The root of our spiritual struggles goes much deeper than neglecting devotional practices.”
–David Wilkerson
There is a tendency to think “more, more, more.” We need to do more for the Lord. We need to be with Him more. We need for Him to bless us more. The truth of the matter actually should be, “trust, trust, trust.”
As we walk with Him, day-by-day, we should learn to trust Him.
Hopping up and down at the altar is not the answer. Making self the center of prayer is not the answer. Doing is not the answer. The answer is being. Recognizing who you are in Christ.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-18, NKJV)
“Tell me, when did you stop being a new creature in God’s sight? Was it when you did something to displease him? How did you go from being born again to being not born again? That simply can’t be IF YOU STILL TRUST IN HIM. Paul states emphatically, ‘God…hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ.’ His work in your life remains!” (David Wilkerson)
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“Thoughts are the decorations inside the sanctuary where we live.”
–A.W. Tozer
There is a constant battle for the mind. The attack is seemingly continuous and at times violent. It can ranges from worldviews and philosophies to a simple, lustful thought. It is therefore vital that we control and protect our thoughts.
How can we hope to have communion with the Holy Spirit when our thoughts are full of vile and evil things? Yet at the same time we must have thoughts; thoughts are vital to any relationship. They help make the relationship grow and strengthen, but they can also be the cause of it being broken and torn down. Thoughts largely determine our moods, climate, and they create an atmosphere in which we operate. Therefore, we must control our thoughts.
Then how do we control our thoughts? To a large degree it is based on how much we are in the Word of God. The Holy Spirit feeds upon the Word–more Word, more of the Holy Spirit. The Word must be kept in our mind as it helps develop and guard our thoughts. It is up to us to cultivate fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
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“Worship God by faithfully resting in Him.”
–Bob Beasley
Perhaps one of the hardest things for some people to do is rest. Work, work, work, and oh, there is so much to do. How many take a day of rest? How many honor the Lord’s day? I think relatively few.
What does it mean to rest in the Lord? It doesn’t mean to take a nap. It doesn’t mean to lay back against Him as John is seen in Da Vinci’s “Last Supper.” It means to trust. It means to understand that He is faithful. It means that we can have confidence that whatever happens in life we can rest assured that the Lord is directly involved.