“The good news of a new relationship with God through Christ is transforming persons everywhere I have been, as it has been transforming you since the very first day you acknowledged God’s unconditional love.”
"Because of his (Epaphras') report we constantly pray for you, asking that you may graspGod’s intentions for you both in your head and in your heart, so that your lifestyle will please God, your efforts in ministry will be productive, and your understanding of who God is will continually enlarge. We want you to become aware of that vast strength which springs out of your relationship with God so that you will have steadiness and to be able to endure anything with joy and then you will thank God our Father who makes us adequate through our participation in a community of transparent people. He has released us from the confusion and meaninglessness of a closed life and has opened us up so that we participate in the authority of his Son.” Colossians 1:6, 9-13 The Heart of Paul by Ben Campbell Johnson
There is so much yummy goodness in this passage! I spoke about this and more last Saturday night. You can listen and also find links to the exercise handout and the slides here: https://blazingfire.podbean.com/e/the-relational-gospel-russ-fochler/
In this email, I want to focus on what are called "relational circuits". When our relational circuits are "on", a lot of things work better. When our relational circuits are "off" - we experience what Paul called "the meaninglessness of a closed life". Learning to recognize when they are "off" and helping them to be "on" again will change our life.
Signs your Relational Circuits are off:
- I just want this problem, person or feeling to go away. They need to change, shut-up, get fixed, etc.
- I don’t want to listen to what anyone has to say right now. I’m done.
- Your mind is “locked onto” something negative and upsetting.
- I don’t want to be connected to anyone right now.
- I just want to get away. (flee, fight, freeze, vs staying relational, calm and connected)
- I get aggressive, interrogate, judge and try to change or fix others. I'm more focused on the splinter in their eye, rather than the beam in mine.
When your Relational Circuits are on you can:
- Use all your senses
- Be flexible (instead of rigid) in your thinking
- Be self-reflective
- Attune (be in sync with another person)
- Use willpower
- Be open and interested in what others think, feel and say
- Regulate emotions
- Work with others to reach understanding
- Focus & shift attention
One very important way to help your relational circuits come back "on line" is to intentionally practice gratitude for several minutes (the longer you savor gratitude, the better). This works for our connection with God, and also with people. We practiced interactive gratitude last Saturday. Here is a link to that handout.
Every time we sing worship songs from our heart to Jesus and Father God, we welcome our relational circuits to be on and connected with God.
As a young man, Jim Wilder (co-author Joyful Journey, The Life Model and other books) read through the Bible and summarized what he saw as the 3 most important truths to live from:
- Talk to God about everything
- Do nothing out of fear
- Love others deeply
When we're experiencing a "mutual mind" with Jesus (the mind of Christ), we can discern the thoughts from God by His Shalom associated with those thoughts.
"Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ. So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always." Philippians 4:6-8 The Passion Translation
With gratitude,
Russ Fochler
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