I’ve been hearing God through my body lately.
As someone in my 30’s who has been living in and around the American Christian context for my entire life, I’m beginning to recognize that there are times when my preconceived notions muddy the water in my brain as I learn to know and be known by God. While I partner with the Spirit to keep working that out, I’ve delightfully discovered that I’m still able to hear him with clarity and depth when I recognize what he speaks to and through my body. Through movement, emotion and physical engagement with my environment, I can sense His Spirit maneuvering past my mind, past my questions and reservations.
When I consider the meaning of Rhema, applied to how our Living God speaks, I think of His fresh and creative ways of whispering to our innermost parts. And while his approach is gentle and timely, I still find that it takes effort and intentionality to listen. I still tend to look for his revelations in the more obvious places, waiting for him to speak in logical terms that fit my boxed-in perceptions of who he is, how he abides, and when he acts.
But there has been such beauty and freedom in giving my mind permission to tune out, to invite a Spirit-body connection. Hearing my body say “I’m hungry,” “I’m tired,” or “I need movement,” reminds me of his design for our beings to function best when we are well-nourished, well-rested, and active.
Noticing my body holding tension, weight felt in my chest, or stirring felt in my gut, I press in to recognize God’s intention for our bodies to reflect the deeper needs of our heart and mind. These sensations are a gift from him, and are how he wired us to protect ourselves and consider our relational connections.
Feeling his Spirit directly engaging with my body, through a felt sense of calm and peace; an intensity of joy pumping through my veins; or a deep burning to prompt action; speaks of His Spirit’s ability to truly be within me and work through me.
While God partners with my mind to invite discernment and to absorb his teaching, what a joy it’s been to intentionally discover how he relates to my body. He’s designed us as whole and complete beings, with our thoughts and our words being just as much us, as our skin, our lungs, and our limbs. And I’m learning how earnestly he wants to communicate with every part of us.
I’ve meditated on David’s words in Psalm 139 time and time again, reflecting on just how intentionally and deliberately God created me. All of me. And he’s longing to connect with me in every sort of way--seeking intimacy with me, mind, body and spirit.
He longs for you in this way too. I invite you to consider “listening” to where God may be reaching for you in new and different ways. His creativity is limitless and he knows exactly where and how you need to hear him the most.
Psalm 139:13-18
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.
About the Author
Britni is a quiet but fearless spirit who is earnestly seeking the beauty of the redemption that Jesus has personally determined for her life. Committed to the truth that listening breeds understanding and understanding results in compassion, she clings to the power of life’s stories. She has embarked on the venture of discovering her own story and lending an ear to the stories lived out in others and savors the trace of Jesus that is woven throughout them all. Currently, that journey has landed her in a balancing act between the role of wife, momma, and a mental health Care Coordinator.