Spirit Filled

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of
the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to
the Spirit, an the Spirit is contrary to the sinful nature. They are
in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But
if you are led by the Spirit, you ate not under law.

Galatians 5:16-18

In short this scripture is telling us that if we fill ourselves with
God's Spirit, we will obey. We won't follow our flesh but rather
Jesus, who overcame the slavery to flesh and this fallen world.

I need to really medidtate on this scripture, not to understand it but
instead to allow the greatness of it to sick in. Verse 17 says "so
that you do not do what you want..." Without the Holy Spirit, what I
want is what the sinful flesh wants. Consumed by the Holy Spirit, our
desires are in alignment with God's, we want what He wants; we are in
union and share in everything. At this point we want to do God's will
but our embodiedment leads us into sin. We do but really don't want
to... we stumble. I need to fill myself so much with the Spirit that
I give God the best chance to redeem this broken vessel.

Father God, thank You for the saving power of Your Son Jesus. We all
deserve death and separation from Your heavenly palace for eternity
but You delivered us from ourselves. Thank You so much! And thank
You for Your Spirit, who counsels and powers us for the harvest
ahead. Thank You, Thank You. In the wonderful name of Christ Jesus I
pray, Amen!

God's in Charge, We're in Control

I call on the LORD in my distress,
and he answers me.

Save me, O LORD, from lying lips

 and from deceitful tongues.

What will he do to you,

 and what more besides, O deceitful tongue?

Psalm 120:1-3

As I meditate on this scripture, I recall a topic of "generational curses" and "demonic spirits" infiltrating all aspects of life. I hear people talk about these things as often as I hear about how God created everything and I'm bothered by it. But God teaches us to "test the spirits to see whether they are from God." I also think that it's a lot of times nothing to do with the spirits but our own flesh (mind and body) influenced by our experiences; it's our own fault sometimes! This scripture is reminding me that I need to be like the author here and call on the LORD in my distress and He will answer me. There's deceitful tongues out there that are prideful and speak for the sake of wanting to be heard but we need to discern what others are saying according to the Spirit.

Last night we had a great discussion about the above. Not all of it covered under the topic but lots in our sharing of highs/lows. I'm reminded and encouraged that as embodied humans in a Divine-human relationship, we have a responsibility to do our part. We mess up a lot of times and need to take responsibility for our actions with God as our guide. Yes, He's in charge of it all but I'm in control of my willingness to obey. I cannot dismiss my responsibility and say God will handle it.

Thank You Father God for bringing our hearts together to worship You in wonderful fellowship. I pray that it grows in this new season and that we all mature in our own unique way to further Your kingdom. Help us to lift each other up in prayer and to be there when one stumbles. Thank You for Your beautiful teachings and support. Love you Jesus, Amen!

Wisdom-Understanding Relationship

"Where then does wisdom come from?

 Where does understanding dwell?...

And he said to man,

 'The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,

 and to shun evil is understanding.' "

Job 28:20,28

Wisdom is about a personal and intimate relationship with the Triune God. I used to think wisdom was about how we apply knowledge but it's so much more. As I continue to grow in spiritual transformation, I realize the wisdom cannot be found apart from a health relationship with Jesus Christ. As it's mentioned in the book of Job, "Where then does wisdom come from?" It comes from the "fear of the Lord!" The relationship with God will mold our very core, the fabric of our being into one who displays the character of God; we become more like Him. In the process God invites us into His ways... His way is wisdom. This partnership we have with the Father involves our side of the equation, our choices. This is our understanding. We know and see the heart of God now it's our will, our volition to choose against things that are not of God. So as I see it today in my growth, wisdom and understand is a partnership of the Divine-human relationship. Wisdom is God's and understanding is our choices.

I'm not sure if my observation above is accurate. This was something that spoke to me and I needed to meditate on based off what I'm learning in my Spiritual Theology & Formation classes. But whether or not the words here make sense it's reminding me that we cannot find wisdom or understanding apart from God's presence in our lives. I need to put into practice this lesson about the core relationship to God. I cannot separate my intellectual hunger from my spiritual hunger, they're all connected through a basic relationship built of faith in Christ. I cannot grow in just one area.

Father God, thank You for remembering words a dear brother told me when I returned from Sri Lanka. I don't hold it against him because I know his heart. I know his warning was that stimulating my intellectual side of the relationship has the threat of running ahead of the spiritual side and that I needed to be understanding of that. Thank You Father for being faithful and present in every aspect of my life. Help me LORD to make it less about me. I rebuke my thoughts of seeing the speck in someone else's eye when the plank is so great in mine. I pray that I grow closer to You today as I walk in Your shadow. I love You. In the beautiful name of Christ Jesus I pray, Amen!