Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.
For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said... For he has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “and God rested on the seventh day from all his works”; and again in this passage, “they shall not enter my rest.”
Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience,he again fixes a certain day, “today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, “today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that.
So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things yet without sin.Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Job 10:12 Declares that God has granted us life & favor, and that it is His care that has preserved our spirits. Is there something or someone that has gotten the best of you lately? Do you feel as if you cannot go on one more day? I want to encourage you that no matter what you may be feeling, no matter what your circumstances are, you must lay hold of the absolute truth. Your spirit, which is perfect, is being preserved! I always default to Jeremiah 29:11, because at the end of any day, no matter what the outcome appears to be, I know that His plans are good and He has abundance in store for me, not plans that can harm me. Mark 11:24 "Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.
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How often as Christians have you said, "Okay Lord, I believe it, I do! I receive it!" Only to wonder why do I not have what I say I have? This is the faith walk after all. To pray as though you already have it. But what if I were to hand you a key to a brand new car? And you just held your hand out, wanting it, really wanting it. Your hand even got really close to the key. You believed it was yours because I told you it was yours. But you never actually grabbed a hold of the key? Now imagine you reaching quickly and snatching the key out of my hand. I'm pretty sure the next thing you may do is rejoice and jump up and down for awhile. Praise! Praise! Praise! That is another message. The difference is, you actually grabbed the key and took possession of the key that unlocks the car, or unlocks- fill in the blank. It is yours indeed! You started telling people about your gift. You believed in your heart it is yours. You started singing about it, praising God for it, you started cleaning out the garage for your new gift, you made plans with it. Do you get the point here? The gifts from God are indeedalready ours. We just need to receive. Take possession of what He promises us, and live as if those promises are manifesting already. Never doubt His goodness or His faithfulness. James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. www.yogafaith.org
Being a dancer all my life led me to my first yoga class to prevent injury and help before performance day. Since that day, I have had the privilege to study and experience several styles of yoga throughout my life, and there are many. I've been in classes that were 115 degrees, classes that we chant, meditate for extended periods of time, power through a sequence of continuous asanas (postures) that connect with your breath, one of my personal favorite styles, because it is much like a dance, breathing and moving. This also happens to be the most popular style in The United States, known widely as Vinyasa Yoga, or Vinyasa Flow.
I love deepening my knowledge about the many different style of yoga and honoring the origins of yoga, which can consist of focusing on self-enlightenment and "you" as the divine. So, as I love the practice of yoga, some of the philosophies I do not absorb into my personal practice. "Me as the divine? I am the source?" This goes against every grain of my beliefs. Therefore, when the time comes to close my eyes and focus on me, the source that is within me, I would focus in on Who I know as the one true Source, and yes, He actually does dwell within me. This is why Bhakti Yoga is my personal favorite style of yoga, because the focus is on God. Devotion. Surrender.
I understand from an outside perspective that one may think that yoga can interfere with one's religion. Indeed any yoga practice can be a deeply spiritual experience no matter what one believes. But yoga in itself is nonsectarian. It is not a religion, but carries the ability to allow a deeper connection with the divine, in a Christian's practice that would be with God.
The big question is, "Can I practice yoga if I am a Christian?" The answer is a resounding yes. The foundation of my answer comes from one of many scriptures. Mark 12:30 tells us to worship with our whole being. Mind, Body, Spirit, Soul, and Strength. That really sums it up doesn't it? Yoga Faith is about profound worship with our whole beings. God also tells us throughout His word to be still, meditate upon His precepts night and day. Whether you use a yoga mat to do this or your living room floor, coming to your knees (think child's pose) in prayer, stillness, or meditation, is obeying the Word of God. Now imagine raising your arms to Him, on or off a mat (think Warrior pose or a back bend) and coming into complete worship of the True Source, our One True Lord and Saviour.
It is difficult to describe Christian Yoga, or Yoga Faith. You cannot judge something you have not experienced. The one true answer to folks that do not understand or think that it is weird, "woo woo", a contradiction, whatever the case may be, there is only one answer. It is all about Him.
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