Walking in the Spirit

God’s Spirit motivates us to live a liberated and active life, which is centered on spiritual matters. Yet, the sinful, self-centeredness that dominated our life prior to coming to Christ still interferes with our ability to walk in God’s Spirit. These contrary desires war within our soul – our thoughts, choices and feelings – and pull us in two opposing directions at the same time (Galatians 5:16-26; Romans 7).

There is no way to reconcile these two areas of thought and behavior, because the Spirit fuels the one and the flesh drives the other one. The good news is that once we are truly Born Again, God breathes His life into our spirit within us, which joins forces with our soul and influences our behavior. His constant presence within enables us to walk in the Spirit rather than in the flesh (Galatians 5:18). 

If we live by the flesh, we are motivated by the destructive behavior of impure thoughts; immoral pleasures; demonic practices; placing people, things and activities before God; hatred and bitterness, anger and jealousy, complaining and criticism, exclusivity and intolerance; worthless worship; alienation; ruthless rivalry; making enemies; addictions and frenzied grasping at illusive goals (Galatians 5:19).

Even authentic Christians can decline morally and fall back into compromised living. If we use our freedom in Christ for this type of behavior, it bars us from the gates of God’s Kingdom (Galatians 5:20). However, if we choose to live according to Godly principles and wisdom, He brings fruitful blessings into our life (1 John 3:9, 1:9). Holiness allows God’s spiritual fruit to permeate our life (Galatians 5:21-22).

Desiring to have our own way or to follow the crowd is no longer part of our thought process. Self-effort is useless; it only hinders our walk with God. Our human nature is crucified with Christ and our new spiritual conviction turns into submission and obedience to Him (Colossians 3:3-4). Our life flows from God’s will and requires little effort on our part (Galatians 5:23-24). We have God’s love, power and sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

Prayer:

Father God, we thank You for preparing our salvation before You ever created the world. You knew that our stubbornness and pride would prevent us from submitting to Your will before You ever created the first person. However, You also knew that some hearts would be humbled by life, and would eventually reach the point that we realize that we need You both now and for eternity. Thank You for crucifying the Lamb before time even began (Revelation 13:8).

Thought for the Day:

Our life in the Spirit is not an ethereal concept or a sentimental attitude but a reality, which infiltrates every area of our life. – Galatians 5:25-26

 

 

Fruitful Lives

 

Every time we step out of God’s will for our life, we open our self up to experience unnecessary trials (John 15:6).  Only as we remain connected to the divinity of Christ in us and draw our spiritual, physical, emotional, mental and financial sustenance from Him, do we experience true eternal life and peace (Romans 8:6). As we abide in Him, the divine nature of Christ in us will deal with any trouble that comes into our life. We cast our self on Christ, as helpless trustees of His Kingdom, ready to depend on Him in all things.

Any anxiety, stress, fear or concern in our heart signals an idol in our life, which we did not yet fully surrender to God. We surrender it and then place our self trustingly into God’s capable hands for safekeeping and to use as He wills. We no longer take charge over our life, because God directs our steps (Psalm 37:23). We watch the hands of God mold us from a lump of clay, into a vessel of honor for His use. We start each new day fully surrendering to His ministrations of our every need.

Christ who is our life dwells within our spirit (Colossians 3:4). We do not isolate our self from life in order to abide fully in Christ. We follow the guidance of His Spirit moment by moment throughout the day. We live fruitful lives, which God uses to feed those who hunger after Him (John 15:5). We can still function in the vocation in which He calls us to serve. We simply do all things for His glory, no matter what our profession happens to be. We live through our spirit, as we work in our body and love Him with every fiber of our soul.

We abide in Christ and He abides in us (1 John 2:28, 3:24; Ephesians 2:10). We are completely surrounded by Christ, because we live in Him and He lives within us. Faith in God’s faithfulness frees our soul from the trials and worries of life. The abiding Christ in us liberates us from the endless draw from sin and the world. God keeps us in and through all evil (Matthew 6:13). Submission to God guarantees that if we resist the devil, he must flee from us (James 4:7-8).

Therefore, attaining perfection through Christ in us is definitely within our reach. In faith, we cease from our efforts to achieve, and instead we obey God’s Spirit each moment of the day. Sin is not inevitable. Christ in us can live a sinless life in, through and instead of us, because He keeps us from evil and protects our soul from slipping into sin (Psalm 121:7). We consciously die to our humanity each morning and abide in Christ throughout the day. If our flesh happens to lift its dead head, Christ will gain victory over it.

We rise to the level of Christ-centeredness, which God provided for us to enjoy. We live in joyful consecration to our living Lord. By faith, we obey God’s direction for each moment of our day. The bond of our branch to His Vine is secure (John 15:5). God establishes the heart of the humble and the blameless forever (Psalm 112:8). He constantly restore us and strengthen us to enjoy a solid and faithful walk in Him each day of our life (1 Peter 5:10).

Prayer:

Father God, the heroes in the Hebrews Hall of Faith all achieved this status because they obeyed You in the specific area in which You called them. There was no mustering up of volumes of faith, just obedience to Your call in their life. Your plan is for all of us to live in this same simple faith in Your faithfulness that strengthens our obedience. You establish us all as living stones, a holy priesthood, a royal nation and your chosen people (1 Peter 2:5,9).

Thought for the Day:

Commit each of your trials to our Father’s care and obey with faith in Him through each moment of it.

Spring of Living Water

Jesus promises that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be filled (Matthew 5:6). He used the concept of water to express the free flowing ministry of the Holy Spirit in us and through us. He told us that when we drink the water He gives us, we would never thirst again. Christ is our spring of living water, which provides us with His divine life now on this earth as well as in eternity (John 4:13-15).

His water wells up in the midst of our soul and flows freely out of us to all those around us (Matthew 12:40). This living water comes not just from one, but many rivers (John 7:38-39). It supplies us with light, love and liberation. His holiness within us flows out of us and blesses others. It is like a continual fountain centered in a beautiful lush garden of life within us. The abundant supply of spiritual water brings liberal blessings to us and to everyone in our life (Exodus 17:6).

All we need to do to receive this thirst-quenching water is to believe in Jesus Christ and come and drink from the well of His salvation (Isaiah 12:3). As we drink freely from the fountain of the water of life, which surges from the throne of God, we will thirst no more (Revelation 7:16-17, 21:6, 22:1, 17). His wisdom and comfort pour plentifully and constantly in us and through us. It is a strong stream, which overcomes the conflict of our doubts and fears. We find Christ’s fullness in our body, soul and spirit.

The indwelling Spirit of Christ in us infuses us with the abundant water of His grace. We are instruments of the Holy Spirit and we draw from the water of life, which comes from His deep spring. He uses us to impart His mercy and grace to our family, friends, neighbors and associates who are poor and needy in soul and spirit (Isaiah 44:3). They are all searching for this living water to quench their soul, which is scorched from life on this earth (Isaiah 41:17).

God’s water cleanses and purifies us and allows us to bloom as fruitful trees of righteousness, which grow and bring forth the fruit of His Spirit. As fruitful trees, we also provide a cool refuge to those wounded by their trials in life. They are revived, comforted and encouraged to grow in their spiritual life as well. We bring reconciliation to the world through the abundance of living water flowing through our attitude, words and actions.

Prayer:

Father God, Your unfailing love is priceless to us. Thank You for enabling us to live a self-controlled and Godly life in Christ Jesus (Titus 2:12). We feast on the abundance in Your household and we drink from Your river of delights. You are the fountain of life; in Your light we live and move and have our being (Psalm 36:7). You make known to us the path we should take in life and You fill us with joy in Your presence within us. You give us eternal pleasures now and for eternity (Psalm 16:11). Keep us as the apple of Your eye and hide us always under the shadow of Your wings (Psalm 17:8; Psalm 36:7).

Thought for the Day:

If we truly desire to live joyfully forever, we will allow Christ to rule and reign in our life.

God's Perfect Plan

Read: Romans 8:5-39

“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” – Romans 8:37

Our finite view of life is so limiting. We get so bogged down in the problems, issues, hindrances, illnesses, and negativity inherent in life in this world. Freedom from these issues is just a prayer away, however. God has a perfect plan for each of our lives.

 

Our whole perspective changes when we live in His will and set our affections on things above rather than things of this earth (Colossians 3:2-3).  

The battle does not belong to us. It is God’s (2 Chronicles 20:15). We have no need to be afraid or discouraged over life’s problems. We can focus our thoughts, emotions and beliefs on God. His words are totally trustworthy. Our faith in Him to have a perfect plan no matter what situation we are facing is not in vain. We are God’s children and co-heirs with Christ. Although we share in His sufferings in this life, we will also share in His glory (Romans 8:16-18).

Even God’s creation groans to be liberated from the bondage and decay of this corrupt world (Romans 8:19-20). Creation looks forward, as we do, for the glorious freedom of the sons of God to be revealed (Romans 8:21-23). We have hope in His coming and this gives us patience to endure the trials in our life (Romans 8:24-25).

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness, and even when we have no idea how to pray. The Spirit hears our groans and understands exactly how we feel; therefore, He intercedes for us according to God’s will (Romans 8:26-27). The Spirit also gives us the confidence that God is working all things, even the worst of afflictions, out for our good (Romans 8:28).

God knows our heart and He conforms us into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ, through the process of Sanctification. Through His Spirit, we have assurance that He called us, justified us and will glorify us when Jesus returns to take us to glory. Having this assurance helps us to live life from God’s perspective. Earth is a miniscule orb in relation to the rest of the universe. From God’s perspective our issues are not as insurmountable as we think. If He can keep the planets aligned and the universe ordered, He can certainly take care of our concerns.

At times, it does appear as if our world is spinning out of control. We master one aspect and another one flies off into outer space! Some of us have more troubles to face than others, but no matter what is happening, the Lord promises to deliver us out of them all (Psalm 34:19). God uses our circumstances to give us hearts of compassion (Ezekiel 36:26), to give us the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5) and to create Jesus’ image in us (Romans 8:29).

2000 years ago on Calvary’s cross, Jesus already won the war with Satan and death (Hosea 13:14; Ezekiel 37:13; Isaiah 26:19). Now, He makes us conquerors because He lives within us and is our hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). When we view our trials from God’s perspective He helps us to focus on His will for them. He reminds us that He is rich in mercy and loves us with an everlasting love (Ephesians 2:4; 1 John 3:1).

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, no person and no amount of tribulation, stress, persecution, hunger, vulnerability, danger or life threatening concerns can separate us from Your love (Romans 8:38-39). We overcome all of these things because of Your presence within us. Even in death, you are with us and You send Your angels to escort us to abide with You forever (Luke 16:22).

Thought for the Day:

Since God is for us, nothing will ever separate us from God’s great love.