Unity with God's Trinity

God already knows when the world as we know it will end, and our time is in His hands (Is 46:10; Ps 31:15). He is eternal with no beginning or end. As Believers and followers of Christ, we start to see life from an eternal rather than an earthly perspective. We do not regret the past or fear the future. We live in the here and now in the precious arms of God (John 5:25).

We walk in His light, just as He is in the light (1 John 1:7). There is no lack in our life, because He supplies all of our needs according to His glorious riches (Philippians 4:19). Our old nature molts away, layer after layer with each new season of Biblical revelation. We walk in the truth that it is no longer I, but Jesus Christ who lives in and through us (Galatians 2:20).

As the hectic pace of life increases, we need more alone (all-one) times with our Lord and Christ. We schedule times of the week as a priority to spend with God. We may not have an entire day, but we can find several hours where we rest and breathe in His presence (Psalm 46:10). The Spirit will open up opportunities for us if we will watch for them.

After hearing from God in our quiet place, there is no need to strive to walk in the Spirit. We are used to hearing His voice and He loves to commune with us. As we delight in the Lord, He puts His desires in our heart (Psalm 37:4). He works out His will in us for His glory. God's Spirit controls our thoughts, words and deeds more and more often.

Intimate communication with God will nurture peace in our soul. If we make the time and effort to be still before the Lord, His strength infuses our spirit (Psalm 46:10). We have no need to fear, even if our whole world turns upside down (Habakkuk 3:17-19). Jesus Christ becomes for us our refuge and our tower of strength to help in any time of trouble (Psalm 46:1-3).

Prayer:

Father God, remind us to allow You to crucify our flesh so that we can walk in unity with Your Trinity. You commune with us, not in a loud oppressive voice, but in Your still, small voice that confidently tells us which way to go. As we follow Your directives, we end up walking in Your Spirit to accomplish Your will on the earth, rather than living to fulfill the lust of the old, dying fleshly human nature (Galatians 5:16-25).

Thought for the Day:

Even while playing Scrabble I learn to discern the voice of God as I obey that still, small nudge to form letters into words that I do not even know; and this carries over into every day life as I read His Word and follow His direction throughout the day.

God Is Our Help

Paul tells us to work out our own salvation, but turns right around in the very next verse and reminds us that it is God who gives us both the desire and the power to obey Him. Christ strengthens us to do all things as we walk in the Spirit each moment of the day (Philippians 4:11-13). He gives power to the weak, and renews our strength until we rise up like eagles on the wings of His Spirit (Ephesians 6:10; Isaiah 40:29, 31). When our spirit, body or soul – our mind, choices and emotions – melt from the heat of various trials, God strengthens us with His Word (Psalm 119:28).

There is a pre-requisite, however. God tells us to love Him with ALL of our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). Then He gives us His love to share with the world around us. His grace is totally sufficient for us, and His strength is made perfect in our limitations. Therefore, we can actually boast in our weakness as Paul did, because the power of Christ overcomes them. We can also take pleasure in our trials and tribulation, because when we are weak, He is strong within us (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

When we come to God in our hardships and suffering, He helps us to feel joyful in them (James 1:2). He guides us on a straight path because of our enemies (Psalm 27:11). He helps us to rise above our circumstances and to see His purposes in them (Philippians 1:19). They turn from drudgery into an adventure! God uses our suffering and loss to perfect us, just as He did in Jesus’ life. Like Jesus, we learn obedience from the things, which we suffer (Hebrews 5:8).

There is no evil or hardship in this world that did not originate with a selfish choice on the part of some human being. Sin is the source of all wickedness in life, beginning in the Garden of Eden. God counteracts our suffering when we trust in Him with all of our heart (Psalm 147:3). He provides us with strength and refuge in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). There is no need for us to entertain fearful or depressing thoughts over our circumstances, because God’s joy becomes our strength through them (Nehemiah 8:10; Isaiah 12:2).

God bends His ear down to hear our prayers (Psalm 116:2). He is never far from us, and He always hastens to help us, even when His timing is not as fast as we would like it to be (Psalm 22:19). When the fiery darts of Satan try to pierce us, God is our shield. Our heart is secure, as it trusts in Him, because He always rescues us and enables us to prosper. His provision gives us joy and fills our heart with songs of praise for Him (Psalm 28:7-8, 118:14).

Prayer:

Lord God, be gracious to us as we wait upon You. Search us and show us if there is any sin in our life separating us from complete, intimate communion with You. Thank You for giving us Your strength with each new morning and saving us in our times of trouble (Isaiah 33:2; Isaiah 40:29-31). You give us stable passage as You call us to walk among the mountain tops with You (Habakkuk 3:19). We give You all the praise and honor due Your name.

Thought for the Day:

Through His Spirit, God provides power and authority in our inner soul, according to His abundance in glory. - Ephesians 3:16
 

Intimate Communication

 

We owe our ability to enjoy an intimate relationship with the Creator of the Universe to the sacrifice made for us by Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:9). We were slaves to sin. However, through Christ’s completed work, we are now alive through Him, and He is living His life in us and through us (Galatians 2:20). Even when we fail in the battle against the flesh (Romans 7:16), His forgiveness is only a prayer away. God’s mercy is new for us each morning. With the rising of the sun He faithfully pours out His great love on us all (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Intimate communication with God is hindered by our sins (1 John 1:6; Habakkuk 1:13). It breaks our fellowship with God, which is only restored through repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Our relationship to one another can also obstruct our fellowship with God. If we forgive one another, then God can forgive us; however, if we refuse to forgive, our Father cannot forgive us either (Matthew 6:14-15, 18:35). This definitely hinders our companionship with the Trinity.

God’s mercy is no excuse for deliberate sin (1 John 3:9). Our lawless behavior breaks His heart (Genesis 6:5-6; James 4:17). Even so, He faithfully forgives our transgressions throughout our lifetime (1John 1:9). Even the mundane parts of our life, such as what we eat or drink, affect our relationship with God. Everything we do and say as self-proclaimed Christians is a reflection on God’s glory (1 Corinthians 10:31). That limits our choices quit a bit, but still gives us plenty of wholesome options to enjoy. Biblical Truth slowly replaces our former belief systems and we act accordingly.

God is just, but He is also merciful. The universe and each inhabitant of it continue to survive due to the endless grace of God (1 Corinthians 15:10). There will come a terrible day of His wrath, however, and the wise will pay attention and repent (Revelation 14:10). As we study God’s Word and spend time with Him in intimate communion, our understanding of spiritual concepts grows (James 4:8; Proverbs 2:3-5). We are less encumbered by negative attitudes and emotions, and the peace and joy of the Spirit fill our soul to overflowing.

As we learn to reverence the Lord, He gives us His wisdom and knowledge on which to base our decisions (Proverbs 1:7). Since the Holy Spirit conforms us into the image of Christ, our sin nature diminishes more each day (Galatians 5:16, 25). We are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our old carnal, sinful, hell-bent character is slowly replaced by the dependence and trust of a child of God (2 Corinthians 5:17). God knows each of us so intimately that He numbers the hairs on each individual head (Matthew 10:30). Our intimacy with God is a privilege to enjoy and cherish.

Apart from God we are basically useless (John 15:5). However, if we walk in the light of His truth, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with God and with one another, because the blood of Jesus purifies us from all of our sins (1 John 1:7). God seals us with His mark of ownership (2 Corinthians 1:21-22). We are not our own, because Jesus bought us with the price of His crucifixion (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Our union with Him is unconditional and guaranteed (Ephesians 1:13-14: Romans 8:38-39).

Prayer:

Father God, confessing our sin is similar to apologizing to those friends and family members whom we offend. Yet, for human beings, this is one of the hardest choices to make. Apologizing takes great humility. Our pride stands in our way and limits our obedience to Your directives. Help us to humble our self under Your mighty hand (1 Peter 5:6). As far as it depends on us, help us to live in peace with everyone (Romans 12:18). Keep us as the apple of Your eye and draw us ever closer to Your heart (Psalm 17:8, 34:18).

Thought for the Day:

God’s unfailing love is a priceless treasure. - Psalm 36:7