A Saturated-Soul Summer–Week 1

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” — Colossians 3:2

Happy June! June brings with it the promise of longer days. Days where fireflies twinkle as the sun sets each evening. The smell of sweet honeysuckle permeating the air. Official summer season begins in just a few short weeks, and we all can exhale just a little bit. The routine of life slows down, and perhaps a little bit of relaxation is imminent. When the world quiets around us a few decibels, our ears open to the sound of the Spirit’s voice. We can hear Jesus just a little bit better when the noise is dimmed.

I am blessed to live in a place where we have the pleasure to experience all four seasons. There is something cathartic and also hopeful as I bear witness to the subtle changes that suggest the next season is just around the corner. So it is with life. I find comfort in the truth and knowledge that regardless of the winds of change and tides of life, my Savior is unchangeable. He remains the same, no matter what. In this current season of my life, I am held secure in the place of refuge Jesus offers.

As I contemplated what God has been teaching me in the last few weeks and months, He gently whispered into my ear, “Share it. Don’t wait until the lesson is fully learned. Share what I am teaching you along the way.” Which brings me to here. God has really impressed upon my heart to dig deeper into His Word, into His very presence, then meditate upon it and apply it to wherever my day takes me. In a world that vies unashamedly for our affections and attention, God is saying, “Set your thoughts on me, on what will matter in eternity.” Simplistic in concept, complicated in execution. Time spent with Jesus is precious to me, and I feel guilty when my behavior doesn’t align with who I want to be in Him. How can I do this differently? How can I learn to apply the truth of God’s Word in the midst of my everyday life situations and circumstances. I am challenged by the realization that Jesus was Himself tempted in every way like we are, yet without sin. This means, in Him, there is a way to look above the demands and expectations of the world, and lock in on Jesus Christ.

This summer, journey with me as I aim to meditate upon and integrate gospel truth into everyday living. Jesus has invited me to step up my faith through weekly transparency into what God has been working in me as I engage with Him on a daily basis. Now, what does this mean? It means that this summer I am going to use the space on The Satisfied Soul to write what lessons and impressions God has been using in my life throughout the week. This summer is going to be a season of weeding, planting, and growing. It’s going to be a great time of meditating upon the truth of God’s Word and allowing it to saturate my soul and to experience a shift in my thinking and outlook.

Expect this to be deeply connected to the books of James and Ephesians as this is where God has led to me to be rooted this summer. I invite feedback and engagement with what God is also teaching you and growing in your life. Life is hard. Even harder if we attempt to make a go of it alone. Transparency and vulnerability with one another encourages us in our walks with God. Jesus doesn’t want us to wait until we feel like we’ve gotten it right to come to Him. Daily we are told to die to ourselves. This means that we cannot battle our flesh one day and expect the battle to end. The war has been won in Jesus Christ, but the battle continues to rage daily. Until Jesus returns, we must choose daily to die to ourselves and surrender our wills to the will of the Father. It’s important to remember that every good and perfect gift comes from Him.

A few thoughts from what Jesus has taught me this week. He has challenged me to always put His Word and His ways before the world. Period. As I begin to do this, positive changes are inevitable. This won’t be easy, but when this becomes my mindset, it will impact every facet of my life. Secondly, God has challenged me in the words of James 1:2, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.” Count it all joy, Dawn. Period. Joy can be, and is, found in all circumstances because I can trust in God’s purposes in it. I am safe within the palm of the Savior’s hand, and what He allows in my life also has a purpose. Consider it all joy. The final thing Jesus is teaching me this week is that, while I have been wrestling through the question of what my purpose is now, as this season of life is shifting, Jesus has been the answer all along. Jesus IS my purpose. And that changes how I encounter everything!

Summer is going to be a great season this year! Our souls are going to be saturated in the truth of God’s Word as we open our hearts to learn what He is teaching, meditate our thoughts on what He is saying, and cooperate with Him in the changes He is about to make!