Godly Intimacy

Through Salvation, we are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, regenerated by His Spirit, sanctified in our soul - our thoughts, choices and emotions - and transformed to walk in a new way of life (1 Peter 1:19; Titus 3:5; 2 Corinthians 5:17).

God gradually draws us to the ultimate realm of intimacy with Him. He enables us to step out of our humanity and to walk in the divine life of the Spirit of God within us (2 Peter 1:4; Galatians 5:15-25).

God's Spirit perfects us from one level of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3:18). He abides in our spirit, once He justifies our spirit, and then He gradually sanctifies our soul (Romans 6:6; 1 Corinthians 6:11).

As we decrease, Christ in us increases (John 3:30). The world has no more power over us, because we are no longer attracted by it (Galatians 6:14). We are also free from the power of sin.

We do not live to fulfill our passions and goals, but we enjoy our intimacy with God and submit to Christ as He accomplishes His purposes through our life (Galatians 2:20).

We do not even work for God, because we simply allow Christ to live in and through us instead. His truth inspires us and we are compelled by His love (2 Corinthians 5:14, 11:10).

We make Jesus the Lord of our life and follow His Spirit's direction each moment of our life (1 Peter 3:14-15). In our union with the Lord, we are one with Him in Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17).

We live, move and have our being in the power of Christ in us, so that we glorify Him with our every thought, word and deed (Acts 17:28; Philippians 1:19-21). He is all we need.

Prayer:

Father God, thank You so much for teaching us to walk in love, just as Jesus walked in love and sacrificed His life for us. May we reject the temptations of this life and live as a fragrant offering to You instead (Ephesians 5:2).

Remind us that our whole purpose on this earth is Christ, who is our life, and that to leave this world and to enter the next is truly for our advantage (Philippians 1:21; Colossians 3:3-4). We surrender our goals, aspirations and plans to You, and we ask You to guide us in Your will for our life.

Thought for the Day:

From the foundation of the world, Christ gave Himself on the cross according to the will of God, in order to indwell Believers and rescue us from slavery to sin in this evil age.

- Galatians 1:4

Filling the Void Within

God created mankind in order to enjoy our fellowship. He pursues us throughout our entire lifetime, calling us to surrender our will to His Lordship.

His law does not restrict us, but blesses us all the days of our life (Proverbs 16:3; Philippians 4:19; Deuteronomy 30:16). Abiding in the law of the Lord ensures our fulfillment in this life and the next.

We have a personal, cherished relationship with our Daddy God, who knows us intimately (Psalm 139:7-14). Nothing else can ever fill the void designed just for God in our life (1 John 2:15).

Even during persecution or trials, God's presence in our life will walk in us through each negative experience. We can trust in God's faithfulness through tribulation.

We learn about God through His Word, which thankfully, He gave us to guide our life. The Bible also encourages us, inspires us and strengthens us (Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

As new believers, our passion for a deeper relationship with God grows daily and continues throughout our lifetime, unless the flames are dampened by the cares of this world.

We prevent this by guarding our spirit, because out of it come the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23). We consecrate our every waking moment to the service of our King Jesus.

Prayer:

Father God, remind us that we cannot save our self (Ephesians 2:8-9), and that You are our benevolent Father who wants to bless us with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3-6).

Help us not to trust in our self-righteousness or holy deeds to earn favor with You, but to realize that our worth comes only from our relationship with You through Christ and by Your Spirit (Romans 12:3-5).

Thought for the Day:

God righteousness assures us of all the benefits of an intimate union with Him. - Romans 3:22

More Valuable than Fine Gold

God never changes, and His Word is consistent as well (1 Samuel 15:29; 1 John 2:7; Psalm 55:19; Malachi 3:6). Hiding God's Word in our mind and seeking Him with our whole heart prevents us from sinning against Him. His statutes are more valuable to us than fine gold. We delight in His ways and give testimony of His provision in our life (Psalm 119:9-116). His Word is eternal and gives us life (Psalm 119:160).

The Old and New Testament are equally important (2 Peter 3:15-16). The still, small voice of God directs our daily activity as we bathe in His Word and seek His face (Isaiah 30:21). If we are Born Again, we do not practice a lifestyle of sin (1 John 3:4-9; Proverbs 3:11-18). Yet, if we refuse to surrender our life to God, and we continue to practice sin, we condemn our self to eternal destruction (John 3:18; 1 Corinthians 11:27-32).

We can trust that God will give us relief in our days of trouble, until He raptures us, or we pass from this sin-cursed world (Psalm 94:10-13). When we live within God's precepts, we enjoy a good conscience and a peaceful life (Psalm 119:7). If we teach our children to live according to God's Word, they have a better chance of remaining on the path of purity and blessings.

God's Spirit helps us to recall the scriptures, which we hide in our heart, and He leads us into His holy truth (John 14:26, 16:13; Psalm 119:11). He enables us to act upon what we learn, rather than being perpetual students and never walking in His ways (James 1:22-25). The Spirit gives us wisdom from God's inspired Word, as we regard His instruction and walk in His ways (Proverbs 20:32-36, James 1:5-8).

Prayer:

Father God, You bless those who refrain from the worldly paths of life, which lead to unrighteousness. You consecrate those who do not join in with those who have a penchant for mocking You and Your children (Psalm 1:1-2). Thank You for drawing us by Your Spirit and never letting us walk away from Your eternal love. We treasure the fine gold of Your Word, we enjoy spending time listening to Your voice and we depend upon the leading of Your Spirit with each new day.

Thought for the Day:

When we sink our roots deeper in the water of God's Word, we will live blessed, fruitful and prosperous lives. - Psalm 1:3

Lightening Our Load

There are times when circumstances overwhelm us. Our life is riddled with disease, broken relationships and material losses. Negative emotions fill the void left behind by these severe issues. They cause us to withdraw, to lose hope and to feel weary and uninspired. We cannot seem to lift our head up off the pillow.

There are thousands of people in your sphere of influence, who all feel the same way that you do. They are looking for someone like you who will understand the place that they are in and to reach out to them and pray for them. 

You can take tiny steps at first. Go to your small group and share your experience. You may find others there who can relate to your experiences. As you feel better, you can learn a new hobby. You will meet new people in the classes you take, which are potential new friends. 

Some of them will encourage you, and you will encourage others. You can join the YMCA or a fitness club and lose weight. That will enhance your self-image and physical well-being. Volunteer at your church by serving in a ministry or helping in the office or the nursery.

Play a game on the computer to improve your mental concentration and to bring some joy into your life. Get interested in your neighbors and lighten their load in some way. Giving your time and attention to others will also ease your burden and give you less time for Satan to drench you with self-pity. Follow your passion and get involved, so you can put down your heavy burdened, and feel less lonely.

Prayer:

Father God, help us to turn to You in our time of need. You provide these trials to draw us closer to You. Remind us that being busy is helpful, but spending time with You is even more appealing. We grow in our intimacy and love for You and we receive direction from Your Spirit. Remind us to allow You to use us to lighten the burden from someone else's shoulders (Galatians 6:2).

Thought for the Day:

As we help others to deal with their issues, we will help our self at the same time.

Alone With God

How often do we plan to spend some time alone with God, and some earthly distraction looms before us, demanding our undivided attention? We look wistfully at our little prayer chair or prayer closet or secret place and feel the draw of God’s Spirit on our spirit. However, the world pulls our soul – our thoughts, choices and feelings - away from our Beloved Father.

Whenever God claims our attention, Satan makes sure that our mind wanders and our affections are torn. We cannot even finish the train of thought in our prayers before demonic activity highjacks our attention. God longs to liberate us from the demands of our temporal life and to set us free to soar with Him in the spiritual realm. He wants to remove us from our busyness and give us His rest (Hebrews 4:10).

Martha, Jesus’ friend, was distracted by the duties in her world too. She demanded that Jesus order Mary, her sister, to help her to get dinner ready. Jesus told Martha that Mary already chose the best course for her time. There would be plenty of opportunities for domestic activities when Jesus was not in their presence (Luke 10:42). Our duties are always with us too; so schedule time alone with God.

God wants our undivided, focused attention with our vision and thoughts on nothing other than His face. Then God comforts us, inspires us, directs us and loves on us from the depths of our soul. We must jealously guard this time, setting it aside every day or even several times a day. We also commune with God without ceasing all throughout our day (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Prayer:

Father God, You call some of us to the ministry of intercession, and Your Spirit prompts us to lift up certain ones in prayer. Yet, we also spend alone time with You, because in Your presence is fullness of joy and pleasure forevermore (Psalm 16:11). You mold us by Your grace and replace our carnal flesh with the fruit of Your Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). As we contemplate Your glory, You shape us into the image of Christ, our Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Thought for the Day:

Much is accomplished in the spiritual realm when we make the time to spend in the presence of God.

Inspired, Motivated and Fulfilled

The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, gives us His spirit of wisdom and revelation so we can fully know Him. He enlightens the eyes of our heart, so we may experience our hope in His calling for us. We have many riches in the glorious inheritance He prepared for His Saints. He showers every authentic, Born Again Believer with the incomparable greatness of His mighty power (Ephesians 1:17-19).

 

Jesus did not leave us as orphans when He returned to His glory in Heaven. Although He is with our Father, He also dwells in us and He promised to return for us in the future (Acts 1:11). Even though the world does not see Jesus anymore, authentic Believers will see Him, because He abides in us (Galatians 2:20). When He ascended to Heaven, Jesus asked our Father God to give us His Spirit as our advocate (John 14:26). His Spirit is our guarantee that we will live with God for eternity (Ephesians 1:14).

 

God only gives His Spirit to those who love Him. The Spirit keeps and guides us through every day of our life. He helps us and lives in us forever. Those who are not Born Again cannot accept God’s Spirit. They do not believe in His existence, so they cannot know Him intimately like we do. God’s Spirit delivers us from our self, and helps us to love God by conforming us to the image of Christ and helping us to keep God’s commandments (John 14:15-21; Romans 8:29).

 

God and His Christ loved us while we were still sinners, and Jesus promises that He will show Himself to those who love Him (John 14:21). We do not work for God in our flesh, but we are filled with His Spirit and do only those works, which He pre-ordained for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). God fills us as we follow His Spirit’s direction. Communing with our Father keeps us inspired, motivated and fulfilled, as we walk in the Spirit and live in God’s will each moment of our day (Galatians 5:16-25).

 

Prayer:

Father God, thank you for not leaving us as orphans in this world (John 14:18), but for giving us Your presence and Your Spirit to love, guide and comfort us always. We rely on You to keep us in submission to Your will, so that we can live a victorious life in Your grace and mercy. Thank You for communing with us in our spirit as we pray. Keep us ever mindful that you are near to those who love You (Psalm 91:14).

 

Thought for the Day:

Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord. - James 4:10