Lyli Dunbar's Blog, page 30

Detoxify Your Soul

 

Someone I love is a smoker. I don’t live with this person, but I frequently visit a home where the air is compromised.

While I am abiding in this environment, I grow acclimated to the less than favorable conditions. The smell is almost imperceptible at times, really.

However, the minute I walk out the door into the fresh air, the funky odor rises to the surface. Suddenly, my senses are awakened to the stench.

Every inch of me reeks.

Breathing in polluted air will make you sick. You may not perceive it’s pervasive influence while you are initially inhaling the poison, but it’s impact is toxic.

Sin invades your soul and makes you stinky.

The solution is to inhale the pure air of God’s Truth, rather than the pollution of this broken world.

How to Detoxify Your Soul

Air out the Yucky Smell: Step away from the fumes that are infecting your life, and breathe in the fresh air of God’s grace (Romans 6:12-14).
Eliminate the Irritant: When your heart grows sooty, you must cleanse whatever is clogging up your life (I John 1:5-9).
Filter Your Thinking: Meditate daily on God’s life-giving promises to help clarify your thoughts (Psalm 1:1-3).

Breathe in God’s wisdom and detoxify your soul.

 

 

Breathing Exercise:

Read James 4:7-10.  What’s the only way to stay on your feet and breathing clean air when the atmosphere is contaminated?

Breathe a prayer to God asking Him to show you what is polluting your life.  May He give you courage to eliminate the noxious fumes of the flesh.

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I am sharing “Be a Peacemaker” and joining like-minded sisters at Faith-Filled Friday, Purposeful Faith’s RaRaLinkup, Rich-Faith Rising, and Testimony Tuesday.

The post Detoxify Your Soul appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Warm Up

Winter weather can literally take your breath away sometimes. A sudden, extreme change in the atmosphere catches us off guard and a spasm of fear may overwhelm us and constrict our airway.

Warm up

God is sovereign over the seasons. The fire of His Word will light a fire in you

that REBUILDS what the enemy has broken
that RESTORES hope and peace to the weary
the REVEALS His overcoming power when we are weak

God’s Word melts frozen hearts.

Wrap these promises around you during a wintery season:

God is greater than the forces seeking to overwhelm you. 

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).


God will never leave you alone. Even if you can’t see Him in the midst of the icy blast, He is ever-present. 

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).




God’s mercies are new every morning.  This unbearable season is not permanent.

“For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).

Allow Him to thaw you with the warmth of His promises. He’ll remind you that He governs the forces of nature with a mere breath.

 

Breathing Exercise:

Read Psalm 147.  Write down every verb that is evidence of God’s fiery love toward the afflicted.

Read this beautiful testimony of a life fully surrendered to God during a wintery season.

Breathe a prayer thanking Him for being a flame in your heart even on the coldest of days.

 

 

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I am sharing “Warm Up” and joining like-minded sisters at Faith-Filled Friday and Moments of Hope.

 

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The post Warm Up appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Drink In God’s Strength

 

When the atmosphere is polluted with noise, it’s a good idea to slow down and take a breather.

Turn off that television. Put the phone on airplane mode. Plug into a soundtrack that lifts your spirit and remind yourself that God is bigger than your problems.

A spontaneous praise party always diffuses a ticking pressure bomb.

Drink in God’s strength.

Be still and know that He is God.

He’ll remind you

He’s your Provider. You’ll never experience famine. He’s prepared a feast for you.
He’s your Protector. God will shelter you, sustain you, and strengthen you. He’s your safe place from the storm.
He’s your Promise. You can remain at peace during chaotic times because your ever-present God is all powerful and unchanging. God is sovereign over your circumstances, and He can breathe new life into any situation.

 

Make praise your priority, and a positive perspective will follow.

Breathing Exercise:

Read Psalm 63:1-8. Reflect on the reality that David wrote this psalm when he was in the wilderness. How has God “stood up for you” during a valley season?

Listen to this worship song. Bask in the glory shining from His face.

Breathe a prayer of praise because your God shelters you under the shadow of His wings..

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I am sharing “Drink in God’s Strength” and joining like-minded sisters at Give Me Grace and Faith-Filled Friday.

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The post Drink In God’s Strength appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Oxygen Mask

A person can survive forty days without food,
four days without water,
but only four minutes without oxygen.

I rushed off to face the day without hitting my knees first.

I immediately regretted it. I was running late, but those precious minutes entering the throne room of God make such a difference.
Prayer is oxygen for my soul.

Without prayer, I am more anxious. I am easily irritated. I lack the life-giving grace required survive the polluted atmosphere of this broken world.

Prayer awakens my soul. My senses tune in to the moving of the Spirit as I look up to my Healer.

Prayer is my lifeline.

When my breathing starts to grow ragged, it’s a sure sign that my prayer life has unraveled.

My friends, we need to stay tethered to God.

Your soul is craving a fresh encounter with Him. Get on your knees and breathe in His presence.

Breathing  Exercise:

Read James 5:13-20. How does James describe prayer as a lifeline for God’s people?

Listen to this heart cry. Pour out your heart to your God on your knees. Hold nothing back. Ask Him to oxygenate your weary soul.

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I am sharing “Oxygen Mask” and joining like-minded sisters at Spiritual Sundays and Faith-Filled Friday.

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The post Oxygen Mask appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Proper Posture Impacts Breathing

 

Are you slouching?

Take a hard look in the Mirror. If you are standing confidently tall in the power of His might, your chin is up with shoulders back and relaxed. Your weight is evenly distributed as you stand firmly on the Promises. You may sway a little in the gale, but you quickly regain your equilibrium.

Proper posture impacts breathing.

If you sag under the load of living in this broken world, your thinking becomes distorted as you struggle to inhale God’s grace. You must fight to stay standing and remember that no dead weight can restrict the power of God coursing through your veins.

Check your posture:

Are you walking in humility? God alone keeps you standing. Stop striving. Just stretch up your arms to heaven and confess that you can’t do today without Him (James 4:6-10).
Are your palms up in surrender? Your prayer posture should be “Lord, have Your way in me.” Let go of what you are clenching in your fists and submit to His divine purpose (Matthew 16:24-26).
Is your heart lifted in gratitude? Your blessings far outnumber your burdens. Look for the beauty in the midst of the broken (Hebrews 13:15).

Walk tall and exercise your faith muscles. Elevate your eyes above your crippling circumstances and focus on Christ. 

 

Breathing Exercise:

Read Psalm 25:1-10.  Note every evidence of proper posture that you observe in the Psalmist.

Read Psalm 42:5-11. What practical steps does the Psalmist take to re-align his perspective when his posture has slipped into slouchy?

Listen to this refining song and worship your Healer. Praise God that you’ve walked through the fire and are still alive and inhaling His strength and peace today.

Breathe a prayer to your Rock-Solid God asking Him to help you adjust your sometimes sloppy posture for optimal breathing and living.

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I am sharing “Proper Posture Impacts Breathing” and joining like-minded sisters at Faith-Filled Friday, Fresh Market Friday, and Blessing Counters.

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The post Proper Posture Impacts Breathing appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Bury the Past

I love a good rescue story. Don’t you?

A while back, my eyes were glued to the TV for days as 33 men were trapped in a mine buried deep in the earth. The world crashed in on these men, and they were literally buried alive. For 69 days, they struggled to breathe in an ever-increasingly suffocating environment.

Can you imagine how alive they must have felt on the glorious day when they were lifted up out of the pit? Every breath was a gift.

Here’s the thing. Those men moved forward toward the light and never looked back.

They never returned to the abyss.

It’s absurd to imagine that they’d wake up the next morning and decide to go excavating through the ruins to open back up that gaping hole and then abide in that environment.

Once you are set free, why would you return to your prison?

Sadly, I know many people who do this on a daily basis. I’ve even struggled to resist the urge myself.

The enemy of our souls wants to poison the atmosphere with shame and guilt. We are free and breathing the pure air of God’s forgiveness and grace, but our accuser wants us to lose our equilibrium and fall back into the pit of fear and doubt.

You don’t live engulfed by condemnation any more.

The blood of Christ has covered your past. You’ve been lifted up out of the mire, and your feet are firmly planted on the Rock.

Rather than sink into shame, bury the past and breathe in God’s grace.

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Breathing Exercise:

Read Psalm 40. What steps did David take to stay out of the pit?

Read Philippians 3:7-16. What “marching orders” does Paul give us regarding the faith-forward life?

Listen to this life-giving testimony and song. Breathe a prayer of thanks to your Healer because you “get to breathe” today. You are free.  Ask Him for the courage to let go of shame and move forward with renewed faith.

 

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Something to think about…
I’m sharing “Bury the Past” with like-minded friends at Faith-Filled Friday.

 

Have you written something thought-provoking, challenging, encouraging, or inspiring lately? Link it up here! For best results, write the title of your post in the name box.

Your Breathing Coach

If your breathing is agitated today, take notice.

Your instincts will tell you that you just need to work harder. Resist the urge to push through the pain and continue producing stagnant air.

Waving your arms wildly and rushing ahead when your breathing is compromised will only damage your heart further.

Here’s the thing, you don’t have to struggle. Your job is not to generate oxygen. God has already provided the atmospheric conditions you need to live freely.

And, because your Creator knows you so intimately, He understands you are going to struggle. That’s why He’s provided you with a breathing coach.

When you slow down and listen for His still small voice, He will infuse you with fresh wind and empower you. Under His direction, you’ll intake freely and fearlessly.

You are breathing in tandem with the Holy Spirit of God.  

Breathing Exercise:

Read Acts 2:1-28 & Acts 4:31-33. How did the wildfire breath of God give fearless confidence to the early church?

Research Galatians 5:13-23 noting every evidence of a Spirit-led life.

Raise your heart in reverential worship. Open wide every dusty corner that you’ve held back as you listen to this Holy Spirit Anthem. Continue in worship and welcome the wind of the Spirit in to stir things up a bit with this second breathtaking song.

Breathe a prayer to the God who is a Consuming Fire. Ask Him to light an unending flame in your heart.

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I am sharing “Your Breathing Coach” and joining like-minded sisters at Faith-Filled Friday, Tell His Story, Coffee for Your Heart, and Three-Word Wednesday.

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The post Your Breathing Coach appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Dance

When the atmosphere is thick with discord and darkness, it’s not easy to breathe.

You might just want to stay in bed under the covers.

The enemy of our souls schemes constantly in hopes of lulling us into a coma of apathy.

He bombards us with a mental soundtrack of despair and doubt.

If we aren’t mindful of his methods, our breathing becomes compromised.

My friend, the Lord longs to breathe wisdom over you today. 

Shake off your slumber and immerse yourself in Truth. Heaven and earth may pass away, but the Word of God is always at work. He will accomplish every single promise He has breathed into your spirit.

Meditate on the right melody:

Yes, this world is unfair and wicked. But your Creator is forever holy and merciful (Psalm 145:8-20).
Sure, this world is full of deceit and selfishness. But your unchanging God is loyal and loves you with reckless abandon (Lamentations 3:22-26).
Sadly, this world will rip your heart out and leave you barren and broken. But your Abba Father has spoken peace over your life and is preparing a place for you to find eternal joy under the shadow of His wings (Psalm 16:6-11).

Don’t fall prey to the siren song today. Rise up and get your feet tapping.

Dance to the tune of God’s wisdom.

 

Breathing Exercise:

Read Psalm 119:73-80.  Note the verbs that describe how God responds to you when as your feet tap to the tune of wisdom. Breathe a prayer asking God to teach you how to dance to His rhythm.

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I am sharing “Dance” and joining like-minded sisters at Faith-Filled Friday, Purposeful Faith’s RaRaLinkup, Rich-Faith Rising and Testimony Tuesday.

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The post Dance appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Sweet Salvation

Got chaos?

Sometimes we rush ahead of God. We demand our way now, instead of slowly inhaling His wisdom.

When you sin, you lose your song. Pride poisons the air.

Thankfully, your Abba Father longs to breathe holiness in you.

If you’re breathing is sluggish, simply fall on your knees and look up.

Ask God to wipe the slate of your heart clean. He’ll tune your heart to sing His grace once again.  

 Don’t let sin steal your sweet salvation song.  

Breathing Exercise:

Read Psalm 51. Breathe a prayer of repentance to your God. Ask Him to cleanse your heart, restore your passion, and revive your sweet salvation song.

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I am sharing “Sweet Salvation” and joining like-minded sisters at Faith-Filled and Moments of Hope.

The post Sweet Salvation appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Anthem of Praise

Last night my weary husband confessed that he’d grown tired of the fight. Every day, inch by inch, we struggle to rise above the pollution and take a breath in a world where the air is thick with discord, selfishness, and violence.

If we constantly listen to the broken melody that surrounds us, a spirit of discouragement will prevail in our hearts and minds.

We must change the channel, turn off the noise and tune into our Savior.

Tonight, we experienced sweet communion as we lifted up our voices and raised up our eyes to the heavens.

We remembered Christ has already won the victory.
We rejoiced because nothing is too hard for our Mighty Warrior God.
We re-calibrated our thinking by rehearsing the Truth.

Let praise be your anthem.

Focusing on God’s majesty fills up your lungs with fresh wind. You will move forward with a renewed perspective and triumphant a heart.

 

 

Breathing Exercise:

Praise is God-centered breathing. Read Psalm 150.

Where should you breathe praise? (see v. 1)
Why should you worship with your lungs? (v. 2)
How are the psalmist’s actions characteristic of an anthem: a rousing, reverential, revolutionary song? (vs. 3-5).
Who is called to worship? (v. 6)

Read Psalm 28:6-7. Why does praise pour out from the depths of David’s heart?

Listen to this Anthem of Praise and celebrate God’s goodness and glory at your own private praise party.

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I am sharing “Anthem of Praise” and joining like-minded sisters at Give Me Grace and Faith-Filled Friday.

The post Anthem of Praise appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.