Job 38: Then The LORD answered Job from the whirlwind: (4) Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much...(12) Have you ever once commanded the morning to appear, and cause the dawn to rise in the east?... (24) Where is the path to the distribution point of light? Where is the home of the east wind? (27) Who laid out the path for the lightening, causing the rain to fall upon the barren desert (28) Where does dew come from? (33) Do you know the laws of the universe and how the heavens influence the earth....
[Living Bible translation]
Summary:
Job was a family man. He was a wealthy man. He was a healthy man. Everything was going right and then suddenly everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Job lost his children. Job lost his home. He lost his wealth and he lost his health. All of Job's material possessions just disappeared. Job's wife was angry about what was happening to them and had nothing good to offer Job. Job's friends did not act like friends at all. Job tried to make sense of what was happening in his life but he just could not figure it out. Job tried to talk to his friends but Job's friends just assumed that it must be Job's fault. When Job tried to "talk it out" with GOD, GOD reminded Job through a series of questions that only GOD is GOD. GOD reminded Job of WHO GOD IS. Through a series of questions Job was also reminded of his own limitations. Job could not answer GOD's questions—not even one, and Job came to realize that he cannot "question" GOD or comprehend the ways of GOD. Job became mindful that he was dealing in matters that a simple human mind "cannot understand." Some things are just far "too wonderful for him" to know or comprehend. (Job 42:3) Instead of coming to GOD demanding explanations or insisting that GOD come to him with answers, Job realized that he must come to GOD in FAITH.
BEING MINDFUL
Eating raw on Wednesdays helps us to be mindful of the foods we eat, if we take notice. When we eat raw we can appreciate the color of the various fruit (the redness of an apple, the ripeness of a banana, whether the plum is soft or hard, the color and texture of the greens, the smell of the strawberries, melons and berries, the crunchiness and various textures of the nuts, carrots, celery, peas and the other things we eat, if we take notice.
According to WebMD, being mindful means being present at the moment. It means giving it your full attention. Instead of multi-tasking, mindfulness means single-tasking. Paying attention to details of the moment. Some mindfulness exercises might include:
- Mindful breathing – first find a comfortable spot. Close your eyes. Focus on your breathing. Place one or both hands on your lower abdomen. Now imagine the air moving from your lower abdomen, slowly rising to your chest, up your throat, into your mouth until you finally exhale slowly through your nose, making sure that the last bit of air goes out. Listen to the sound as the air enters the atmosphere. Feel the flatness of you hand against your lower abdomen. Now, equally as slowly breathe in through your nose, being mindful of you hand rising as the air fills the lower abdomen. Listen to the sound as the air coming in. Do this 5 times. Then repeat the whole exercise again, but instead of the air exiting your nose, push the air out of your mouth, making a slow blowing sound as the air comes in and comes out. Listen to the sound of the air coming in and out of your mouth as your hand rises and falls. Again, repeat 5 times.
- Mindful eating- Make a green salad. Observe texture of the salad greens. Add some color- perhaps a carrot, a peach, an apple, mushrooms, shredded beets or soybeans. As you cut the fruit and vegetables, consider what do you smell and what do you see. Is there juice? Are there smells? What does your green salad look like as you continue to add color? Make a salad dressing. If you have difficulty making one, consider some of the recipes from the following site: http://kblog.lunchboxbunch.com/2013/07/15-vegan-salad-dressing-recipes.html. Consider each ingredient as you create your culinary masterpiece. When you sit down to eat, chew slowly. Think about each ingredient of the salad as you eat it. Think about the nutrients the salad is providing your body. Taste, eat and enjoy.
These are just a few exercises you might try.
According to WebMd.com, the opposite of mindfulness is being on autopilot. It is what happens when we do things without thought or consideration. It is that shallow (unhealthy) breathing that often coming from the chest instead of the abdomen. It is pulling out of driveway every morning, going on the same road, thinking of work, without any thought to what is happening around you (without listening to the birds, without noticing the grass or the sky or enjoying GOD's handiwork).
Sometimes being on autopilot is complaining about some ache or pain because you have been complaining about the same thing for years, without any real thought as to how you really feel today. Sometimes we walk around with canes and crutches without any real thought as to whether we need them right now. But sometimes, when we are present in the moment, like this grandpa, who was so mindful of the music or joy of a wedding celebration, we can throw the canes away and just dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXI4VyXrRVM. [Just paste in your browser.]
Perhaps being present in the LORD or throwing down a cane or crutch will work miracles for you today.
BEING MINDFUL OF A GREATER POWER-GOD
According to the Bible, GOD is mindful of each of us. Psalms 8:4 states: "What is man, that THOU art mindful of him?" Psalms 8:4. In other words, GOD has not forgotten any of us, HE knows, HE sees, HE pays attention and HE cares.
Prayer is a time when we can be mindful of HIM. If we focus and not treat prayer as an autopilot exercise, like Job, we can be mindful of HIM as well as WHO HE IS. So, today, be present in the LORD.
Pray, then let your spirit dance and BE BLESSED!
