Into An Infinite Cycle – August 14, 2024 (228/365)

You know, I just thought to myself, doing all these writings, and all this unloading shouldn’t be as burdensome as I think I’m making it. I’m reminded of how natural it all should be flowing out… and I’m just thankful that even if there are these slight changes to the mindset, what comes out as even more natural is the manifest power of the Holy Spirit, gently rebuking me.

I’ve also thought to myself, I don’t know, I feel as if I need to be checked on every now and then, because I’ve been catching myself more lately, feeling as if what I’m writing here may have all the rambling I’m used to noticing… but there’s also a lot of, well, unfounded speculation were the words that immediately came to mind.

In other words, I’m not concerned about how I seem like I’m complaining, but I’m certainly catching how I’m sounding like a madman. Again, I’m just thankful of the reminder to just stick to the Word, and stay dependent on the Living Word; Lest I forget, Christ is the One who gives proper Life and meaning to what we read.

I said earlier how I’m in a personal season of documentation, so you could understand why I’m concerned about the coherence of all I’m writing. I failed to mention earlier that another theme, another season I’m personally going through right now is one of being humble, or getting humbled.

It’s been a couple of months and I’m still reeling from the loss of resources I was used to having, and the consequences and condemnation that ensues. And I see now, that while all that it certainly humbling, even to the hardest of hearts, there’s still a lot of humility for us to have.

It’s here that Saint Moses the Black’s one quote really resonates to me:

‘You labor fervently, but Satan never sleeps. The only dimension with which you can outperform Satan is by acquiring humility, for Satan has no humility’

I was fond of saying before, as advice to folks who insist on the critical importance of works to be saved: ‘If you want to work, then work on believing Christ’… Here, I see another version to that line: ‘If you want to perform, than perform on humility’; as if to say that the cure or the solution to not being more organic or natural in my writing, and also to the fear of possibly sounding incoherent, as a madman – The cure to overthinking and/or overexertion is a good dose of humility, as only Christ can give.

And here’s the thing – sure, our Savior can ‘give’ us humility, and maybe even like Office Space protagonist Peter Gibbons describes (as an immediate ‘zonk’ to our systems)… or, also, we could take another approach I’m fond of – that is, to remind ourselves of how Christ was humble towards us, so we could consequently be humble to ourselves and others…

But beyond hoping in what Christ CAN do to us, or what Christ has DONE for us, I propose that there’s already so much in beholding and meditating who Christ IS, for the said much-needed dose of humility. I’m reminded of David’s words in Psalm 8:

‘…what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?’

Psalm 8:4

The verses prior speak of God, whose name is majestic in all the earth, whose glory He has set above the heavens. They speak of God, who stills ‘the enemy and the avenger’, by way of establishing strength, even ‘out of the mouth of babies and infants’.

They speak of God and the heavens, which are the work of His fingers, and of the moon and stars, whom He has set in place… and I’m proposing that to merely meditate on the infinite and eternal nature of God, in all HIs majesty and glory? Sure, that’s humbling all on its own, but I venture to say that what humbles me even more is that this same God of the heavens and the earth, who could easily erase all as fast as He could create al – Oh, I am humbled, because this great and terrible God is mindful of me, and He cares for me!

So, as mentioned – if we care to perform, we perform on humility… and we’re trying to figure out how to do that, look no further than Psalm 8:4, where we have cause to answer such a beautiful question:  ‘…what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?’

And, indeed, who am I that You are so mindful of me, Lord? Who am I that you care for me, down to the lowest and smallest details, in spite of my fears of incoherence, and my many complaints?

Who am I, Father, that You are so mindful of me, in spite of all that I’ve placed before you in the hierarchy of all that I’m putting my thoughts and focus on? Who am I, Father, that You STILL care for me, in spite of all I insist takes more priority?

And – see here, notice here – isn’t it sort of expected that, in humility and consequent awe, we are brought, once again, to gratitude and prayer?

Considering my own personal outlook of how the world is doing, and how I feel it would turn out in the months and years to come, I no longer think that we’re in a finite ‘season’ of prayer, gratitude, and now, humility – I feel that, as we continue to celebrate the Truth (God’s Grace, Christ’s Finished Work, and the Power of the Holy Spirit), prayer, gratitude and humility become more a part of us as habits, instead of options.

We’ve oft encouraged the brethren to think of Christ and meditate on Him, for the fruits of the Holy Spirit to manifest naturally. In other words, we think of God’s love, peace, patience, joy, faithfulness, kindness, goodness and self-control towards us through Jesus Christ – that we ourselves would exhibit love, peace, patience, joy, faithfulness, kindness, goodness and self-control, to ourselves, and to others.

I’m proposing that other ‘variations’ of these fruits are realized and serve as supplements, giving us even more reason to give God the glory; In other words, when we do meditate on Christ, and God’s love, peace, etc., we would naturally also be praying and thanking God, in humility…

Or, if we’re provoked to pray and thank God, and to humble ourselves, we would be brought to meditate on Christ, and God’s patience, joy, and so on.

We ultimately come to the end of ourselves, and to realizing and appreciating the infinite glory and everlasting grace of God. Or, from another perspective, we realize our place, and the omnipresence of God.

In embracing humility, prayer, and gratitude as habitual practices rather than occasional choices, we open ourselves to a deeper understanding of God’s infinite nature and our place in His grand design.

As we meditate on Christ and God’s attributes, we naturally cultivate these spiritual disciplines, which in turn lead us back to contemplation of His glory.

This beautiful cycle of reflection and response brings us to the end of ourselves and the beginning of a profound appreciation for God’s everlasting grace and omnipresence in our lives.

No matter what we’re going through, do remember that we’re in this beautiful cycle – of prayer and thanksgiving, of awe and humility.

…and we have nobody else but Christ to thank, for setting us on the course of this eternal cycle, here and now, within this finite existence. I suppose this cycle presents a preview of the timeless, borderless reality we’ve been brought into.

Let’s continue to stay humble, stay curious, all this time giving God all the glory, thanking Him, and praying – COMMUNICATING with the Creator of the Universe, the Savior of our souls.

Until the next post, may our good Lord bless and keep you, greatly and abundantly.

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