Scripture
Saving is all [God’s] idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving.
Ephesians 2:8–9
The Message (emphasis added)
Spiritual Focus
“Through salvation our past has been forgiven, our present has been given meaning, our future is secured.” Rick Warren
Devotion
Have you ever been asked to identify the date on which you “got saved?” This is a standard question in some faith traditions, within which believers understand the word “salvation” as an instantaneous, fixed outcome of the Savior’s act of effecting eternal security on our behalf. One second the individual isn’t saved, and then—voile—they are! However, you might be surprised to learn that the word rendered “salvation” is used almost twice as often in the New Testament to convey a sense of progression, like a verb—the idea of being saved. In fact, the term appears 110 times with this sense of movement, to express not a fixed or stagnant moment in time, not a done deal but a process of development—a being healed, restored to wholeness, or made whole. The ancient first-century Israelites of Jesus’ day were far less concerned about being saved in eternity and far more concerned with being made whole or healed in the present, in the here and now (in their case, I suppose, in the there and then). Healing and wholeness constituted a primary mission and message for Jesus, and through the inner working of the Holy Spirit these incomparable healing benefits continue to be available to us.
One of the most powerful teachings in yoga is how to be present (adjective) in the present (noun)—to be focused on and engaged with the here and now. When we practice pranayama (breath) or asana (physical movement), our attention is drawn to the present moment, the now, bringing focus and awareness to our minds. We experience harmony as our body, mind, and spirit work together in synch. But the breath, movement, and mind focus, while healing for our bodies and minds, are only part of the reality. We are made whole by God’s grace, which we experience in the relationship with God for which he created us. BEing made whole is as easy as being aware of God’s gift of grace and trusting that God will be with us now, today, in this present, never-to-be-repeated moment of time. Trusting God to make us whole is a faith discipline we can practice both on our mats and in our lives out in the world.
Breath Prayer
Inhale I Am
Exhale Whole
Focus Pose: Sometimes we need a challenging pose to bring our body, breath, and mind into the present. Plank Pose, phalakasana, and its many variations can be especially demanding, but many students find the challenge worth the effort, as benefits of the pose include increased core strength and improved posture. Whether you practice plank with knees on or off the mat or at a wall, be sure to engage your abdominal muscles in the pose to protect your lower back. While holding the pose, bring your attention to your breath, keeping it steady and deep—this may be your greatest challenge in the pose! Be fully present. Be whole.
