Wholly Filled

God has no need for buildings made with human hands - no church, temple, mosque or cathedral, regardless of how ornate or expensive. He made the natural resources we use to build our buildings, so He does not want to dwell in man-made structures (Acts 7:48, 17:24). His temple is the human spirit. However, God only dwells in those who honor Him with a humble heart and a repentant spirit (Isaiah 66:1-2).

The Trinity created us in their image with a body, soul and spirit (Genesis 1:1). Then, God made us male and female (Genesis 1:27). Even with the angels for company, God wanted to share the universe, Heaven and New Jerusalem with human beings. God is our dwelling place, and we are His Temple (Psalm 90:1; 2 Corinthians 6:16). He knows us infinitely better than we know our self.

God gives us many opportunities to enjoy intimate fellowship with Him. He created us in order to love us and for us to give love, His love, back to Him and to the world around us (John 3:16-17). Jesus died to restore our unity with God, and His Spirit conforms us to His image (John 17:26; 2 Corinthians 3:18).

God fashioned us to enjoy a personal union with Him, greater than any human relationship we could ever experience, because it comes from within us. There is nothing on this earth that the authentic Believer desires more than to be immersed through all of our being with all of the fullness of God, and to receive the richest measure of God's presence until we are completely filled with Him (Ephesians 3:19).

Prayer:

Father God, we bow to You in humble adoration, thankful to be in Your family and to receive the glorious riches You provide. Thank You for strengthening us with the power of Your might by Your Spirit and for giving Jesus to dwell in our hearts. Root us and ground us in Your love, so that we can understand just how much You do love us. Fill us with Your fullness, so we can be like You (Romans 8:31-39; Ephesians 3:14-19; Philippians 3:10). You are our eternal Father and Your Spirit in us is proof that we are Born Again and wholly filled with You (1 John 4:13).

Thought for the Day:

Jesus is the image of God, which is expressed to the world; and His sacrifice opened the door for us to enjoy this heart-felt union and communion with the Creator of the universe.

Looking Through God's Eyes

God is everywhere and in all things (Ephesians 4:6). His presence is around us, even when we do not pay attention to it. He lives IN us and is closer to us and knows us better than we know our own self. Yet, we spend most of the day ignoring Him. Those of us who are too self-reliant to depend on God, find our self in more trouble than we can handle.

With pride, comes our fall (Proverbs 16:18). God resists the proud, who are too self-sufficient to lean on Him (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). We are drowning in our problems and continually have to face the fact that we can’t; but, God can. With humility comes more grace. As we submit to His direction with a humble heart, God draws near to us.

We all suffer in this life, but God always works everything out for our good (Romans 8:28). God uses our problems to show His glory (John 9:2-3). He reveals the issues of life to us from His perspective rather than our own earthly one, and we can deal with them through the power of the Holy Spirit within us. God actually cares about every aspect of our life.

Solomon told us to trust in the Lord with our whole heart, and not to depend on our human understanding. He advises us to seek the Lord with our entire being and to acknowledge God in whatever we are doing (Proverbs 3:5-6). We can to consult God about which direction to take, which decision to make, which person to speak to, what color to purchase and even what groceries to buy for that week. Father knows best.

Prayer:

Father God, our life on earth is a momentary affliction compared to the glories You prepared for us in Heaven. Your paths lead us through the sea, Your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen (Psalms 77:14, 19b). Give us the lens of Your mercy and grace in order to view our problems; so that we can have Your perspective on it all.

Thought for the Day:

God has an eternal perspective and He sees what is best for all of us throughout eternity, and not just for life on this earth.