When Almighty God moves into a
life, we can expect a radical transformation. The speed at which this occurs
depends on our willingness to totally surrender to His will.
Our spirit is immediately
changed, brought from the state of death in sin to alive in Christ (Ephesians
2:1). The next step is sanctification in our soul, which takes a lifetime for
most people (1 Corinthians 6:10-11; 2 Corinthians 5:17).
We come as we are, and jump up on
the operation table of God's grace; so that His Word can separate our soul and
spirit (Hebrews 4:12). We facilitate the process as we actively decrease, so
that He may increase (John 3:30).
God calls us to die daily to our
fleshly desires and to work out our own salvation; but at the same time He
makes it clear that it is His Spirit that actually does the work (Philippians
2:12-13; Ephesians 4:22-24).
God created us to imitate Christ
and to walk in true holiness by repenting of every sin. We cooperate as the
Spirit sanctifies us. We live, move and have our entire being in Him (Acts
17:28).
He forgives us and calls us to
submit to the Spirit as He transform us into the divine nature of Christ (2
Peter 1:4). We mature spiritually and this conversion consumes every area of
our life (Galatians 2:20).
We relinquish our cares to Him,
because He really does care for us (1 Peter 5:7). We stop worrying and walk in
His peace. When we pray, we give thanks for all that God already did in our
life (Philippians 4:6-7).
Jesus encouraged us
not to work to attain the things of this world that rust and spoil; but to seek
food that endures throughout eternity (John 6:26-27; Isaiah 55:2). We long for
Him like the deer panting for the water brook until we joyfully experience His
presence within us every moment of the day (Psalm 42:1-2; Acts 3:19).
Prayer:
Father God, You
made it possible for us to eat the body and drink the blood of Jesus Christ
(Psalm 34:8). Taking Him into our being and consuming Him in an intimate
relationship where we two become one. This provides us with eternal life now,
and You will also raise us up on our last day on earth in order to dwell with
You for eternity (John 6:34).
Only You can
satisfy our longing and fill our hungry soul (Psalm 107:9). Your Word gives us
milk as new born babies (1 Peter 2:2). Jesus is the Bread of Life on which we
feast as we mature (John 6:35). Then, like Jesus, our food is to do Your will
every moment of our life (John 4:34). Prepare our hearts,
lead us, fill us with Your presence and Spirit and provide for our every need
as we make the radical transition from worm to butterfly.
Thought for the
Day:
In
Christ, His whole body fits together in perfect harmony, supporting one
another, growing together spiritually, loving one another as Christ loves us,
and all of us functioning in the ministry into which He calls us. - Ephesians
4:16, 2:10
