Sweet Spot

A sweet spot. I am in that place—a place where I am intimately aware of the hand that leads and the heart that beats for me, for you.

It’s a place of astounding security (held tight), freedom (chains cut) and peace (beyond compare).

It alters the terrain of my heart.

It alters my perception of the day.

I am not always in this place.

Why is this blessing mine today?

I think it has to do with the hours of retreat I enjoyed last week.

I think it has to do with the fact that I am doing (this week) what I’ve been called to do. (Which I believe is in direct relationship to what I did last week: Sit at Jesus’ feet.)

I also think it has to do with the fact that I was reading about the “Jerusalem Council” from Acts 15. It records a showdown of gigantic proportions.

The Jewish people had lived for centuries in covenant with God by waiting in hope for the promised Messiah and attending to the Commands and regulations of the Torah. The first Christians were Jewish. They were blessed by the rich storehouse of teaching from their Jewish childhood training.

Enter stage right: Jesus the Messiah, the master Teacher. He taught his disciples (these Jewish men…and women) well. The disciples were richly blessed by the storehouse of teaching they received from the Rabbi, the King of the Universe.

This Jerusalem Council formed around the circumcision debate (Acts 15).

Did gentile believers have to be circumcised? (Remember, the Jewish people were to refrain from associating with those who were uncircumcised and unclean.) What saved? Jesus or Jesus and keeping the regulations of the Law? (The Jews abided by 613 Old Testament regulations at that time.) There was no existing, direct teaching for this council to fall back on as the rubber hit the road.

Enter stage right: the Holy Spirit. The promised One.

…the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26

The Holy Spirit moved in and among the leaders of that council. By his leading he taught, counseled and directed them.

The Holy Spirit longs to move in and among our thoughts, desires, passions, pursuits.

It’s where the rubber hits the road.

The clamor of many needs and demands rattles and distracts me—easily.

The sweet spot is doing, with joy and determination, what he calls me to do.

Easy?

Never.

The sweet spot is found in hard places and messy middles.

Is This Your First Time Here?

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Run hard. Rest well. launched in March 2013. If this topic grabs your heart, we’d like to encourage you to subscribe to this weekly blog. The information to do so is located on the right hand side of this page. Along the way, we’ve encouraged folks to read the first 12-weeks of posts found in the archives. (But no rush. Go slow.) Start with Week 1 (from March). Each post is numbered and lays an important foundational insight into the life-giving rhythm Run hard. Rest well.

• The site is under construction for a few weeks to compile the e-book, re-vamp the site and prepare to launch out into a broader spectrum of people. During this time I am going to send out shorter posts and some links to articles I’ve written. Hope they are a blessing.

run hard. rest well.

Brenda

First time here?