Having a relationship with Jesus Christ is much more intense than
practicing a religion. What we do and say matters more than we realize. Our
words and actions impact the lives of everyone around us.
A curt word in place of encouragement, a smirk instead of a smile, or a
phony attitude rather than authentic interest will put a wedge between others
and us. It may also negatively influence their relationship with Christ
How long are we willing to wait for God? Wait…without being distracted
by TV, radio, food, friends, family, the mall, work or any other created thing.
Wait…for the Creator of heaven and earth to fill us through all of our being,
with all of His fullness (Ephesians 3:16-19, Amplified Bible).
It may take a day, a week, a month or a year. Are we willing to
completely empty our soul of negative attitudes, beliefs and emotions and then
wait for Him to entirely fill us with His presence?
Wait… pouring out our heart to our Heavenly Father, praising Him for who
He is and what He does for us. Then, sitting motionlessly, silently and
listening. What will distract us?
Will the phone, hunger pains, stiff muscles, a headache, a knock at the
door, sirens in the distance or any other diversion draw us away from sitting
quietly before the Lord?
God has a perfect will for every moment of every day of our life. This
requires focused attention on His Spirit's leading us as we walk in that will.
We start by sitting quietly and waiting on Him.
Prayer:
Father God, You want us to break out of playing religion in our churches
and in our lives. You call us to go deeper into the living water of life and to
allow You to carry us to unknown places of service and worship. You call us to
a deeper and deeper relationship with You on a moment-by-moment basis.
Help us to set our affections on things above (Colossians 3:2), on the
eternal aspects of life. Then we can rise above the limitations of this mundane
earthly realm. Direct us, as You did Ezekiel, to enter the river and to go
deeper and deeper into the water until he could no longer stand, but must start
to swim, trusting You with the results (Ezekiel 47:1-12).
Thought for the Day:
God is interested in us living in oneness with Christ. Our body is the
temple of the Holy Ghost. He lives within us. We are not our own, we are God’s
unique possession. - 1 Corinthians 6:19
