The Rhythm Of Well-Being // Weekend Whispers
Over the last few weeks, I have been exploring life’s rhythms. When I first began, I discovered four rhythms that I wanted to work on in my own life. They naturally fell into this beautiful group named the 4 W’s – Welcome, the Word, Worship and Well-Being. God has worked in me and around me to bring an awareness as to how they should look and become part of who I am. Each one has made an impact as I dug into their meanings for me and practiced them in my daily life. But one has haunted me and has become my enigma. For many, the rhythm of well-being is the easiest, but for me it is one I will continue to learn and work on the rest of my life.
Right now, this rhythm looks like one giant step forward that ends up five steps back. This is where my worth and faith are tested on every level and where God whispers over and over, “See I am doing a great work in you”. But belief is everything and many days I don’t see the great work and I certainly don’t believe it is happening. It is buried so deep inside that a total excavation is needed to find the heart of who I have always been meant to be.
Working on belief in myself is a good place to start. Belief in yourself happens when the truth of who you are is louder than the voices that tell you otherwise. The truth is found when God’s Word is our go to source and everything else is disregarded. My go to verses are in Psalm 139 and keeping these on repeat in my heart is a beautiful source of comfort.
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well. (Psalm 139:13-14)
[tweetthis]Belief in yourself happens when the truth of who you are is louder than the other voices. @MaryGeisen #weekendwhispers[/tweetthis]
Allowing myself grace to make mistakes and to fail sometimes is needed in order to get back up and do it all again tomorrow. I am reminded often that I am far from perfect and it is in my imperfection that I accept God’s grace. When we accept God’s grace, we are acknowledging we need a do over and He is the one to provide the fresh start. His love and grace teach us that when the way is hard, we need only turn to Him.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
(2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
[tweetthis]In our imperfection we accept God’s grace, acknowledging we need a do over. @MaryGeisen #weekendwhispers[/tweetthis]
Finally, I am taking baby steps and celebrating along the way. When it comes to well-being, I am mastering the exercise part very well. I love to walk and I am blessed with beautiful parks and gardens near where I live. I take advantage of this beauty on my walks. I love the feeling after I have walked, knowing those baby steps brought me closer to being healthier. Celebrating along the way is the gift of a job well done.
God has shown me the need for rhythms in my life. Rhythms that teach, ones that stretch me beyond what I thought I was capable of, ones that deepen my relationship with God, and ones that show me how to open my heart to others and new possibilities. All of these are made possible because of God. To catch up on all the other posts about life’s rhythms, click here, here, here and here.
Thank you as always for being here and for being part of the Weekend Whispers community.
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Mary, thank you for confirming what I have been hearing. Many of the same verses. I love Psalm 139. Blessings Diana
Thank you for being here today and for also confirming these words for me through your encouragement. Praying your week is blessed.
Mary, I love this searching for the rhythms of life from our Creator. They may be different for different people and for all of us, they could be different in the different seasons of life that we go through. Seems like a question I need to be asking God and asking more than once! Great thoughts, sweet friend. xoxo
You are so right that my rhythms might not look like yours and in different seasons of our life they can change. Seeking rhythms in our own life is a way for us to deepen our relationship with God. Praying your day is blessed as well as your family time. Love you!
Oh! If anyone needs to have Rhythms in her life, it is me! There are many areas in my life that need to have a predictable, smooth flow from day to day. I’m too spontaneous which makes for a sporadic life.
And yet, I am plagued by the ugly monster of perfectionism, which also throws off a Rhythm. It robs me of time while I foolishly strive to overwork in one area or another. I shun the word shortcut. I’m sure something is missing. But I’m learning shortcuts can produce beauty and harmony!
Your words about “In our imperfections, we acknowledge God’s grace and our need for a do over.” I definitely need this, especially right now. And may these words echo in my ears for a long time to come.
Thank you Mary and Barb~
Blessings,
Janis
Perfectionism has always been my nemesis so I understand how you say it robs you of rhythms in your life. God chooses us weaknesses and all and keeping those words in my heart helps on those days that seem to be messy. Your beautiful encouragement is such a gift to me today. Praying your week is blessed.
What a beautiful moment of grace you have offered here, Barbie. I love this, “Belief in yourself happens when the truth of who you are is louder than the voices that tell you otherwise.”
Because He believes in us… it is so encouraging that we can trust in His love and grace.
Thank you for sharing a part of your heart.
Blessings,
Dawn
Thank you for being here Dawn. God is teaching me over and over about trust and faith and it is only in baby steps that I make any forward progress.Your encouragement and presence are appreciated. Blessings on your Sunday.
Thanks for hosting a “weekend whisper”. I love the idea of settling down and thinking on ways God has spoken. 🙂
Thank you Heather! Listening for God’s whispers is a rhythm we can learn and follow everyday. May you have a blessed Sunday.
Mary,
I am blessed here each week and I am so thankful for that. Truly, God has used both you and Barbie to minister to my heart. It has been my favorite place to visit each week. It’s a place that has assured me that I’m not the only one trying to figure out God’s best for me and trying to find a flow, or rhythm, to what it is that He wants me doing. I could go on for a long time about all the ways in which your words have touched me, but I’ll spare you … for now! 😉
Blessings and heartfelt smiles,
Lori
Your sweet words blessed me this morning. We are so glad you feel at home here as we both express our hearts through what God is teaching us. I am praying that God continues to minister to your heart with His words and truths. Blessings on your Sunday!
Lori, I am so thankful God ministers to you through the words shared here. It’s a blessing to have you in the Weekend Whispers community.
Mary,
Your words about “baby step” and belief resonated with me. Thank you 🙂
Thank you Dolly! May we all learn how to take baby steps toward God in all we do and celebrate that we are deepening our relationship with Him in the process. Thank you for being here today.
Much to muse on here at the beginning of September. I have been wrestling with my priorities and seeking a rhythm in my life. I believe that God desires rhythm in our lives–then we are fruitful. I recently read a quote by Henry Nouwen that has stayed on my mind.
“We have been called to be fruitful – not successful, not productive, not accomplished. Success comes from strength, stress, and human effort. Fruitfulness comes from vulnerability and the admission of our own weakness.”
Source: Public address at Yale, March 30, 1995
May we all recognize our weakness and offer ourselves to the Lord. Have a blessed long weekend!
I love that quote from Henri Nouwen. I will have to write that down and post it to remind myself often of how to be fruitful. Your encouragement and sweet words have really blessed me today. Thank you and enjoy your long weekend too.
Well-being is the hardest for me, too, Mary. I don’t do a very good job of taking care of myself or even praying for myself. It’s much easier to focus on taking care of and praying for everyone else! And while that is good in some ways, I need to have more balance in that area. Encouraging post, my friend!
You hit the nail on the head by saying it is easier to focus on others and take care of them rather than ourselves. That fits me too. Balance is key and that is what I will be learning for the rest of my life. Hope your weekend is blessed.
Beautiful words and love your 4 Ws. I probably struggle most with Well-Being, too. Too much I want to do and too driven to get it all done – learning to live within healthy rhythms of life is something God’s been working with me on for several years now – and I have to say it’s a process. Definitely baby steps. Thanks for such encouragement this morning!
Life is a process and I am so thankful that God is patient with us as we learn this process and sometimes mess up along the way. I like knowing that others are in the same place as me with well-being so I don’t feel so alone! 🙂 Love having you here! Happy weekend!
Wonderful post. As we take baby steps, somehow they all come together & in looking back, we took a giant step 🙂 May we learn to give ourselves grace. Sometimes even the rhythms change from time to time. Much wisdom in this post. Have a wonderful weekend, Mary & Barbie!
I agree that the rhythms in our life can change as the season of our life changes. I love how you remind me that many baby steps can look like one giant step. I needed to hear that. I am blessed by your encouragement. Praying your weekend is wonderful.
Mary,
I have struggled with the question too of “What good work are you doing through me Lord?” I am one who wants immediate results, but so many times the scriptures have reminded me that whose who did good works had to “wait patiently on the Lord”. This is where I struggle – the patiently part. I also realized that before God wanted me to “do”, first He wanted me to just “be” in his presence. I know that I so under value this (being) as an integral part of being ready for what God wants to do through me. It’s been a journey and I’m right there with you…waiting patiently with you…
Blessings and ((hugs)),
Bev
I struggle with patience too. Our culture certainly doesn’t help reinforce patience. Resting in God so we really listen and hear is important as well as being intentional in taking time to care for ourselves so we are ready to do what God is asking of us. I’m so glad you are not his journey with me! Hope your weekend is blessed.
I am sure I share in this struggle of well-being…what does it mean for me? I just keep going and going like the Energizer Bunny and don’t stop to think about things such as this, so important in our walk with the Lord. Your words are soothing balm this morning and I am pondering ♥
I love that you are pondering! We all tend to let the busyness that fills our days lead all the time. Taking care of ourselves is low on the to do list. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and for joining me here with such beautiful encouragement.
wonderful post.
So glad you stopped by today! Blessings!
Mary, I need to establish some new rhythms for myself as well, now that we’re settling in after our move to Dallas. Trying not to think about the fact that just as soon as I get really plugged in, it’ll be time to move again! I like your 4 “w”‘!
Hi there Barbie!
Moving whether it is across the street or even farther always unsettles us. I admire that you are keeping your rhythm of writing and am thankful that you are because I love visiting you. I would love to hear how you start to develop some rhythms even for the short term. Hope your weekend is blessed.
Hi there Mary! So thankful you are here.
This is a good post for me because I am not good at recognizing rhythms and patterns. I just keep going and doing so much so fast that I often neglect seeing things. It’s something God is working out in me to change and so I really connect with this post today.
I am so glad you connected with this post. I have been exploring life’s rhythms most of this summer and find that I am learning something new all of the time. Thank you for being here and joining us today. Blessings to you!
I’ve got a post simmering on the back burner about rhythms these days … it’s marinating as I keep on figuring out what’s most urgent, what works right now, and what’s non-negotiable. Thanks for being my guide as I hammer this together, Mary.
May this little holiday weekend offer you rest, respite, refreshment. You encourage me greatly, friend.
Hugs!
I love that you are exploring rhythms also and I can’t wait to read it when you are finished. I love seeing you here and I appreciate your words of encouragement. I’m praying that your weekend is refreshing and laid back. Love you!
“His love and grace teach us that when the way is hard, we need only turn to Him.” ~ Lovely phrase, Mary ~ never really thought about it with that particular angle. Good luck to you as you continue to press forward in your rhythm of well-being. Thanks for sharing, and thanks, Barbie, for posting. ((Hug))
Your kind words really touched me. Thank you for cheering me on as I work on well-being. It is always easier when you know you have support from others. Blessings on your weekend!
Thank YOU Brenda, for being here!
Grace-filled words.
Every day we need a do-over, and Jesus made it possible.
So glad you are here Michele! I appreciate your sweet words and love that Jesus will give us that do over because I know I need it often. Praying you have a blessed weekend.
Taking baby steps and celebrating along the way – perfect.
My wife’s training a new employee, and I would like to share this with her. It’s exactly what she’s trying to do, and you put it SO well.
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Thank you Andrew! My mantra in life is to take baby steps because experience has taught me that this is the best way to go. We also need to celebrate to remind ourselves where we are and for where we have come. I am always so glad to have you here, Andrew to join in the conversation. Blessings my friend!