THE DANGER OF DISPERSION

'Christian leaders...are usually multi-gifted people who are able to do many things well. This is why they find it difficult to say "no!" to areas of ministry which they enjoy and, for some time, do very capably. Dispersion, though, is a subtle enemy, acting often as a silent "killer." It penetrates your life insidiously - you are unaware of its danger - and it drains your energy little by little until one day you suddenly realize you are unable to enjoy what you are doing and you feel like giving everything up. It has wearied you physically, emotionally and consequently, spiritually. The inability to renounce tasks or responsibilities leads to dispersion and dispersion leads to defeat.'

Pablo Martinez, Take Care of Yourself: Survive and thrive in Christian ministry, p.49.

BIBLICAL MEDITATION IS BIBLICAL

'Meditation is an exercise so profoundly biblical that it impregnates the pages of the Old Testament from the very beginning.' 

Pablo Martinez, Praying with the Grain, p.156. 

THE CHALLENGE OF FORGIVING YOURSELF

'"I know that God has forgiven me, but I do not feel it inside." Why? The problem usually lies in the fact that, in spite of God's certain forgiveness these individuals have not forgiven themselves. The sin they have committed has been so great an offence to their self-image, their self-love has been so deeply hurt, that they are incapable of forgiving themselves. This especially occurs in cases where the sin is sexual immorality. If there has been a genuine confession, but the person still feels guilty, we are probably facing a psychological problem. The inability to forgive oneself is an issue more related to our self-image than our faith; the obstacle is not in our relationship with God but in the relationship with ourselves.' 

Pablo Martinez, Praying with the Grain, p.15. 

KNOW YOURSELF WELL TO GET TO KNOW OTHERS WELL

'...the necessary requisite for us to be able to approach others adequately is a healthy concept of personal identity. The development of intimacy in relationships will depend upon the security that  one has in oneself. The more unsure a person is, the more relational conflicts the person will have. The poorer the person's self-image, the greater the difficulty in becoming close to others. Deep down, people who have relational problems with others have not learned to relate well to themselves. They are in conflict with others because of the conflict with themselves.

The result of all of this will be problems in having an intimate relationship with God. They will find it difficult to trust in God because it is difficult for them to trust in themselves.' 

Pablo Martinez, Praying with the Grain, p.105.   

GOD WANTS TO SPEND TIME WITH YOU

'It is difficult for us to understand it, and it even surprises us, but God does want to be with us. The Lord is delighted when his children seek him. God is self-sufficient, he has need of nothing; nonetheless, he takes great pleasure in our relationship with him, in our prayers.' 

Pablo Martinez, Praying with the Grain, p.101. 

THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER TO THE SELF

'Prayer enables us to rebuild the very foundations of our existence, and gives back to a person the true purpose of their life: relationship with God. It provides an authentic self-fulfillment because it restores free and constant dialogue, that intimate fellowship with our Creator. Prayer is the vehicle that allows us to meet our deepest need, our thirst for God.' 

Pablo Martinez, Praying with the Grain: How Your Personality Affects The Way You Pray, p.96.