The Realm of Reality

 

Prior to Christ moving into our regenerated spirit by His Spirit, we lived in a two dimensional realm of reality - physical, mental and emotional (2 Corinthians 5:6). Dead in sin, our spirit had no influence over our life at all (Ephesians 2:1).

Once we surrender our life to Christ, our reality is three dimensional - body, soul and spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23). We have the opportunity to walk in God's spirit rather than to remain tied to this earthly realm.

Our desires, thoughts and behavior change. Our focus is on the spiritual side of life, rather than the temporal. This transformation is not only on the surface, as if we changed a habit through self-effort; but on the inside as well, and requires little human effort.

We learned the secret, which Solomon learned (Proverbs 3:5-6). We look to God in our every thought, word and deed and do not depend on our human understanding. This allows God's Spirit to direct our day in the very center of God's will.

We sense God's Spirit advancing before us to clear our path of roadblocks, giving us wisdom, and permeating our entire being with the fullness of the presence of God (1 John 5:10; Ephesians 3:19 Amplified Bible).

Peace and joy fill our soul in spite of our circumstances. The Spirit teaches us to walk in God's will in little ways at first. If we listen, He will help us to plan our menu for the week and everything we need is on sale - He knew that.

He will tell us which client to approach at work, and we will make that coveted sale. If we disobey and follow our human understanding, we may choose the wrong client and lose the sale. He knew that would happen.

He might tell us to get up and go to a specific place. When we obey, we see an old friend or meet a new one. He knew that would happen. Maybe He will tell us what to wear and it ends up matching what he told our mate to wear.

These smaller issues will teach us to listen to His leading; and when the monumental opportunities arise, which will affect our whole life - like who to marry or where to work or where to move and live - we are already used to listening to and walking in the Spirit.

Prayer:

Father God, although we still live in the natural world, we are learning to operate in the spiritual one instead. Teach us to walk in Your Spirit, so Christ can continue to live His life in and through us each moment of our day. As He is, so we want to be in this world (1 John 4:17).

Remind us that as we practice obeying Your Spirit and walking in Your will, we will finally understand how to walk in the Spirit and to abide in Your will (John 7:17). Our spiritual senses become trained by exercising them in every area of our life and doing only what Your Spirit tells us to do (Ephesians 3:10).

Thought for the Day:

When we live in union with Christ and oneness with the Father through the Holy Spirit, we no longer need to figure out whether we are hearing from Him or from our own mind; we no longer debate Him or speculate about whether or not the leading is from Him or our own thoughts, because we learn to recognize His voice and to follow His peace in our spirit, regardless of how the decision feels in our soul - our mind and emotions.- Proverbs 3:5-6; Philippians 4:7

Many thanks to Matt Milligan for the use of his photo.

Walking in the Spirit

There is a fine line between walking in the flesh and walking in the Spirit. Our human soul - our mind, emotions and will - has definite opinions about everything, and wants to be heard in the midst of our day.

Of course, this is a very important exercise. We often neglect our body and soul. We push our body to the limit, ignoring warning signs. We discount the cautions of our soul.

We grab a protein bar instead of eating a balanced meal. We fail to exercise, because we have one more item to accomplish for work. We do not realize that we are full of destructive negative emotions.

Yet, our body, soul and spirit work much better when they are all in sync with God's Spirit. We care for our body, pay attention to the way in which life is affecting our soul, and we stay in tune to God in our spirit.

God used the game of Scrabble to give me an object lesson on listening to the Spirit rather than obeying the thoughts in my mind. God will use something in your life to teach you too.

Rather than to look for a word I already know, I listen to the Spirit and place the letters He tells me to use. I learn new words, earn more points and learn to discern between the voice of God and the voice of my own human reasoning.

When we walk in the Spirit, we stop making our own plans and trust in the Lord's plans for our day instead. We stop considering our human reasoning and seek only God's will for everything that we do and say as we follow His desires (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Walking in the Spirit allows us to more easily discern His prompting throughout the day. The voice of our soul eventually dims, and it is easier to hear the direction of God's Spirit for each moment of our day.

Prayer:

Father God, You gave us an example of Your love and deliverance by freeing Israel from Egyptian control. In our similar dire circumstances, You always give us Your comfort, which increases our joy (Psalm 94:19). When we are overwhelmed by life's sorrows and fears, You are right there within us.

You care about Your children who honor and obey You (Psalm 15:19). Our only true joy is in You, because You give us triumph over life's hurdles as we feast even now on our inheritance as Your children (Isaiah 58:14).

Thought for the Day:

When we walk in the Spirit, we listen for His peace, which surpasses human understanding; therefore, we have less anxiety, because we pray about each moment of our day. 

- Philippians 4:6

Health and Well Being - Part 1

God is a triune being: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Trinity created us in their image as triune beings with a body, soul and spirit (Genesis 1:26; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). Each entity contributes to who we are and influences our health and well-being. We experience life through our Body, we acknowledge life through our Soul, and we influence life through our Spirit.

The Body is our existence, the Soul is our expression, and the Spirit is the essence of our life. Without fully developing all three parts of our being, we are handicapped individuals. Unless we acknowledge and nurture each entity, we will never reach wholeness within ourselves, nor can we help to nurture others.

We care for our Body with proper rest, exercise, and nutrition.  We care for our Soul through safe relationships, mental stimulation and nurturing our emotional health. We care for our Spirit through Bible study, church attendance, prayer, fasting, Christian fellowship, service to God, and sharing our faith with others.

Events, which wound our soul, are only minor chapters of our life, and are definitely not the end of our story. Even if our past was good, the best is still yet to come (Jeremiah 29:11). God calls each one of us to sink our roots deeper into His river of the pure water of life, which is clear as crystal and proceeds from the throne of God and of the Lamb (Revelation 22:1).

Prayer:

Father God, we pray for those who are traversing the dark night of their soul. Bring them nurturing friends and family to support them through this most recent chapter in their life. We also pray that You will ease this time of transition for them and reassure them of You care for them as You shower them with Your love and blessings on their road to the fulfilled Christian life.

Thought for the Day:

God's refreshment sustains us in every trial, and we know that He will work out all things for your good. - Romans 8:28; Jeremiah 29:11

Even Good People Fall Short

Many people base their righteousness on their thoughts, words and deeds. They are good people and they live an exemplary life with no overt issues, which would alert them to their sinful nature. Yet, even these model citizens must come to the place where their faith is based on what Jesus did for us, rather than on their self-righteousness.

Even good people sin in their heart (Matthew 15:19; Ecclesiastes 7:20). The inclination of the human heart, even from childhood, is to do evil (Genesis 8:21). Our spirit is dead at birth, and we have only a body and soul by which to relate to this world. We innately know that we are not complete; and we look to people, places and things to fill that void. This futile exercise is continually unsuccessful.

We end up weary and some contemplate suicide. Many people are too proud and self-righteous to call out to God for His salvation. Yet, anyone who does is Born Again in his/her Spirit. Our only requirements are to turn away from sin and to believe that Jesus died for us personally. Then, God molds us into His temple and dwells within us by His Holy Spirit.

We cannot earn our spot in heaven or our access to God. This requires perfection, and we all fall short of God's perfect glory (Romans 3:23). Only Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, could take the punishment for our sins and give us the free gift of His righteousness in exchange (Romans 6:23). God's Spirit then leads us into all Truth and reminds us of His Word, which guides us throughout our lifetime (1 Corinthians 3:16; John 16:13, 14:26).

Prayer:

Father God, we are mere mortals and we are all born in Adam's sin (Job 15:14). However, You fill us through our entire being with all of Your fullness (Ephesians 3:19). Through the power of Your Trinity within us, we live victoriously as we walk in Your perfect plan for our life (1 Corinthians 15:57). Our carnal, worldly friends, relatives, associates and neighbors may attempt to draw us back into worldly pursuits; but as we focus on You, You keep us in Your perfect peace and on Your straight and narrow road (Isaiah 26:3; Matthew 7:13-14). Thank You, that as we surrender our life exclusively to You, we reap Your rewards (Matthew 5:12; Philippians 4:19).

Thought for the Day:

We find the fulfillment and completion we long for through Christ in us, who is our only hope of a glorious life now and throughout eternity. - Colossians 1:27, 2:10

Our Eternal Destination

We care for our body with proper rest, exercise and nutrition, but we do not live for our body. It exists to encase our soul and spirit (1 Corinthians 9:27). One day we will fold up our human body like a tent and go to be with the Lord in the house, which He went to Heaven to prepare for us (2 Corinthians 5:1-4; John 14:2-3).

When our body dies, we put it in the ground, or we cremate it and scatter it to the wind; but our soul and spirit continue to live on into eternity. Our eternal destination is determined by the choices we make while living on this earth. God loves everyone in the world and does not condemn anyone to hell; but those who choose not to accept Christ as their Savior will spend eternity there (John 3:16-18).

As an authentic Christian, our identity during our lifetime is found in Christ alone. We even see Christ in one another when He replaces our human character and nature (2 Corinthians 5:16;  2 Peter 1:4). We are not drawn to the person with fancy clothes, a handsome personal appearance or worldly assets, but to one with a meek and gentle spirit, which exudes the love of Christ (1 Peter 3:4; 1 Corinthians 13:13).

For the person who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as his or her Savior and who repents of their sin, we are present with the Lord at the exact moment that our soul and spirit leave our body at death (2 Corinthians 5:8). When we see Jesus, our body will rise from the grave and be reunited with our soul and spirit as an immortal body. We will be just like Jesus after His resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 1 John 3:2).

Prayer:

Father God, teach us to de-emphasize our physical characteristics and possessions and to focus on the Christ in each of us. Teach us to choose friends who will spur us on to love and good works, rather than those who encourage us to partake in the works of the flesh (Hebrews 10:24-25; Galatians 5:19-21). Remind us that we will reap the choices, which we sow during our lifetime, whether good or bad. Draw those we love to Your heart, and help them to repent and to choose to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, so that they will not spend eternity in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15; Luke 16:24-26).

Thought for the Day:

As selfishness, pride and flesh decrease in us, God can fill us through all of our being with all of His fullness.

- John 3:30; Ephesians 3:19

In Constant Union with Christ

 

Here is a fun exercise for you. Whenever you remove produce from your grocery bag or eat the fruit from a vine, remember that you too are a branch on the Vine, producing similar fruit for God’s Kingdom. Let it remind you that we are as dependent on the Vine as the vegetable or fruit was, which you are preparing to eat.

God grafts us into the Vine of Christ when we humble our self and admit that we need Jesus as our Savior. We are reciprients of the work of Christ on Calvary’s cross. He is our Vine, and we are His branches. A vine takes the nutrients from the soil and sends them to the branches. Our Vine separates the nutrients from the compost of life and sends it directly to our spirit.

The branch does not walk off by itself, but is absolutely dependent on the Vine. All Born Again Believers have this same constant union with our Vine. Nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:31-39). The sap never, ever stops flowing into the branch. It provides everything we need for every moment of our life. This is the secret of our true success.

Branches participate in this process too. We have the leaves, which  take time to bask in the Son and collect the nutrients from His presence. We reflect His beauty and holiness to the world around us. If the branch gets the idea it does not need the Vine, it will wither and die. The Holy Spirit uses the fruit of the Vine, which grows in our life, to benefit those who need the life of Christ within us.

Prayer:

Father God, You are our Vinedresser. You protect us from disease, insect invaders and scorching trials, which Satan sends into our life. You provide the supplements we need to grow into vibrant branches on the Vine of Your Son. You make us fruitful (Galatians 5:22-23) in order to bless those You bring our way. Send people to pick the fruit You produce in our life and remind us to generously share Your work in our life with them.

Thought for the Day:

We abide in the Vine in total dependence. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. - John 15:5