I've been forced to confront in myself the spinning spiritual climate, where the voices over this land speak competitive discontent, misplaced strokings of the ego & distractive idolatry in varying forms.
Often we find ourselves hearing the unspoken lies in our minds, yet so quickly fall to the assumption that these lies are, in fact, our own truths. And thus they stay, unchallenged. However, when such destructive words, fueled by the spiritual forces that seek division, are realized for what they are: outward spirits of torment rather than inward realities of who we are, we may find a peace. Even more so when we have solid truth to replace such lies.
Life in Oxford so far has been one of challenge for me. This year has been full-on, with a close friend passing away, illness hitting me on and off, including over the entirety of Christmas and New Year, spiritual forces of darkness having little digs now and then, supernatural deliverance, as well as disappointment trying to get in when the state of physically feeling ill challenged my ability to make music as I know i've been called to. Not to mention (but doing so) the challenge of community in a new city when everyone else is going through their own personal battles.
All year I've been desiring to make good foundations here and invest well into friendships (something I really feel quite weak in), yet in the furore of sickness have found even the ability to uphold conversation with others or interact much pretty difficult. In this i'm under the impression that those around me have detected an essence of reserve which may have been mistaken for unfriendliness, which is really not the case. But so it is and I continue to figure out the journey of horizontal connection. (I make this distinct from the vertical divine connection with the Lord).
The bizarre thing is, regardless of the sickness, life situations and so on, I can still find peace and rest when worshiping Jesus; singing love songs of honour to Him or simply lying down listening to worship music (for example). It is such a blessing to be able to, in the middle of physical sickness in my body, be able to know divine refreshment from Jesus, and is such a kind gift. Sometimes i've experienced sudden healing and physical strength (praise the Lord!) and other times it's been partial. (I make no assumptions in this moment for the theology of healing in this case. If you're interested in pondering the subject of suffering further, there's a great teaching day on May 7th in London run by the prestigious Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics aka OCCA)
I've been so encouraged by the OCCA, using highly respected speakers, professors and theologians to equip the public with tools to seek the truth of life. Whilst their weighty degrees and awards give them great gravitas in the academic world, for me what is even weightier is their faith in Jesus and honour of the Presence of God. This sets them apart from generic philosophical groups, conjuring up abstract concepts of what truth is solely from their own mind. But I do very much appreciate the OCCA in its unrelenting quest to seek to truth and address real objections people have to Jesus, God, His goodness or the problem of evil (as a taster).
This wasn't initially intended to be a plug for the Why Series, but i'd love to challenge you, if you are a seeker of truth and what is real, please do check out the Why event at St Mary's Church, Bryanston Square, London.
:)
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