holy Spirit," (John 20:22) and they were filled with power and boldness. Up till then, they had been timid and fearful. Now they had the Holy Spirit which enabled them to go out and spread the Gospel, face numerous challenges, and even give their lives for Christ. 

He is also called The Counselor, The Comforter, and the Spirit of Truth. This supernatural power empowers us as human beings to do the will of God, to forgive those who have hurt us, and the authority to speak up for what is right and to discern what is true. 

The Holy Spirit Empowers Us
We all know how tough life can be. Frankly, I don't know how people survive without the power of God. The challenges of life can be overwhelming, but God gives us his Spirit to empower us and to guide us in the vicissitudes of life. The Holy Spirit gives us power and boldness to speak up and to stand up for ourselves, others, and for God. 

He enables us to forgive others. He pricks our conscience when we disobey God. He gives us direction and guidance. He helps us remember the word of God when we need it. He alerts us to physical and spiritual danger. He gives us authority. 

The Holy Spirit Guides Us
I was just telling a neighbor the other day about the divine guidance I am receiving about a tooth decision. God directs our path, often without us even realizing it. He sends us to people who can help us. When we become sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, we are able to discern which path to take and when it is time to make a decision and when it is time to wait or do further research. Learn more about decision making by reading these posts. 

The Holy Spirit Helps Us Become More Godly

There is a battle going on inside each of us. It is the battle between the flesh and the Spirit. The flesh (aka the ego) wants that which gratifies us in the moment or makes us feel superior to others. That extra piece of cake. That high paying job that steals our time with family and often our health. That feeling of being superior or always right. 

Spirit, on the other hand, wants that which will grow us up and help us to have more peace. To be kinder and more patient. To control our anger. To be humble and gentle. To seek unity instead of division. To understand one another rather than prove our point. 

For more on what the Holy Spirit does, read this article. 

For Reflection

As you see, the Holy Spirit can be quite powerful in our lives if we allow him to. Do you struggle with making the right decisions? Do you have trouble with anger, impatience, or self-control? Would you like to have the help of the Holy Spirit? 

Stay tuned for next week's post when we will talk more about what the Holy Spirit does for us and how to receive the Holy Spirit power into your life. 

If you enjoyed this post and would like to join our community, simply enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts AND a copy of my free guide entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path", and remember, communication and community is a two-way street so feel free to connect with me and others on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @ArielPaz08. 

In the meantime, check out my other offerings on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Apple. Pop on over to Pinterest and enjoy the collection I have curated for you. I just recently started posting on Instagram so follow me there too!

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned as we learn more on how to ignite the power within so you can take back your life and discover YOUR destiny!

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz