Spiritual Pursuits

Old Testament Saints were given seasons of the presence of God's Spirit within them; but in this new dispensation of time, we enjoy the presence of God dwelling within His temple within us every moment of our life (Romans 10:9).

God's Spirit brings to our cognizant thoughts an increasing awareness of His wisdom, direction, presence and truth (Colossians 1:27; Galatians 2:20). This consciousness affects our thoughts, words, attitude, behavior and feelings.

We often drain the resources of our body and soul by over-extending our time and commitments beyond what God's Spirit leads us to do. This weariness causes us to neglect our times of prayer, Bible study and worship with other Saints.

We are so caught up in the affairs of this world that we forget to communicate with God until we fall exhausted into bed. We take God for granted, trusting that He is always there and will bail us out of any negative issues.

Yet, He often allows us to boil in the stew of our own making. The fountains of Living Water within our spirit dry up and we ignore our thirsty soul, getting more parched with each passing moment (John 4:14). We stubbornly continue to pursue worldly gain and advantage.

Thankfully, God loves us enough to discipline us, in order to teach us lessons and to cause us to walk only in His Spirit and not to rely on our human reasoning (Proverbs 3:5-6).

It is important for us to understand that the most vital aspect of our life is spiritual advancement. Our spirit longs for a deeper relationship with God. Prayer, Bible study and Christian fellowship are the key vehicles for our spiritual maturity.

No amount of worldly gain can satisfy us as much as immersing our self in spiritual pursuits will fulfill us. God created us as spiritual beings and our entire body, soul and spirit long to return to this intimate relationship.

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for wooing us back to Your presence when we wander from Your chosen path for our life (Ephesians 2:10). Help us to remain focused on the pursuit of Your Kingdom rather than building our own kingdom on this earth. We thank You for Your love, kindness, supply, presence and spiritual leading as we progress through each moment of time.

We want nothing more than to know You more deeply and to understand Your ways. We draw all of our strength from Your Spirit within us and we delight to do only Your will with the life You provide for us both now and throughout eternity. We enjoy the intimate fellowship with You, which You provide for us all day long.

Thought for the Day:

Mankind is so convinced of the laws of science that they believe these laws can exist without the Creator of it all; yet, God holds His entire creation of the cosmos together in the span of one of His hands. - Isaiah 40:12

Eternal Connection

Prior to Jesus’ death on Calvary’s cross, no one had the privilege of Christ dwelling in them. Only those of us born in this dispensation of time have this blessing of union with Christ (Colossians 1:25-27). This is one of God’s mysteries, because it seems impossible for all of us to have Christ in us at the same time. However, this occurs by God’s Spirit dwelling within every Born Again Believer as one Body (1 Corinthians 6:17; 1 Corinthians 12:27).

We are no longer two separate beings. Jesus dwells in us and we dwell in Him. He functions through us as one entity. We are one spirit with Him (John 17:21). The entire power and majesty of the Godhead dwells in Christ and He dwells in us (Colossians 2:9). Our carnal humanity is replaced with His divinity within us, which manifests through the process of sanctification (Romans 8:9; Galatians 2:20).

Jesus changes our whole life. We fellowship with other Believers and enjoy Jesus in them (1 John 1:7). We feed on His Word. We depend upon His fullness in us (Proverbs 30:5). We tithe of the first fruits of our income to increase the ministry of His Kingdom on the earth (2 Chronicles 31:5). We praise Him with our whole heart, because He inhabits our praises (Psalm 22:3). No exercise or ritual can bring us closer to Him than we already are.

As we stop relying our self and others, and trust in God instead, we grow in faith with a new perspective on trials (John 3:30). Now, we experience trials as adventures ending in God’s special miracles, tailored just for us. There is no need to draw any closer to the God of the universe, who is sitting on His throne in Heaven, because this same Christ is eternally connected with each Born Again Believer.

In our union with Christ, we live, move and have our entire being and identity in Christ, who is our whole life (Acts 17:28; Colossians 3:3-4). He is now the central focus of our choices. We are not autonomous any more, which also means that we are no longer afraid, insecure, lonely, unhappy and unfulfilled. We follow God’s plan for our life, and we exemplify His nature to the world around us (Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Peter 1:4).

Prayer:

Father God, remind us that we are no longer the focus of our life. We no longer live to amass worldly goods and prestige for our self. We live only for Your honor and glory. Regardless of our lot in life, we are forever linked with the almighty power of Your Godhead dwelling within us in complete fellowship. We are Your children and Your Spirit leads us moment by moment throughout the day (Romans 8: 14).

Thought for the Day:

We are dwelling in Christ, and He is in perfect union in us. - John 15:4