Breathing Room: Breathe Spiritually

1 Cor 6:12
Jn 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
What is your identity? What do you identify with most? Identity- the thing by which we identify with most.
Internal challenges- Gal 5:1
1. We are no longer slaves to our past. Guilt. Grace. Labels attach themselves securely to our souls, not to easily be removed. Jn 8:31b-32. The Truth will overcome the lies and labels. Truth is a person-Jesus Christ. We need to continuously commune with Jesus. 2 Cor 5:17. God has moved on from our past failures and sins, and so should we. God can use you. Phil 3:13. What or who is the loudest voice in your life?
2. You are no longer slaves to our present. Shame. Mercy. We can't serve both sin and God. Gal 5:16-17. Lie- you are not worthy because of where you are currently stuck. The day that He saved you, He knew you'd be stuck in this sin problem right here and right now. God's label over you is lasting, it's permanent.
3. You are no longer a slave to performance. Fear. Forgiveness. We can't earn or lose God's love through our performance. Eph 2:8-10 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." The more we make this life about us, the more we become suffocated by slavery. Christ AND me vs. Christ IN me.

Breathing Room: Breathing Financially

2300+ verses in scripture talk about money, 15% of Jesus' teachings were about money.
1 Cor 6:12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.

The lies:
1. We lack trust.
2. We've bought into the lies. Joy and contentment can be purchased
3. We're temporal/earthly focused.
4. Our hearts go unchecked.

The remedy:
Lk 12:32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.  Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
1. Trust God. Lk 12:32 God gives us everything we need and more. Tithing: Gen 14, 28; Lev 27:30; Num 18:25-28; Deut 14:22-24; 2 Chron 31:5-6; Mal 3; Mt 23:23; Lk 18:2.
2. Know, believe, and love the Truth. Lk 12:33a. Josh Becker book: The More of Less. Buy only things that have purpose in your life.
3. Maximize your treasure in heaven, not on earth. Lk 12:33.
4. Check your heart regularly. Allow God to check your heart. Ps 139:23 "Search me and know my anxious thoughts."
Lk 3:10-14 "What should we do then?” the crowd asked.  John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”  Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”  “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.  Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”

Breathing Room: Technology

Build extra space in our lives so we are more in tune with His purposes, promises, and people.
The problem is not technology, the problem is the person using it. Whatever we feed will grow. 1 Cor 6:12.

Technology is a great servant, but not a good master. Technicolor can drain us mentally and spiritually. It can rob our attention away from God. Mt 22:37-39. It is difficult to serve God with our heart, soul and mind when we are distracted.

1. Technology robs us of a deeper relationship with God. The threat is to our soul. Ps 130:5-6, 63:1. Technology keeps us connected to the outer world, but disconnected to our inner lives. Lk 10:38-41. We need to take a breath, stop being so busy and rest (Be still, and know that I am God).

2. Technology robs us of a more purposeful and meaningful relationship with others. When we are distracted our view of God and our view of self becomes distorted. Fear of missing out on the world, makes us miss out on what is really happening around us in our lives.

What now? Practical steps:
1. Be honest with where you are.
2. Turn off notifications.
3. Track your phone usage. (Quality time app)
4. Put your phone in a different room.
5. Consider temporarily depriving yourself.
6. Practice stillness and silence often.

Regular stillness is necessary for living the purposeful, joyful, peaceful life to which God has called us. Mt 11:28-29 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."