Spiritual Poverty

Have you ever wondered why a Christian, someone who knows and professes Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, struggles to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ?  Without sounding judgmental, I have known many who truly do believe that Jesus is the Christ, yet have forfeited any real spiritual growth in their lives.  Sure, there are times when some fruit is produced, yet the branches remain stringy and the fruit that they bear is sparse. Think of a cherry tomato plant, for instance. When it gets the proper nutrients, water, and sunlight, it flourishes as it produces hundreds of cherry tomatoes on its thick branches. If it gets a little water here and there and minimal sunlight, it may not die, but it will struggle to grow and produce fruit.  Of course, if it gets no water or sunlight at all, it will fail to grow altogether.   

The vital ingredients that are absolute necessary in order for them to grow into lush, fruit-bearing tomato plants are what they take in. In this case, sunlight, water, and plant fertilizer.  Consider this plant analogy when you think of growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Just as water, sunlight, and fertilizer are necessary to produce an abundant crop, we desperately need to draw deep from the well of Jesus Christ in order to grow into the Christians He created us to be. Professing our faith in Jesus Christ may gain us salvation, but in order to bear fruit, we must stay connected to the vine. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). 

Okay, you understand that with your mind.  You need more of Jesus. Yet for some reason, it can take such a long time for that reality to travel from your head deep down into your heart. You know you should pray daily, read your Bible, and make Jesus Christ an integral part of your life.  And often you start praying or reading your Bible, yet you quickly fall away, old habits re-emerge and you are left “stuck” in the same place you were 10 years ago.  The reality is that if someone were to look at your plant, it would not have grown into that lush fruit-bearing plant that God intended it to be.  You become discouraged and frustrated as your efforts appear to be so minimal. You may even ask yourself “What is wrong with me? What’s the use? Why can’t I seem to move forward in my faith walk?”

As I recently read Scripture, I pondered on a verse that took on an entire new meaning for me. Taken from the book of Matthew, it is often referred to as the Sermon on the Mount or the Beatitudes. Jesus spoke to the crowds and addressed many topics. The very first verse is the one that struck me most. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).  As I meditated on the verse and asked God for insight, He brought some thoughts to my mind.  To be “poor in spirit” is to experience spiritual poverty, or to recognize one’s utter neediness and dependence on God.  It is to come to the end of ourselves, recognizing our own inadequacy to handle life, and that we are incapable of becoming the person God wants us to be without His Divine intervention. Being “poor in spirit” personifies a life that is not spiritually proud or self-sufficient, but desperately wants to know and love God.  It hungers and thirsts for the living God and desires to walk with Him intimately.  Knowing “about Jesus” is no longer sufficient. The person who is poor in spirit has arrived at the place in his life where nothing else satisfies—he now yearns to know Jesus personally and intimately. So he surrenders his life completely to Jesus as well as the many concerns that consume him.  He trusts that Jesus is fully in control and will never let him go. He takes his hand off the wheel and allows Jesus to be in the driver’s seat of his life.

Easier said than done, right?  Not really.  I believe there are two primary ways that we can experience spiritual poverty.  Unfortunately, one of them is quite painful as it involves suffering and brokenness. Suffering has the ability to bring us to the end of ourselves and to our knees quicker than anything else. Jesus said that He is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. When we suffer we cry out to God and are desperate for healing. “Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliver, O my God, do not delay” (Psalm 40:17).   “This poor man called and the Lord heard him, he saved him out of all his troubles” (Psalm 34:6). 

Brokenness brings us to God who alone has the power to heal our broken hearts. However, even in our brokenness we must come to Him and believe that He is with us and has the power to restore and redeem us.  Many people remain in their brokenness, while they languish in bitterness of soul, because they have not fully surrendered their lives, including their pain and sorrows, to Jesus Christ. Because they hold onto their pain, they don’t fully relinquish it to God, and He is unable to completely restore and heal them. Once they let go and surrender their deepest hurts to the Lord, He carries them gently as He strengthens them day by day.  Before long their faith and trust in Him grows and they come to recognize that God can use all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  Yes, even the most gut-wrenching, painful experiences of our lives.

Even though Jesus Himself told us that in this world we will have troubles, we are to take heart for He has overcome the world. He loves us too much to leave us the way we are; and, therefore, the trials he allows have enormous capacity to bring us to spiritual poverty. However, I don’t believe that every single Christian is called to suffer immense pain or experience extreme tragedy in order to become “poor in spirit”.  I think most people would prefer to experience spiritual poverty through a less painful way—the way of Obedience. 

When we are obedient to God we put ourselves in the proper position as we align our life to God’s will.  The best way to become obedient is to immerse yourself in God’s Word and let the Holy Spirit take over.  I believe that to know God is to love Him; to love God is to obey Him; and, to obey God is to serve Him.  KNOW, LOVE, OBEY, SERVE. I truly believe that we will never love God until we get to know Him, and the absolute best way to know God is to become a lifelong student of His Word.  When you come to know God through the written Word you can’t help but fall in love with Him.  Besides, the Holy Spirit takes over and does miraculous transformation in your life and heart through the written Word.  When you fall in love with Jesus, your heart desires what He does, and obedience is the natural outflow of your love for Him. The Holy Spirit continually opens the eyes of your heart, He quickens you when you sin, and you quickly turn to God for forgiveness.  You desire to live your life in obedience to God as you surrender all areas of your life to Him. You recognize that He is Sovereign and that He will perfect all that concerns you.  This is living in total dependence on God, and He graciously replaces your worries, frustrations, doubts, and concerns with His perfect peace. You are experiencing “spiritual poverty” as you take your hands off the wheel and depend on Him to take you safely to your destination.

In closing, the notes in my NIV Bible describe the state of being “blessed” as the “ultimate well-being and distinctive spiritual joy of those who share in the salvation of the kingdom of God.” When we are “poor in spirit” Jesus says that we are truly blessed for ours is the kingdom of heaven. I think Jesus is telling us that—yes, we can have a little heaven while we inhabit the earth here and now.  And I am quite sure that what awaits us in heaven with Jesus is simply beyond our wildest imagination!

Confessions of a Weary Mom

 It was beginning to look like one of “those” days.  You now—the kind you’d rather not have. It was somewhat dreary outside and looked like rain was coming our way.  In just 2 short days my son would be leaving for his freshman year at Ohio State University.  We had spent 19 years preparing him for this big day, yet I was not prepared for the myriad of emotions I’d been feeling lately.  "I can’t believe that he is moving out of our home to begin his new life. Our childrearing years are over. Where did they go? It seemed like only yesterday when he was still holding my hand as we were strolling along.  I know I must let him go, but why does it have to sting my heart?"

As I was driving my 14 year old daughter to school I nearly struck a baby squirrel. Thankfully, a quick swerve left the little critter intact. It had been a month since the new school year began and I wanted to know how things were going for her. I wasn’t prepared to hear about her continued struggle with friendships.  It is not that she doesn’t have any friends, but I sense that she longs for deeper friendships.  In recent months she made a great new friend only to find out last month that she was moving. No one has filled that void.  Although she is filled with joy and silly laughter, she is very sensitive, and therefore, easily hurt. As her mom, I hurt even more. I can identify with those same feelings because I had them too when I was younger. Someone else was always smarter, prettier, and more popular than me.

Thankfully, I now know what to do—take all these concerns and hurts to God in prayer. But does she do that? I wasn’t even half-way home when the emotions overwhelmingly took over and I began to cry. "Why are kids so cruel? Please God, bring her good, strong friendships. Above all, help her to see that she needs you as her best friend.”

Again my thoughts turned to my son.  Two more days. “Oh, please Lord—help me to not make my kids my 'idol.' I know I must let them go even if it means they struggle a bit. I do believe you are with them and will protect them.” I felt my spirit begin to sink into despair. I couldn’t wait to get home. “I need to be with you, Lord. I need to hear from you. I want your perspective.”

In a few short minutes I arrived home. Instead of immediately sitting in my prayer chair to talk to God, I decided to check my e-mail. When I got online the headline caught my attention.  “Young mother kills newborn babies.”  Although I heard the faint whisper to not read the article, curiosity took over and I quickly pushed the button to open the screen so I could read the story.  I wished I had heeded that soft voice. Not only did the 25 year old mother give birth to her newborn twins in the bathroom of her parent’s home, she proceeded to asphyxiate them as they began to cry. She didn’t want her parents to know she was pregnant, so she hid the pregnancy, gave birth to the babies, killed them, and then disposed of them in a laundry basket.  Now she will be spending many years in prison for such a devastating crime. I was aghast with horror and began to weep profusely. “What on earth is wrong with this world? Why God, why?  She could have given those babies up for adoption. So many infertile couples would have loved to raise them as their own.”

I had enough. I am so grateful that I didn't chose to crawl into bed and become depressed, but instead I lit some candles, turned on worship music, and envisioned myself crawling into the lap of my heavenly Father. I was still crying but soon felt myself calm down. I talked to Him about all that concerned me.  I prayed for my children, and I prayed for strength.  I knew those little babies were with God, and that one day there would be no more tears, or heartache, or goodbyes.  That brought me solace.  As I continued to listen to the worship music it was as if a heavy cloud lifted off of me. I read my daily devotional and before long opened my Bible to soak in God’s Word.  I can’t even remember when the “cloud of despair” was lifted from me, but it was. I had spent precious time with my Savior, and in His love and grace He blessed me with His peace. I have learned over the years that is precisely why we must come to the Lord often.  Not just when we’re weary, but also when we’re busy, stressed, and need comfort and direction that only He can give. He never fails us.  What a few moments in His presence can do is absolutely amazing.

Unfortunately, the world will continue to have its troubles.  There will still be confusion, pain and heartache, but Jesus tells us to take heart for He has overcome the world.  And you know what?  I believe Him. Crawl into His lap and spend some solitary moments with Him, and before long all the cares of the world will drift away.  He will take away your confusion, despair and sorrow, and infuse you with His power, His strength, and His perfect peace.  And that is enough.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. " Matthew 11:28-30

"Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."  Mark 6:31

"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul."  Psalm 23:1-3

"O Lord, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit…weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning."  Psalm 30:3, 5

Who Is Filling Your Cup?

One of our most basic human needs is the need to be loved.  Ask any psychologist what so many of his clients have in common.  Very often it is a deep-seeded insecurity that stems from feeling unwanted or unloved. In an effort to determine wherein the insecurity lies the psychologist often takes you back in time to your early childhood years.  Maybe someone close to you withheld affection or never validated you.  Or worse—maybe you were abused or neglected. But let’s be real honest here—we don’t have to live through detrimental experiences in order to need a little therapy.  Most, if not all of us, carry insecurities with us.  We’re just real good about hiding them and keeping them to ourselves. Why else do we turn to other people or even materialism to feel validated?  What is it about the human tendency to stockpile things or amass wealth?  Does it make us feel more secure if our investment portfolio is high?  Do we feel better about ourselves if we drive new car even though it puts us in tremendous debt?  Do we really believe that people will love us more if we have a certain look, wear certain clothes, and own certain material possessions?

I believe that God made us with a deep yearning to be loved and to love in return.  Every one of us desires to be loved unconditionally by someone.  Why else do we go to such extremes?  We attempt to change our appearance by continually striving to look thinner, younger, and more attractive. We buy the latest and greatest gadgets hoping that they will attract someone to us.  Often we put on a façade that makes us appear to have it all together hoping that maybe then we will be found worthy of true love.

Fortunately, there is Someone who does love us unconditionally. And we don’t need to do anything special or create a certain look either! In fact, He loves us just the way we are, and His love is unfailing and everlasting.  That Someone is our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He is the only One who can truly satisfy the deepest longings in our heart. The problem is that more often than not we look for something or someone else to fill us. We do not turn to Jesus first, but usually as a last resort, when all else has failed us. We could save ourselves a lot of heartache if we would go to Jesus first and find our satisfaction in His unfailing love. Oswald Chambers once wrote, “No love of the natural heart is safe unless the human heart has been satisfied by God first.”  I agree.

Picture with me that every day of your life you are given a cup, that when filled, will quench your thirst for the day.  This cup represents all of your unmet needs.  Your goal is to fill the cup every day because when it is full your unmet needs have been satisfied, your insecurities are gone, and you feel confident, strong, and loved. So, what do most of us do?  We wake up each morning and we take that empty cup with us wherever we go asking and sometimes even demanding that others fill it for us.  After all, we are thirsty, and we need someone or something to help fill our empty cups. Then we’ll feel better about ourselves.  Whether our cup is filled through words of affirmation, approval, control, success, or monetary gain, it doesn’t matter.  The bottom line is we are miserable until something—anything—is in that cup. The problem is that people or materialistic pursuits will never be able to satisfy our insatiable thirst.  We were made to be filled with the Living Water, the Holy Spirit of God.  Only He can quench and satisfy our deepest spiritual thirst.

Remember the story of the Samaritan woman who came to the well to draw water? Jesus was there and asked her for a drink. She asked how it could be that He would ask her for a drink since Jesus was a Jew and she was a Samaritan. In those days, Jews did not associate with Samaritans. Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water” (John 4:10). She proceeded to ask where she could get this living water.  Jesus replied, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:13).  Jesus was speaking figuratively letting her know that coming to the living water represented spiritual refreshment that only He could give.  He invited her to drink the water of life.  She had previously had five husbands and the man she currently was with was not her husband.  Could it be that she was looking for someone to fill her empty cup?  

In Jeremiah 2:13, the Lord said, “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” Broken cisterns represent idols that we create and pay homage to, and they always fail their worshipers. By contrast, only God, the spring of living water, provides life-giving power to His people. When we attempt to fill our cup with things other than with God, our cup is like a broken cistern.  It has cracks and it leaks, and therefore, will never fill and satisfy us the way that God intended.

In John 7:38, Jesus says, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” Again and again Jesus invites us to come to Him because He is the true fountain of life. He knows that life is difficult and offers us His strength.  Not only does He delight in filling our cup with His everlasting love and perfect peace, He will fill it to the fullest measure. The best part is that it will actually overflow onto all that we meet.  And no one is more pleasant to be around than someone who has had her cup filled with the living God.  Insecurities will be erased as she drinks in the love and acceptance of her Savior. She will no longer need the constant approval or affirmation from others. This will free her up to love others unconditionally too without placing unrealistic demands on them. 

When you awake tomorrow to begin your new day, think about your empty cup.  It needs to be filled. Will you draw daily from the well of living water?  Or, will you reach out your empty cup day after day to things that cannot fill it? Don’t forget that only the living water—Jesus Christ—has the power to quench your thirst.  Everything else will only be a cheap substitute.  The choice is yours to make.

“They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.”  Psalm 36:8-9

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!...Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live.”  Isaiah 55:1-3

“For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:17

The Classroom

Have you ever thought of the world as your classroom? All of life, including its many experiences and trials, can be likened to the “classroom of God.” We are the students, and He is our great Teacher. It is here, in this classroom that we will learn and grow. In many ways it is no different than a school classroom setting. Our success depends primarily on us—how well we listen to and learn from our teacher. It also depends on if we are willing to take the necessary time to read and thoroughly study the textbook. Periodic tests are given to ensure that we are learning the material.

In the brief life we have on earth, we will encounter trials and various experiences that will develop our character. Character transformation is God’s biggest goal for us for He wants us to become more like His Son, Jesus. Because He loves us so much, He cannot allow us to remain as we are. Sin has permeated our lives as we have become self-centered. He knows that we need discipline and correction in order to become less self-absorbed and more God-centered. He wants us to depend upon Him for guidance, for He is the only One who can help us successfully navigate through life. Therefore, he allows certain tests and life experiences to come our way in order to mature us. As we successfully pass the various tests, we will grow in wisdom and understanding. Through our many experiences and trials, we are transformed into the image of Jesus.

The Bible is God’s textbook—our instruction manual for life. It is inevitable that if you never look at your classroom textbook you will probably fail your class. In order to successfully pass the many tests of life, we, too, must be willing to diligently read, study, and meditate on God’s textbook. As we devour what we read, it becomes a part of us. When the various life-tests come our way, the Holy Spirit quickens us to remember what we have learned. Therefore, we are able to pass the tests with relative ease. Because we serve a merciful God, if we fail our test, He will give us as many re-takes as are necessary until we pass. He helps to clarify any misunderstandings and gives us another opportunity in the future to take a similar test. Even though He is merciful, it would behoove us to become quick learners, because we cannot move on to the next level of growth until we pass the tests as they come, one by one. Some tests are simply prerequisites and must be passed first. Otherwise, it is like taking Algebra II before completing Algebra I!

The Lord wants us to succeed, and He is our biggest fan. Although we are in large part responsible for our growth, He is there to offer us as much help as we need. He asks us to come to Him for help. He implores us to immerse ourselves in His Word—for it is the truth that will guide us along life’s path. The more we ready, study, and meditate on it, the more wisdom the Holy Spirit will impart to us. When trials come our way, not only will we be quickened by the Holy Spirit, He will supernaturally enable us to act out what we have learned. (For instance, keeping a tight rein on our tongue when ridiculed, or forgiving others who hurt us).

I believe that the Lord would prefer not to give His children tests because He knows that they are difficult and often hurt, but He also recognizes that they are necessary in order to deeply penetrate our hearts and enable the lessons learned to stick. What good would it be if we were book smart and able to easily memorize His Word, yet never lived out the truth of what we have learned? God says in James 1:22-25, “Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, he will be blessed in what he does.”

God desires His Word to become an integral part of our lives for it is alive and active and is powerful enough to transform us from the inside out. As we feast on each word, each chapter, each book, Jesus becomes more and more a part of us. As believers, Jesus’ very essence already exists in us, but when we consistently neglect to call upon the Lord, we act out of our own reasoning. Our mind will always seek to reason and rationalize all of the events and circumstances of our lives. However, when the Word is alive and active in us, it acts as a filter—filtering out that which is false and allowing the truth to be revealed.

God loves all of His children with a pure and unconditional love. He knows how very difficult and confusing life can be, and above all, He knows that we need His help. That is why He has preserved His written Word. Unfortunately, many of His children do not feast on it regularly, and some do not give any thought to reading it at all as they believe it is an antiquated history book. Then, when trials come, we do not know what to do, and often act out of fear and quickly succumb to sin and defeat. Not so for God’s students who immerse themselves in His written Word. They have learned to seek after God, and His Word has become a lamp unto their feet and a light unto their path. They have grown in wisdom and stature. Their tests become far and few in between for they have successfully mastered much truth along the way. Their hearts and motives have merged with God’s and they can now see through the eyes of faith. They no longer question every single trial and disappointment. They have discovered the true meaning to life as they have walked and talked with God. They have spent countless hours in the classroom immersing themselves in His great instruction manual. They are God’s A+ students, and He has rewarded them greatly. His favor rests on them and He has given them a keen sense of spiritual understanding. Their hope lies in God alone, and they rest in His sovereignty.

Because they have sought out God’s precepts and obeyed them, God has granted them a peace that surpasses all understanding. They have built their house on the rock of His Son, Jesus Christ. He has become their refuge, their fortress. They have learned such valuable lessons in the classroom, yet have committed themselves to be lifelong learners until God calls them home. Because they have been given godly wisdom, God desires for them to be “tutors” to the other students—to come alongside those who are having difficulty, who can’t see the benefit of looking to God as the great Teacher, or have not turned to the great textbook for wisdom. They have been equipped with everything they will need to be effective helpers and encouragers.

I believe God wants all of His children to become A+ students. Everything we need is at our disposal. But just as any teacher cannot force a student to open the textbook and take the time to study, He will not force us either. He desires that we invite Him to be our Teacher so that we can learn and grow from Him. There are untold treasures awaiting us, but we alone must open these heavenly treasures. When we catch a glimmer of all the gifts God has waiting for us, no doubt we will wonder what took us so long to come. One thing is for certain—we will never want to go back to the way things were. We will have graduated on to the next phase of learning and begin to see the value of inviting God into every detail of our lives. With time, we will find ourselves passing our tests with greater ease as God’s very presence infuses us with truth. This is the only way to live the abundant life God died to give us. His Spirit will live in us and through us enabling us to be and do all that He has purposed for us in this life. Then, when our time one earth is finished, there will be nothing left undone and no regrets. The best part of all, God will be able to welcome us home with the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Come and see the reward awaiting you.”

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Revelations 3:20

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat…Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. Isaiah 55:1-2

For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edge sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.   Hebrews 4:12

God's Timing vs. My Timing

Have you ever thought of “time” as something that is divinely appointed by God Himself? I don’t know about you, but it seems like I am always trying to control my “time.” Today I realized just how futile that is. It really hasn’t got me anywhere. In fact, I believe my over-planning has actually sabotaged me. I’ve been seriously overwhelmed by many things—good things I might add. However, my mind has been swirling around in a constant flurry of things I need to do. It is the busy month of May, and there are flowers to bloom, sporting events to attend, end of the year school activities and concerts, and last but not least—my son is graduating from high school. Our church has recently begun to challenge us to regularly serve in our community, as we rightfully should. Add a part-time job, the companionship of friends that I so long to enjoy, as well as a body that is screaming out for exercise—well, there just doesn’t seem to be enough time in the day. So, what do I do? I make lists. Priority lists. I try to set aside time for this and time for that, but so often the things I want to do just don’t happen in my way or in my time.

Believe me, I have sought the Lord for His opinion, and today my heart was ready to listen. As is sat in the stillness of His presence, I could hear Him whisper to my heart that all of the events and circumstances of my life are in His hands, but that I have made an “idol” out of my time. Wow—that hurt. “But Lord, there is just so much to do. How do I know what to do, when to do it, and what to let go of?” He led me to several passages wherein He talks about time. Ecclesiastes 3 is entitled “A Time for Everything.” “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot…..” In this chapter God tells us that we are subject to times and changes over which we have little or no control. Ecclesiastes 8:6 states “there is a proper time and procedure for every matter.” So I had to ask myself, “Why do I think that I can control time?” All I do is get myself agitated and give up when the goals I set don’t get accomplished in my perfect timing!

God was trying to get my attention to let me know that my job is to do what He has called me to do and not to get fixated on the timing of it all. Several months ago I began a project—writing a book that I wanted to dedicate to my college-bound son. I did great for the first month, and then as my deadline drew closer and closer I became frustrated because everything else seemed to be getting in my way of writing. So, what did I do? I stopped writing altogether. I wanted to present the completed book to my son as a graduation gift; however, that cannot happen now as his graduation is only 3 weeks away!

I just love how God gets our attention at times. I have been very overwhelmed lately, and today He turned my heart toward my unfinished project. He let me know that He did not command me to finish it by May. He just wanted me to be faithful to write it. The timing of its completion would be in His hands. Psalm 31:14 says, “But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, You are my God. My times are in your hands.” In other words, if I would just do my part, God would make sure to do His. If I would have been faithful to do what He called me to do and not focus on the end outcome, I could have spared myself needless frustration.

While this may be just one small example, in the big scheme of things I can see how often I have thwarted my own progress by always trying to “control the outcome.” God graciously used this recent event to show me that I must take my strong grip off of the wheel, and allow God to steer my life. Several Bible stories of God’s people come to mind wherein God gave clear direction, and because the timing did not appear as they intended, they took matters into their own hands. I think of Abram and Sarai and how they ran ahead of God. God clearly told Abram that He would make him the father of many nations, but because Sarai was advanced in years and had not yet conceived a child, she persuaded Abram to sleep with her Egyptian maidservant, Hagar. He did, and Hagar conceived a child – Ishmael. Then Sarai began to despise her (Genesis 16). God told Abram that his wife Sarai would bring forth a child, Isaac, and that His covenant would be established with him and his descendants after him. When Sarai found out about this she laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” (Genesis 18:12) I love the Lord’s response. “Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.” (Genesis 18:14)

The story of Queen Esther is another “time” story. As a Jewess, she came to a royal position for such a time as this to deliver her people from annihilation (Esther 4:14). Then in John 2:4, Jesus tells His mother, ”Dear woman, why do you involve me? My time has not yet come.” In 2 Corinthians 6:2, it says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”Throughout the Bible it is evident that God’s timing is perfect. There truly is a perfect time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven. There is a time to speak up, and there is a time to be silent. There is a time for action, and there is a time to be still. There is a time to weep, and there is a time to laugh. The fact remains that God’s timing is often different than our timing, yet His timing is perfect. The beautiful irony is that no one really wants all that stress and burden anyway. God wants to take the pressure from us so that we can focus on the one thing that is truly important—an intimate relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the burden-bearer; He is the one who carries us, equips us, sustains us, and enables us. He knows how easily we grow weary, and that we need His constant provision, strength, guidance, and yes, even His timing. For His timing is perfect—every single time!

I will resume writing on my book resting in God’s perfect timing for the completion of this project. And, no, it will not be ready by graduation, but who knows? Maybe I will still be able to present it to him before he leaves for college in September. The burden is no longer mine. My job is to simply write it! God will bring it to completion in His time, and not a day before.

For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.” Romans 9:9

It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. Acts 1:7

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Psalm 9:9

Keeping Company with God

I find it amazing that the longer I sojourn with God, the more I realize how much I still need to learn and grow. I used to feel pretty good about myself when I would devote a half an hour (or more) of each morning to God. I’d delight myself in these early morning devotions as I felt completely one with God. I’d come to Him with complete transparency and tell Him everything—as if He didn’t already know! I’d worship Him, I’d thank Him for His goodness, I’d read my Bible, I’d pray for others, and I’d ask the Holy Spirit to guide me through my day. My quiet time with God was good and I felt satisfied. Then I’d quickly blow out my candle, close my Bible, and start on my mental “to-do list”.

Lately, however, I’m not as satisfied. I’ve come to realize that although I may have started out my day with God, far too often I’d forget all about Him as I went about my busyness. I didn’t like how I could feel so connected to God in the morning, and then not even give Him a second thought the rest of the day. I noticed that I became task-oriented and allowed my mental to-do list to direct my life instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to guide me moment by moment.

What is moment by moment guidance anyway? The Bible often talks about abiding in the Lord, remaining in Him, lingering in His presence, coming away and resting in Him. After reading a few good Christian books, I quickly realized that I was not abiding in the Lord at all. Even though I spent precious moments with the Lord in our “sacred quiet place,” I left Him there when I was finished as I pursued my agenda for the day. No wonder I’d so easily get frustrated or fall back into sin. I simply wasn’t living in the power of the Holy Spirit. I needed to learn to take the “quiet” with me. I learned that the presence of God is not relegated to my devotional time in the morning or a quiet place. God is available to me at every moment and in every circumstance. Brother Lawrence calls this awareness “practicing the presence of God.”

As I started delving into the Scriptures, I realized that to abide in God means to live a life of constant communion with Him. That’s right—it is simply keeping company with God. The ironic thing is that doesn’t mean I have to sit still all day to be aware of His presence, nor do I have to do all the talking either. Keeping company with God is walking away from my intimate time with Him, but taking an “awareness” of His Presence with me. It is a realization that He is constantly with me, even in my often cluttered and busy life. Rather than yearn for simplicity and quiet and wish my two teenagers grown, I gave myself permission to enjoy the stage of life I am currently in. Yes, it is rather busy and often quite hectic, but I can learn to experience God even in these busy times. He is with me everywhere I go, not just in my early morning devotions.

I could sense God whisperering to my heart that it was time for me to become a “Noticer.” I needed to refocus my attention so I could notice Him while I was at work, while I was taking a walk with my dogs, or while I was having dinner with my family. I need to consciously remember that He’s with me when I go grocery shopping, when I’m having lunch with a friend, and even when I’m busy cleaning the house. There will always be places to go, things to do, and people to visit, but if I can learn to find God in the midst of every moment, then I will be living my life with an easy-ness even amidst the busyness.

Keeping company with God also means to talk to Him about every aspect of my day. And yes, this includes all of my feelings too. When someone hurts or disappoints me, rather than retaliate, why not tattle to God instead? His perspective is so much better and wiser than mine anyway, so why not ask for His input?

I think the key to making this moment by moment awareness a reality lies in taking frequent mini-breaks. Five minutes here and there to take a quick inward glance to get back into touch with His peace. A deep breath to refocus on His Presence. When we take little steps to make a conscious effort to maintain this intimacy we are keeping company with God. And you know what? It will not matter what is left undone at the end of the day. A successful day will not be measured by how clean my house was or how much I was able to check off my to-do list. A successful day will be measured by how well I stayed in touch with God. Did I obey his prodding to write that note of encouragement? Did I hear His whisper and smile at the cashier and wish her a nice day? Did I notice the elderely woman who needed help carrying her groceries?

Yes, it is important to have time set aside to be alone with God. During this time you are withdrawing from the world and its influences to be filled with God’s pure and holy presence. As He fills you with His grace and peace, He not only equips you, but asks you to take the strength gained there back into your everyday world where you live and work. That is called working out your salvation, and in doing so you will live a life pleasing to God. This process of perseverance, spiritual growth, and maturation is your active response to God’s amazing grace. And that, my friends, is Keeping Company with God.

..continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose. Philippians 2:13

Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you. Hebrews 13:5

And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20

As the Father has loved me so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. John 15:9

In Step with the Spirit

I have a confession to make. I am an undisciplined person. I am here and there and all over the place—I’m wishy-washy. Sometimes I get on an exercise kick and work out consistently—other times I do everything possible to avoid breaking a sweat. Sometimes I have complete control over what I think and say—other times I am a babbling idiot. Sometimes I am able to keep my emotions in check—sometimes I am like a running faucet! I guess you could say I lack self-control! The big question is, “Why am I able to keep things running smoothly sometimes, and other times I am so unbalanced and undisciplined?"

Today’s Bible study seemed to have all the answers to my questions. Maybe you can relate. The problem isn’t all my fault…I suffer from the Flesh vs. Spirit syndrome. There appears to be constant struggle within my flesh. It has a mind all of its own and it wants what it wants. Plain and simple. Then there is the other part of me, my spirit, and it desires to do the right thing. The problem lies that far too often my fleshly desires are in direct contrast to the spirit’s desires. At least I have acknowledged the difference, and I know that a person can’t change what they don’t acknowledge. I also recognize that I can’t change a thing on my own. I need God’s supernatural strength and help.

As a Christian God’s Holy Spirit lives within us, and that same Spirit gives us God’s power with which we can overcome our fleshly weaknesses. I love Paul’s authenticity as he humbly admits his own inadequacy. “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing” (Romans 7:15-19). Now, if that isn’t an honest admission! He goes on to say, “for in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members” (Romans 7:22-23). Haven’t you ever felt the same way? I certainly have. Heaven knows I so desperately want to please God by obeying Him and living to please Him. I love the Lord with all of my heart, and it bothers me immensely that I can so readily fall back into sin time and time again.

Today’s lesson reminded me that only as I walk step by step with the Holy Spirit will I be able to overcome these sinful tendencies. It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to break sinful patterns and habits. It is the Holy Spirit who intercedes for us in our weaknesses. It is the Holy Spirit who empowers us to live as new creations in Christ. And it is the Holy Spirit who continually rebukes, corrects, and guides us to holy living. We cannot do it without Him.

After Jesus’ resurrection, He appeared and lived among the disciples for 40 days until He was to return to the Father in heaven. He told them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the gift his Father promised—the gift of the Holy Spirit. He also said they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came on them (Acts 1:8). The promised Holy Spirit was not only sent as a guaranteed inheritance of eternal life to all who put their faith in Jesus Christ, but to empower us in our daily living. Jesus knows how desperately we need His help, and He promised to never leave or forsake us. That is why He sent the Holy Spirit—to enable and empower us to conquer the flesh by living in the Spirit. Living in the Spirit, walking in the Spirit, abiding in the Spirit, and keeping in step with the Spirit are all synonymous. When we keep in step with the Spirit we go about our daily living by listening to and obeying the promptings of the Holy Spirit. It is not “giving in” to our temptations and desires, but actively seeking, asking, listening, and obeying God’s voice in our hearts. That is the key to conquering our sinful desires. We must also remember that our flesh often wants what is in direct opposition to God. We have to learn to pause to listen for the Holy Spirit’s soft still voice. When we act hastily and impulsively, chances are we’ve already acted in the flesh.

It has taken me awhile to realize that this moment by moment dependence on the Holy Spirit requires us to not only die daily to our fleshly appetites and desires, but to actively walk, think, and speak a little slower. When we allow enough pauses before we react or respond, we give room for the Holy Spirit to act through us. We need Him to inhabit all of our moments allowing Him to grace our thoughts, speech, and behavior. This definitely involves surrendering our fleshly appetites on a continual basis, but who wants to be controlled by them anyway? The ironic part it is that the flesh doesn’t really satisfy at all—at least not long term. One cookie is never enough, the extra glass of wine only partially numbs our pain, retail therapy does nothing more than land us in debt, and excessive internet/television use only wastes our time. What is so satisfying about that?

Lest I make it sound too easy, we must acknowledge that although our spirit is willing, our flesh is weak. Then we must ask for the Holy Spirit’s help and learn to depend on Him for He is our Helper, our Defender, and our Strength. When we consistently ask for His input and direction He will guide our steps, but He will also demand our active participation. This requires training, obedience, and is a process. Paul compares a disciplined life to running a race. “Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (1 Corinthians 9:24-26). You may encounter a weak moment that causes you to stumble and fall. But don’t stay down. Get up and start the race again. In fact, don’t ever give up. Don’t allow the flesh to tell you that it is not worth the effort, it is too difficult, or talk you out of reaching your promised destiny. Remember, you will reach a harvest if you do not give up. Celebrate your victories along the way. You win the battle every single time you give up the desire of the flesh. I say it again, celebrate even the small victories—I only ate one cookie instead of my usual six, I turned off the TV and took a stroll around the block, I bit my lip and refused to engage in gossip, and I chose to turn the other cheek and not allow bitterness to creep in. Yes, these may seem small and insignificant, but they are HUGE victories on the path to winning your race. Before you know it, you won’t be struggling so much, and things that used to trip you up will no longer have power over you. You’ve become more disciplined by saying “No” to things that are not good for you, and “Yes” to the things that are.

As you keep in step with the Holy Spirit, His wisdom and peace will accompany you on your race. And those companions are certainly more welcome than the guilt, shame, and laziness you used to travel with. You’ll sense a smile on your face and a spring in your step as the heavy load that formerly weighed you down is no longer on your back. Your burdens have been carried by the ever-powerful Holy Spirit, and He is the One enabling you to run the race marked out for you in victory. When you are tempted to give up, He reminds you to keep your eyes focused on Jesus.

Look, over there in the distance! Is that the Finish Line? And who is the person standing there holding a victor’s crown? It is Jesus! And that beautiful crown--it has Your name on it!

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25

A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Galations 6:7-8

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

Reflective Rest

Throughout our entire lives we are told of the importance of rest. Our physical bodies need at least 7-8 hours of rest every night in order to properly function, but too often we neglect to give our spirit the rest it needs. In six days God created the heavens and the earth and on the seventh day, even GOD rested. “Come away with me for a little while to a quiet place and get some rest” says the Lord. God knows that we fill our lives with busyness and that we get weary and so desperately need to rest.

Rest, rest, rest. Maybe you view “resting” as a waste of time—precious time that you cannot afford to throw away on mindless activity. After all, there is still so much to be done. Lately I feel that God is calling me not to so much “Do” but to “Be.” Let me explain. I have been working through a devotional called Answering God’s Call to Quiet and today’s message was all about reflective rest. In other words, resting while reflecting on the past. It inspired me to look at resting in a new light. When we reflectively rest, we recall the past and some of its lessons. Even more, reflectively resting provides a time and place for us to remember God’s goodness to us, His provision, even through dark times, and His extravagant love for us. “Wait a minute!” you may be thinking. “I am not going back to my painful past. My life was filled with sorrow and disappointment. Why on earth would I want to reflect about that?” Let me inspire you with some words of wisdom by the author, Neva Coyle. No matter how painful your past may have been, reflection is often the best way to realize that it is only by God’s mercy that some of us have survived at all. It is absolutely necessary to remind ourselves of circumstances that could have, in all actuality, completely destroyed us, but didn’t. We have to remind ourselves that God, in His mercy, saw us through, brought us out, and lifted us up. The mere fact that you are reading this today means that you survived your past, your pain, and you are alive today. Regardless of how you may feel your life has been up to the present point, the fact remains that God has seen you through. You are here now, and because of His great love you have not been consumed.

When we take the time to reflect on our lives, we can evaluate where we have been and where we go from here. When filtered through God’s perspective, we can now see the lessons we learned along the way. The very thing we thought would destroy us actually strengthened us while transforming our character. Often it is only in looking back that we gain strength to move forward because we can now see God’s involvement in our yesterdays. This gives us the strength we need to face tomorrow, no matter what may come.

When I take the time to reflect on my past I am filled with gratitude. When I see the direction my own footprints were taking, along with the tears of remorse I shed over my failures and sins, and then I see the tears of joy for my successes, along with the new set of footprints I followed, I can truly say that I would be a fool to not trust God. Reflective rest has given me new sight—sight to see that God’s handprints have been all over my life, even in moments of apparent defeat. In reality, He has guided and taught me through the pain of my past, which has led me to where I am today. How could I ever doubt that He will continue to be with me no matter what comes my way? Or doubt that He is not able to help me now? Reflecting on my past is my assurance that God is able to do immeasurably more than I can ever conceive or imagine. It provides me with tangible reminders that bolster my confidence that God will continue to care for me in the present and in the future.

If you think God has forgotten you or doesn’t care, I must tell you that you are wrong. He is the same God that He was yesterday, is today, and will be tomorrow. He is the only One who doesn’t change like the shifting sand. He is the only One we can count on to never leave nor forsake us. He is the only One who is bigger than all of our pain and trials, and He is the One who will see us through them.

If you are living in difficulty right now, may I encourage you to take some time for reflective rest? Believe me, it is not an idle waste of time. No matter how painful your past may have been, remind yourself that you are here today because you are a trophy of God’s loving grace. He has plans for you, and they are to prosper you, not to harm you. You may think you are in need of a little polishing up, and maybe that is true. But you are a priceless treasure to God and when He allows various difficulties to come your way, He is using them to polish you into His image. Do not be discouraged…do not be dismayed…for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. And one day, that beautiful trophy will shine brightly because Jesus will be reflected in you.

Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. Psalm 116:7

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his passions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29

Feasting on the Word

I’ve recently been introduced to different styles of Bible reading that I’d like to share with you. Originally established within certain denominations, they are by no means exclusive. I find them not only intriguing, but believe they are intended to deepen one’s prayer/bible reading time and walk with the Lord. At times I, too, have experienced such exhilaration after reading God’s Word, and I know that I have spent precious moments with the Lord. These are the times when I walk away feeling energized because God has personally spoken to me by illuminating my mind and even giving me a specific message. Other times, my Bible reading time has produced little to no results, because I simply read out of an obligation to do so. As a Christian, I believe in the power of God’s Word, but if I am not fully focused and present with God, I can allow distractions, selfishness, and even un-enthusiasm to impact my time with God. I’ll either rush through my devotions, or give up on them altogether, and then I wonder why I'm so easily irritated and my day does not go as well as it could.

When I learned about Lectio Divina and Midrash, I was intrigued. Yes, I wanted to make my time with the Lord more meaningful. Yes, I wanted to get more from my Bible reading. And above all, Yes, I wanted to be fully present with the Lord receiving His love and grace which He so freely desires to give.

Lectio Divina, is a Latin word for divine reading and represents an ancient practice of prayer and Scripture reading which is intended to promote intimate communion with God as well as increase knowledge of God’s Word. It is a slow and thoughtful way of reading Scripture that causes one to study, ponder, listen, pray, and even rejoice from God’s Word deep within one’s soul. This practice was originally established and used by Catholic Benedictine monks centuries ago. It has also been referred to as “Feasting on the Word.” The four parts are first taking a bite (lectio), then chewing on it (meditatio), next, taking the opportunity to savor its essence (oratio), and finally, the Word is digested and made part of the body (contemplatio).

There is a natural progression involved in this type of practice that goes from reading, to meditation (thinking about significance of text), to prayer (responding to God), to quiet stillness in the presence of God (contemplation). This type of Biblical reading requires a commitment to time, space, and solitude, and is far superior to just reading for reading sake. It promotes an intimate dialogue with God Himself, and as you remove yourself from distractions, you hear God speaking to your spirit. In prayer, you respond to God with an open and trusting heart.

The steps are as follows:

1. First, read the Scriptural passages slowly, attentively, maybe even several times. Write down any words that stick out or grasp your attention.
2. Next, simply meditate or think about what you have read and what the text means. Don’t worry—the Holy Spirit will impart spiritual understanding which will enable you to grasp the revelation contained in the passage.
3. What follows is prayer or conversation with God. He has invited us into His embrace and now we allow the Word that we have taken in to touch and change our deepest selves. This is the time when we openly commune with our Maker. In honest dialogue, we give our most pain-filled and difficult experiences to God, believing in His power and provision. We recite over all our concerns the healing words or phrases God has given us in our sacred reading. Through this consecration-prayer, we allow the Word of God to touch, heal, and transform us.
4. Lastly, contemplate or focus, on our loving Father. As your soul is satisfied, and in the quietness, fix your gaze upon Jesus as you rest and enjoy His presence. Knowing that you have been “filled,” allow His grace to give you the strength to endure whatever comes your way. It is a peaceful and tranquil state of being.

Midrash, is steeped in Jewish tradition. Likewise, it is a rich, ancient tradition which invites deeper exploration of the Scriptures through study, reflection, and even debate. In Hebrew, Midrash means to search out. It invites the reader to find those hard-to-understand or even quirky Scriptures and try to make sense of them before God. It reads the Hebrew Bible, not for the familiar, but for the unfamiliar, and then wrestles with the text, passionately and reverently. It views the Bible as one side of the conversation, started by God, and invites the reader to keep the conversation going by taking hold of a passage, wrestling with it, and not letting it go until he understands it. This process allows one to trade in a “surface understanding” for a “deeper grasp” of God’s Word. Reading the Bible this way can certainly be time-consuming and challenging, but I believe the rewards are well worth it. Again, it leads to a more intimate knowledge of God, and greater communion with Him.

There is no right way to practice Lectio Divina or Midrash—it is merely an invitation to go deeper into God’s Word by allowing the Holy Spirit to illuminate and enlighten your mind and heart. When we take the time to pursue and deepen our prayer life in this way, not only will we gain a deeper knowledge of Scripture, oneself, others, and above all, God, but He will align our hearts and minds with His as we ever-increasingly grow in our faith. And that should be the goal of every believer, shouldn’t it?

"It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Matthew 4:4

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." Colossians 3:16

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 2:22

Spirit-Led Christians

I was so excited when our pastor announced that he would be preaching a series on the Holy Spirit. I vividly remember in my Christian walk wondering what all the hoopla was about the Holy Spirit. I had always believed in God as Creator of heaven and earth, and I knew that Jesus, His Son, died for my sins. But as I began to study God’s Word more intently, the question kept coming up, “Who and what is the Holy Spirit?” I must confess that I did not even know that the Holy Spirit was a Person. In fact, I thought He was an “It” or just some kind of powerful force. Thankfully, my curiosity led me to the Christian bookstore where a myriad of books lined the shelves on that very topic. One of my favorite eye-opening books about the Holy Spirit was written by Charles Stanley—The Holy Spirit Filled Life. I even memorized his definition of being filled with the Spirit—“A moment by moment sensitivity to and dependence on the initial promptings of the Holy Spirit.” These books, along with the most important book of all, the Bible, are what opened my eyes to the power of the Holy Spirit that is available to all Christians. Unfortunately, far too many Christians are not aware of His power, and, therefore, not living Spirit-led lives.

So, can you guess what the difference is between a Christian and a Spirit-led Christian? Of course, a Christian is someone who has surrendered his life to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He believes in the triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and he knows that he is a sinner in need of forgiveness and grace. He is typically a church-goer, worships and prays to God on a somewhat regular basis, and may have even been baptized. He is a normal person with many of the everyday struggles that are common to everyone. He tries to be a morally upright person, and he has the assurance that if he died tomorrow, he would be guaranteed entrance into heaven. Sounds pretty good, right? What else is there to being a Christian? Well, if that is as good as it gets, no wonder so many Christians don’t live their lives any different than unbelievers do. These Christians have neglected the power source that lives within them—the Holy Spirit. That is probably why statistics report higher divorce rates among Christians, and why so many continue to struggle with the same issues and addictions that plagued them before they gave their lives to Christ. If this is the case, is there anything about a Christian that would even attract an unbeliever to God?

A Spirit-led Christian, on the other hand, is someone who not only has surrendered his life to Christ, worships and attends church services, prays and read his Bible, but has learned the art of staying connected to the true power source—the Holy Spirit. He has experienced hardship and trials and realizes that independent of the ongoing power of the Holy Spirit, he is incapable of doing anything worthwhile. He knows the vital difference between being a believer and living his life empowered by the Holy Spirit. He has learned that in his own strength he will burn out, and that it is absolutely necessary to draw on the power of the Holy Spirit in order to make it through this world’s temptations, struggles, and hardships.

The Bible teaches us a lot about the Holy Spirit. Not only does He convict the world with regard to sin, He guides us in truth, and He brings glory to God as He works in harmony with the Father and the Son. Nothing He does is ever contradictory to the Word of God. In fact, He uses the Word of God to illuminate truth into our hearts and enables us to recall what we have read. There is no limit to what the Holy Spirit can and will do through a believer who is faithfully dependent on His continual guidance and empowerment. He continually intercedes, comforts, teaches, corrects, encourages, and leads us in living our lives to bring honor and glory to God. His mission is to bring all men unto Himself and He uses Spirit-led Christians to help fulfill this enormous task. The Holy Spirit cannot be fully fathomed nor can He be adequately described. He is experienced. One thing we know—He is the reason we can have a vibrant relationship with our Heavenly Father. He knows God’s thoughts and makes them known to us. He gives us the mind of Christ.

As Spirit-led Christians, there must be a difference between us and the world. If we just blend in with the rest of the world, there will be nothing different about us to attract others to Christ. We are to be set apart, to be holy. We are to live in the world, but not be of the world. Some thought provoking questions you might ask yourself—“Is the Holy Spirit active in my life? Does He own all of me?” Instead of asking, “How can I get more of the Holy Spirit?” make your question, “How can the Holy Spirit have more of me?” Is there anything I need to do, confess, or surrender? Maybe I need to give up control over a certain area of my life. Do I need to forgive someone who has hurt me? How can I become more proactive in my relationship with Jesus?

The beauty of having a relationship with Jesus is that you can come to Him just as you are—flaws and all. You don’t have to have it all together first, and you don’t have to fix yourself or be perfect. That is the work of the Holy Spirit. When you surrender your life to Jesus, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in your spirit. He is your helper, comforter, and advocate. It is so comforting to know that you don’t have to change yourself on your own. In fact, you can’t. He is the one who is at work in the deepest places of your heart teaching, guiding, and even disciplining you. He is the one responsible for changing your perspective as He continually leads you through the process of sanctification. As you stay connected to the Lord through prayer and His Word, you will make progress day by day. You are literally being changed into the likeness of Jesus. This is the Holy Spirit in action—He’s busy at work changing you from the inside out.

Yes, you need Jesus for your eternal life, but you need the Holy Spirit for your internal life. He is the One who initiates, enables, and sustains your relationship with God. He is often compared to the wind—you can’t see Him, but you can feel His presence. Now isn’t it time to give Him the attention He deserves? Make it your goal to walk with an ever- increasing awareness of God’s power that is available to you every single moment of the day through His Holy Spirit. There is simply no need to walk around in defeat, for our victory has already been secured by Jesus on the cross. Now, let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, because He who promised is faithful. And may the eyes of our hearts continue to be enlightened in order that we may know the hope to which He has called us, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe (Ephesians 1:18-19).

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

But the counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26

If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:15-17

..because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, Abba,Father. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Romans 8:14-16

Distant or Up-close and Personal?

I recently read an excellent book by James P. Gills, M.D. called The Prayerful Spirit. It gave great clarification as to why sometimes God appears to be distant from His creation. Of course, He’s not. How you perceive Him greatly determines your path in life. Your perception becomes your reality.

In the book he talks about the two views of God. In theological terms, God is called transcendent (above us) and immanent (with us). The word transcendent means superior, excellent, unequalled, and divine. When we say that God is transcendent we are saying He is eternal, unchanging, and without limits. He’s not only independent and self-existent; He is infinitely greater than all His creation. God is Holy and His transcendence is His greatness—His Omnipotence, His Omnipresence, His Omniscience. This greatness is what stirs wonder, awe and humility in us as His creation. “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.” Psalm 147:5 “ Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than the depths of the grave—what can you know?” Job 11:7-9

To say that God is immanent means that He is near us as our Helper and Comforter. To be immanent is to be intrinsic, ingrained, and internal. The very name given Jesus—Immanuel means “God with us.” He sustains us in times of trouble, and we trust and abide in Him as our Lord and Redeemer. “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” Psalm 46:1-3

As a believer in Christ, God is both above us and within us. Before I became a Christian I did not understand the “immanent” part. I always believed in a God who created the universe. I believed that He was out there somewhere (transcendent) doing His thing, but I did not understand the “immanent” part until I fully surrendered my life to Jesus Christ. I learned that I could have a personal relationship with the Lord, and that He would come into my life to dwell (immanent). What a difference that made! I no longer viewed God from a distance, but from an up-close, personal relationship. My prayer life took on a new meaning and I immersed myself in His Word. I wanted to know God personally.

Unfortunately, many people view God the same way I used to—from a distance. When we view God in this way we begin to believe that He is a creator who just doesn’t have much to do with His creation anymore. Our limited view of Him keeps us from pursuing a vibrant, up-close relationship. Our prayers are reduced to formal, rote prayers, and yet we wonder why we do not experience any sort of hope or healing. “I pray to God all the time yet He doesn’t seem to answer,” is a frequent response. Too often, we fall away and give up praying altogether.

Those who pursue a personal relationship with Jesus know that He is immanent. They are keenly aware that they can do nothing on their own but must stay connected to the vine. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5. They do not let familiarity reduce Him to some sort of “magical genie” who will grant them all their wishes. They have not lost their reverence and fear of the Holy and Almighty God. They stand in awe of Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all they could ever ask or imagine. He may be up-close and personal, yet He is also transcendent, therefore, they acknowledge His power, His Holiness, and His greatness. They worship Him out of love. They know Him as Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals, and Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides, and Jehovah Shalom , the God of peace.

My big take away from this book was that God is BOTH above us and with us. If we don’t believe in both aspects of God, we reduce Him to what we want Him to be. We either make Him out to be this distant and uncaring God, thereby limiting a powerful and personal relationship, or we become so casually familiar with Him that we lose our reverence and awe of Him. This can lead to disillusionment and complacency.

When we come to the place where we recognize that God is both greater than we are and yet is near to us, our prayer life becomes a joy and can be simple. We pray to Him as we talk to our friends and we don’t need eloquent, showy, or dramatic prayers. We come before Him with a humble and sincere heart. We can pray quietly with love, and as we confidently and expectantly come to Him, He becomes our dwelling place.

“In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.” Ephesians 2:21-22

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2