Authentic Christians do not have to pray to get back in the
Spirit, nor do we have to go to a church to find God, because we continually
live and walk in His Spirit (Galatians 5:16,25). God is
love. Everyone who loves with God’s Agape love is born of God and knows Him
intimately (1 John 4:7). God delights in and abundantly
blesses those who love Him and seek after Him. Our petitions and prayers are
near and dear to the heart of our Father God. He provides for all of our needs (Proverbs
8:17; Romans 8:28). He delights in the praises and adoration of His
people (Psalm 147:11, 149:4).
On the other hand, God actually hates sinners (Psalm
5:5, 11:5). Why? They harden their heart against Him as they pursue a
life of sin. Take Jacob and Esau, for instance. Jacob had a heart for God,
although he and his mom cooked up some pretty deceptive activities to mislead
his father! Yet, God went on record to pronounce that He loved Jacob and hated
Esau (Romans 9:13). Why? Esau’s god was his belly (Philippians
3:19). God knows our heart; and like Esau, some people actually despise God
with the choices and lifestyle, which they prefer over Him (Luke
16:15; Romans 9:13).
God gives everyone the opportunity to worship Him with all
of their heart; however, many choose to turn their back on Him (John
3:18). God calls everyone to stop putting our faith in the wrong people and
things, and to put it in Him instead. We exchange our self-centered efforts for
Christ-centered ones. Our carnal humanity no longer controls our life, because
we surrendered totally to God. As we follow hard after Him, and only Him, then
He provides us with everything we need from the endless well of His glorious
riches (Matthew 6:33). His peace and joy flood our
soul.
Rather than to seek our own comfort or fame, we seek to
further God’s Kingdom in the earth. Every part of our soul – our thoughts,
choices and emotions – blesses the Lord (Psalm 103:1). We
patiently listen for His voice as He wisely directs our steps according to His
plan for our life (Proverbs 3:5-6). We start to despise anything
that robs Him of the glory due His name. God loves it when our soul chases
after Him (Psalm 63:8). We are a magnifying glass
through which others see God as bigger than life (Luke 1:46). They
pay no attention to us, because they look right through us at Him.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, we decrease so that You may increase in and
through us (John 3:30). We never leave the shadow of the Almighty or the
shelter of Your wings (Psalm 91:1). We love you, and we keep our
Father’s commandments as You manifest Yourself to us and through us, instead of
us (John 14:21). You love us abundantly more than we could ever
imagine being loved. We focus on You and look forward to Your Spirit
transforming us into Your image (Romans 8:29).
Thought for the Day:
God transports us into higher and higher realms of
spiritual delight as we give our whole body, soul and spirit in worship to Him.
