A leaning in life is a ZOE life.
A quick Strong’s Concordance study of the Greek word Zoe reveals this:
- life
- the state of one who is possessed of vitality or is animate
- every living soul
- life
- of the absolute fulness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God, and through him both to the hypostatic "logos" and to Christ in whom the "logos" put on human nature
- life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last for ever.
https://www.studylight.org/lexicons/greek/2222.html (Emphasis mine)
This is the kind of life I want. And I think it’s the kind of life God wants for all of us. Because when God asks you to lean in, it wakes you up. Mentally, spiritually and physically.
He’s creative like that. Designing our bodies in such a unique way that doing certain things aids us in ways we’d never expect. Like when I wrote about The Giver’s Glow - a chemical reaction that literally makes you feel good when you give and volunteer your time willingly.
Similar to this, did you know that when we worship with our arms raised above our heads that this also releases a chemical reaction in our bodies to send a sense of calm throughout our bodies?
God’s design is fascinating and awesome.
Leaning in makes you come alive
The more I’ve leaned in this year, the more I’ve discovered a new passion for life.
I wrote a short article about a TEDTalk I once saw from Amy Cuddy about how if we stand in a Wonder Woman pose (she called it a power pose), it actually subconsciously starts to encourage us to be more confident and others will see us that way too.
I tested this out as I’ve been leaning in and am finding it to be true. The more I’ve leaned into God’s big story for my life, the more alive I’ve become.
Leaning in helps you to run faster
“…The monthly Taking has never become a comfortable habit. And as I run past more human statues than I care to consider, I see eyes follow me with pity.
Every once in a while, someone loses their mind from this horror. We call them Runners. I suppose I look like one. But I’m not. I just want to live…”
Excerpt from The Runners, by Charis Joy Jackson
One thing God has asked me to do is write out my dreams more often. So, I started a little blog for my own entertainment back in 2015. I called it The Dreamcatcher’s Journal, because I was literally catching my dreams. Going back and looking at the dreams I’ve had in the past year, I realize God was speaking to me through them too.
Many of them are set in dystopian worlds and star a character who’s struggling against decay and death. Someone who’s desiring to live fully.
In writing these dreams out I’m not only learning more about the adventure God is taking me on spiritually, helping me to step out from a life of anxiety, but also, I’m learning how to step into more of the creative adventures He’s got for me. That’s the reason I’m publishing my first novel this year. It’s also the reason I started a writing newsletter, and why I’m becoming more disciplined in writing out my dreams.
My hope is that the more I lean in into the adventures of God that it will inspire others to come more fully alive too. To live a zoe kind of life where we’re all living out genuine, real lives. Active and vigorous, devoted to God.
What do you think, are you up to the challenge of a zoe leaning in kind of life?
Charis Joy Jackson works as a full-time missionary with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) a non-profit organisation in Queensland. During the day she mentors young adults, teaches on several topics including worship, intercession and how to makes movies. In her spare time she spins stories of speculative fiction and captures her crazy dreams in print. Her debut novel, The Rose of Admirias, will soon be available for pre-order on https://www.charisjoyjackson.com/story.html
Follow Charis Joy Jackson:
Previous articles: https://randomthoughtsanddreams.blogspot.com/
The Dreamcatcher’s Journal: https://theddreamcatchersjournal.wordpress.com/
Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/charisjoyjackson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charisjjackson/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charisjoyjackson/
Charis Joy Jackson works as a full-time missionary with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) a non-profit organisation in Queensland. During the day she mentors young adults, teaches on several topics including worship, intercession and how to makes movies. In her spare time she spins stories of speculative fiction and captures her crazy dreams in print. Her debut novel, The Rose of Admirias, will soon be available for pre-order on https://www.charisjoyjackson.com/story.html
Follow Charis Joy Jackson:
Previous articles: https://randomthoughtsanddreams.blogspot.com/
The Dreamcatcher’s Journal: https://theddreamcatchersjournal.wordpress.com/
Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/charisjoyjackson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charisjjackson/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charisjoyjackson/