Faith is talked about all the time. Books, MP3′s and loads of resources are available on the subject but what is the essence of faith? What’s the point and purpose of faith.
Faith is the accent to belief that God is good, faithful and governing our lives. At the very center of faith is trust. It is trusting God with our lives entirely – not withholding anything from him. Faith is an abandonment of our cares and desires to do his will and trust that he will do what he said he would.
Faith requires courage, determination and persistence in what is not seen. Remember Abraham. He trusted God even when God’s promise seemed impossible. He and his wife were passed the age of bearing children, but God promised him a son, Issac. Even though it was scientifically impossible, Abraham dared to believe God and thus the foundation of Israel.
Ask yourself today, “what areas do I need to believe God for?” Allow yourself to stop trusting in what is humanly possible and reach out to the One who is able to do the impossible. You will be amazed and surprised.
Prayer is the beautiful interaction between God and man. Prayer enables us to touch God’s heart and listen to what he is saying over our lives. Prayer is a cleansing processes of washing away our human state as we experience God’s love and kindness cleanse our soul.
When you pray, ask God to wash your desires, your longings and wants. Ask him to purify your heart and refine ares of resistance. Only God can purify and cleanse the heart of man. Man attempts to forget or wash away shortcomings and bad decisions but results in nothing less than managing difficultly.
As God forgives us of our darkness, we are able to freely forgive others who have hurt us. Prayer is the place that enables the human spirit to live the way God lives – free, kind and understanding.
Spend time today meditating on God. On who he is, on how much he loves you and allow his love to penetrate your heart and cleanse your heart so you can be free to live, love and laugh.
When one travels it is wise to say the below short prayer as protections for a Safe Journey.
Translation:
May it be Your will, G-d, our G-d and the G-d of our fathers, that You should lead us in peace and direct our steps in peace, and guide us in peace, and support us in peace, and cause us to reach our destination in life, joy, and peace (If one intends to return immediately, one adds: and return us in peace). Save us from every enemy and ambush, from robbers and wild beasts on the trip, and from all kinds of punishments that rage and come to the world. May You confer blessing upon the work of our hands and grant me grace, kindness, and mercy in Your eyes and in the eyes of all who see us, and bestow upon us abundant kindness and hearken to the voice of our prayer, for You hear the prayers of all. Blessed are You G-d, who hearkens to prayer.
Transliteration:
Yehi ratzon milefanecha Ado-nai Eloh-einu veilohei avoseinu shetolicheinu leshalom vesatzideinu leshalom vesadricheinu leshalom vesismecheinu leshalom vesagi’einu limechoz cheftzeinu lechaimulesimchah uleshalom (If he intends to return immediately, he adds:vesachazireinu leshalom) vesatzileinu mikaf kol oyeiv ve’oreiv velistim vechayos ra’os baderech umikol puraniyos hamisragshos uva’os le’olam vesishlach berachah bechol ma’aseh yadeinu vesitneini lechein ulechesed ulerachamim be’einecha uveinei chol ro’einu vesigmeleinu chasadim tovim vesishma kol tefilaseinu ki Atah shomei’ah tefilas kol peh. Baruch Atah Ado-nai shomei’ah tefilah.
Upon waking up it is very important to wash hands.
The below prayer is to be recited after ritually washing the hands:
Baruch Ata Ado-nai
Elo-hanu Melech Haolam
Asher Kidishanu Bemitzvotav
Vetzivanu Al Netilat Yadayim
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d,
King of the universe,
who has sanctified us with His commandments,
and commanded us concerning the washing of the hands.
Start your day of the right way. Recite the Modeh Ani immediately upon awakening:
Modeh Ani Lefanecha
Melech Chai Vekayom
Shehechezarta Bi Nishmati
Bechemla
Raba Emunatecha
I offer thanks to You,
living and eternal King,
for You have mercifully restored my soul within me;
Your faithfulness is great.
Living green also helps shape personal conviction. It’s easy to go with the flow of society. It takes effort, research and lots of questioning to think for oneself and discover why you believe what you believe. Simply following a set of rules or social norms doesn’t reach very far into the soul. Living green provides the opportunity for a person to step back and question almost everything.
Simple things like not buying particle board furniture because it releases toxic fumes or using all-natural cosmetics and hygienic products because of the cancer-causing chemicals found in conventional ones. Without questioning, “what am I really purchasing?” and “what is this made from?” a person would never know he or she could be harming themselves, his or her home and the environment. Unplugging from the system and thinking for oneself is one of the riskiest and liberating ways to really discover true conviction.
Choosing to live green creates well-defined boundaries that are consistent with many Jewish disciplines. Not only is it a benefit for the environment and your overall health, it also builds up the soul to choose right from wrong and stand for your convictions even when it costs you something.
Separating the spiritual from the natural has come full circle. For a few hundred years there was a major segregation of the spiritual and natural life. Recently, religion has come back around, recognizing that everything is in fact spiritual. Even the most nominal aspects of life such as cleaning the bathroom, going to work and writing a paper all have deeper spiritual implications.
Living green isn’t without exception. There are actually deep spiritual implications that work their way into the mainframe of an individual that chooses to live green. Living green requires sacrifice, dedication and conviction – all of which are spiritual disciplines. Making a choice to live green can be likened to a fasted lifestyle.
Living green restricts an individual from living off of impulse and instant gratification. For example, if you choose to recycle you are committed to make small inconvenient sacrifices. If you’re driving around and you grab a quick bite to eat, keeping the trash in your car till you get home where you can properly recycle it takes a decision to choose the right way over convenience. Every time you make a conscience decision to do the right thing, even though it may cost you more time and effort, you are strengthening the inner part of your conscience to do what’s right.
Eating organics is another great example. You may have to pass on the chocolate cake when you’re visiting friends, but in the end you’re making a choice to discipline your instinctive cravings. There’s no greater way to discipline your fleshly appetite than with food. Staying as close to nature with your food choices provides boundaries that govern your impulses. Learning to tell yourself “no” is probably one of the most difficult disciplines to build living in a society that preaches instant self-gratification and provides every way to make that happen.
