4 Practices I’ve Found Helpful [When I’m Spiritually Stuck]

1. Walks — If I find that my heart is having trouble engaging with the Lord and I can’t sit still… I don’t. I find ways to take walks with God. Even a lap around the neighborhood or the park is helpful. If I put in my iPhone ear buds, I can talk to God out loud and it looks like I’m just walking and talking on the phone [fantastic]
2. Fasting — Fasting is such a powerful practice. Even if you’re just fasting breakfast and lunch, there’s something special about going without food in order to hear more clearly from God. He loves to come close as we reach for him. If you’re new to fasting, The Rewards of Fasting by Mike Bickle and Dana Candler is a fantastic resource. You can even get a free PDF version from Mike’s website. It’s a quick read and it’s full of gold!
3. Get Specific — When I’m having trouble finding space in my schedule to be alone with God. I find it helpful to block out specific times in my calendar. It’s also helpful to come into these blocks of time with a plan, even if that plan is simply to sit and make room for God to speak. He Reads Truth and She Reads Truth have some really great Bible reading plans that my wife and I have found to be a helpful starting place.
4. Shake It Up — Be spontaneous! Go be alone with God in a public place. Find a coffee shop, go to a wooded area, find a park bench, and be with God.

 

If you have any other practices that have been helpful for you, please continue the conversation in the comments section for all to benefit from!

Cheers,
Phil

 

 

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excerpt: On Knowing God – Ephesians 1

may [God] give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened… (Ephesians 1).

Finding a quiet space in your day, read over this passage several times. See if you can commit it to memory. Create a personal prayer over the next season of time using this passage… [Example] God, would you give me a spirit of wisdom and revelation, so I will be able to know you in deeper and fuller ways.

If it would be helpful, set a regular alarm on your watch or phone to remind you to pray this prayer a few times every day.

 

Phil Rice — philrice.blog
Executive Director of Ember

excerpt from On Trusting God – Isaiah 26

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You (Isaiah 26).

Take several quiet moments to read over this passage. Let it impact you as you read. What does it mean for you, right now, in this time to keep your mind on God? He promises his perfect peace to us as we gaze upon him, as we trust him.

 

 

Phil Rice — philrice.blog
Executive Director of Ember

excerpt from On Trusting God – Isaiah 43

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God… (Isaiah 43).

Read through this passage several times in a quiet, undistracted space. Fear not — I have redeemed you — I have called you by name — You are mine — I will be with you — [waters] shall not overflow you — fire shall not burn you — I am the Lord your God. Allow the reality of each phrase to wash over you.

Allow yourself to visualize the most challenging thing in your life right now [repeat where necessary]. Thank God for these promises surrounding your specific hardship. Thank him for his command to fear not. Thank him for the promise that this hardship will not overtake you or destroy you. YOU ARE MINE. Thank him for this reality.

 

Phil Rice — philrice.blog
Executive Director of Ember

excerpt from On Trusting God – Revelation 4

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come (Revelation 4)!

He is the one who was and is and is to come. God, our anchor, has always been, is with us now, and will always be. His depth is our foundation. His being is our stronghold.

Take a moment to set aside distraction. Turn your phone on silent… or even… put your phone/computer/tablet elsewhere. Find an undistracted place and contemplate this attribute of God — the one who was and is and is to come. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you understanding of this reality, the vastness of it, even the implications of this reality. Ask him to give you understanding on how the scope of this attribute enables you to trust God more deeply.

Take as much time on this session as you need. Feel free to revisit it for several days if it feels helpful.

 

Phil Rice — philrice.blog
Executive Director of Ember

excerpt from On Trusting God – Psalm 25

To you, O Lord, I lift up my souls. O my God, in you I trust (Psalm 25).

Trusting in God is at the core of being his disciple. If we do not trust him, then we do not rest in him. If we cannot trust him, then we cannot receive love from him. If we will not trust him, we will not follow him.

Take a few quiet moments and meditate on this excerpt from Psalm 25. Then take a few deep breaths and ask God the following question: God, in what places am I not trusting you?

If something comes to mind, write it down. If nothing comes to mind, set an alarm for a later time in the day and ask again. Continue asking in a regular way until something comes to mind. When you do have something, ask God for the next step in trusting him in this area. Continue to ask for next steps as you are obedient with the last step.

May we all experience his gentle leadership as we continue to trust him.

 

note: I’m currently in the process of writing and compiling some devotional resources. I thought it could be helpful for some to include snapshots of my process. Enjoy!

Phil Rice — philrice.blog
Executive Director of Ember

excerpt from On Trusting God – Proverbs 3

Session three – On Trusting God

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3).

From your heart, turst the Lord. Through this passage, God is inviting us to trust him from the deepest place and set aside the things we think we know. His promise to us is that if we give him full permission and leadership of our hearts, instead of trying to have it all logically sorted, he will direct us. This is an incredible relief! We don’t have to have the answers or the navigational bearings. He does. He will direct us. But, as this proverb says, he won’t necessarily direct us from what we know logically… but rather from our hearts.

If I understand all that is going on in my Christian life, I have an inferior Christian life. The walk of faith is to live according to the revelation we have received, in the midst of the mysteries we can’t explain (Dreaming with God, Bill Johnson).

Take a moment with Holy Spirit. Take a deep breath, and then ask… Holy Spirit, are there areas that I am not living primarily from your prompting, but rather from my own intellect? Father, I repent of hiding behind what I already know and I ask you to lead me into the unknown.

note: I’m currently in the process of writing and compiling some devotional resources. I thought it could be helpful for some to include snapshots of my process. Enjoy!

Phil Rice — philrice.blog
Executive Director of Ember

excerpt from On Trusting God – Psalm 91

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust” (Psalm 91).

This is reality. There is no other being in the whole of the cosmos that will not be shaken.

Take a moment and articulate in your own words to God that he is your refuge. Ask him to come and to remove any false refuge you have constructed apart from him. If you can trust him in this, communicate it out loud. Tell him that you trust him to come and remove what is false so that he alone will be left. If you have not yet arrived at this place, tell him so. He’s not intimidated by our weakness. But do communicate your desire to trust him. Invite him to show you the path to trusting fully in him as your refuge.

As he begins to give you practical ideas on how to trust in him in a given area, write it down. Thank God for showing you the path. Tell a friend how you plan to trust the Lord practically.

note: I’m currently in the process of writing and compiling some devotional resources. I thought it would be fun to include snapshots of my process, so you’ll be seeing little bits here and there. Enjoy!

Phil Rice — philrice.blog
Executive Director of Ember

excerpt from 21 Days Simple – Psalm 139

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way (Psalm 139).

Wholeness comes when we give God permission to come into every part of us. Take a moment to communicate your desire for God to bring his power into every area of your being, your experience. Simply say, “God, I give you permission to search every part of me. Show me where I haven’t given you access and influence. Come and bring life to every area within me.”

As he highlights areas where you have not given him full access to areas of yourself, write them down, share them with a close friend and communicate how you plan to give him access moving forward.

Note: 21 Days Simple is a Devotional eBook I’m writing. Thought I would release some snippets along the way. Enjoy!

Phil Rice — philrice.blog
Executive Director of Ember