DRAW ON GOD’S POWER

This past weekend I attended the Atlantic Region Challenge cup hockey tournament. During the finals, which was a nail biter, I noticed one person with her head turned to the side as to avoid watching the game. We know this person and so my wife asked if she was ok. Her response was: “yes, I was just sending positive vibes to the boys on the ice.”

There is some truth to the fact that our mindset can influence our day as well as our health. Our doctor will tell us that the long-term health effects of uncontrolled anger are anxiety, high blood pressure and headaches. The Japanese practice of Reiki, which means “spiritually guided life force energy” speaks of accessing the energy of the cosmic to aide in our wellbeing or that of another. However, the sending of positive vibes or positives thoughts has always seemed mystical to me. When we were upset, our mother’s words, “count to ten” or “go take a short walk” calmed us and reduced the chemical interaction in our body when we were upset. She offered wise counsel to gather our senses.

However, God who is the power behind all creation, can be accessed by all those who believe. We can be assured that not only is He available, He is also concerned about us, His creation. Jesus told His disciples that when He would leave, He would send a Helper. (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit convicts us when we are about to go astray or have gone, guides us to the truth, and reminds us of Jesus words in Matthew 11:28-30.

God has invited us to pray for each other as well as for all others. Paul urges us in (1 Timothy 2:1). He does not tell us “to send prayers your way” or “send positive thoughts” but to speak with Him about anything and anyone. I do not want to just have the mindset of those who use the “good vibes phrase” because their intentions are probably good, however, the expression, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” or the verse found in the Message translation, “There’s a way of life that looks harmless enough; look again—it leads straight to hell” (Proverbs 14:12 references good intentions).

Our desire should be to remind people, “For by him {God} all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through him and for him” Colossians 1:16.