Beyond Ourselves

So we get that our body needs water. But, what about our spirit? According to Jesus it needs spiritual water: Living Water, the Holy Spirit.

If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke of the SPIRIT, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the SPIRIT was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.  John 7:38

Oh my goodness. This is so exciting and such an important principle. We must not miss it. Just as our body thirsts, so does our spirit. Unhappy? Feeling grumpy? Resentment making your face look dry as a prune? You could be thirsting spiritually. Yes! Go to your Heavenly Father. Tell Him, “I thirst. I feel spiritually dry.” Ask Him to refresh you. Hold your heart up wide and ask Him to fill it to overflowing with His glorious, refreshing, life giving Spirit. Oh, sweet friends, nothing in God’s Word was written in vain. When Ephesians 5:18 tells us to be filled with the Spirit, it’s not joshing around. It’s a vital command that we be filled and keep on being filled with the Spirit. So yes, when your mouth is dry, reach for a glass of water. When your spirit is dry, reach for your Lord. This is a Biblical principle that is Plain. Simple. Truth. Are you plump in the spirit or dry as a prune?

Sweet Jesus, thank You for coming from heaven to speak truth into our lives. Thank You for giving us Your Spirit,  LIVING WATER, that cleanses and refreshes us so we are filled and energized to serve You. We love You, Lord. 

Do you ever wish that someone would listen to you? You may have even asked someone with whom you were talking, “Are you listening to me?” Perhaps they said yes, but you wondered if they really heard what was on your heart.  We don’t have to wonder if God listens to us and understands our heart. He does.  Jeremiah 29:12 says that if we pray, He’ll LISTEN.

Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will LISTEN to you.  

Is that not cool? Whoohoo! Think on that. Ponder God’s words! Say them out loud. Yes, there’s something about forming the words with your lips and voicing them that helps them take hold.  “When I call on God and go to Him and pray to Him, He listens to me.” Yes! Yes, yes, yes!  The God of the universe, the God of creation will listen to you if you go to Him and pray to Him. I think there is something significant that we may miss in our casual Christian culture. When He says, “come and pray to Me” that implies to me that there is a turning from what we are doing and turning to God. It’s the “come to Me” part. For instance, people sought out Jesus. They went to Him to listen to Him or to be healed. The beautiful thing is, because God is Spirit, we don’t have to get in our car and drive some place to find God. But I do feel there is an implied intentionality in our addressing Him. It may be in the course of our day that a question arises in our heart and instead of only mulling it over in our head or texting someone to ask their opinion, we turn to God. We ask Him what we should do. There’s so much to discuss on this topic, but the bottom line is believers have the most amazing privilege and opportunity to live beyond ourselves. We have the Almighty God saying He will listen to us, and friend, that is an amazing opportunity. Are you taking advantage of it? Do you begin your day seeking His agenda for you? Do you linger in His presence to listen to how He directs you? Do you turn to Him throughout the day and seek His guidance? Do you act on how His Spirit prompts you? The ball’s in your court. His offer stands.

Heavenly Father, that You would offer the opportunity for us to come to You and You will will LISTEN is such a beautiful promise that it overwhelms my mind. You are so precious. Thank You, Lord.

PS: I have many resources to help you regarding prayer. 

Do you ever feel like you’re eaten up with sin? Or can you look back to a time when you succumbed to temptation and satan “chewed you up and spit you out”? If so, no doubt you praise Christ for being victor over the devil who prowls like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) Yes, satan is the great pretender. He prowls like a roaring lion but he isn’t a lion. He mimics everything about Christ, insanely jealous that Christ is Lord, not him.  The true LION? The genuine, real deal LION? Jesus is, as  Revelation 5:5 explains.

behold, the LION that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.

Jesus’s title, Lion of Judah, is traced to Genesis 49:9 when Jacob blessed his son, Judah, and referred to him as “young lion.” Christ is traced to this noble tribe of Israel.  Rather than being a “young lion,” however, or a fictional lion king movie character, Christ’s title designates Jesus as the the true Lion King, the noblest and most powerful One. As Revelation 5:5 states, Christ has overcomes all, even death. He’s our LION KING. Give praise to Him and turn to Him when satan nips at your heels.

Lord Jesus Christ, LION OF JUDAH, we worship You! Thank You for all You have done to defeat satan and secure our salvation. Move in us increasingly so we are aware of Your presence and power. 

“You can’t see God, so how do you know He’s there?” people sometimes ask. I think one of the best responses is found in Romans 1:19-20.

because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His INVISIBLE attributes, His eternal power, and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

In other words, look at the glory of the heavens. Look at the glory of the flowers, trees, animals, oceans. Look at the wonder of the human body. God may be invisible, but His handiwork is clearly visible.  Our privilege and calling is give credit where credit is due for the creation, eternal power, and divine nature that is displayed in our world, universe, human body, air we breath. Join me in the following chorus of praise.

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:17

King eternal, immortal, INVISIBLE God, we praise You and thank You for the glory of Your creation and for making Yourself clearly seen through Your handiwork. 

Learn more about the Divine Nature in one of my favorite  studies!

Have you ever looked for “life” in someone or something apart from Jesus? Or, perhaps in your younger years you were “the life of the party.” Maybe in your adult years you bought into the idea that the right job, house, car, or person would bring you what was important in life. But perhaps later you realized that things and people can disappoint and fall short of our expectations. Our hearts will never be happy until we make the Lord our life not just in words but in reality.

Jesus said in John 14:6, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the LIFE; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’”  

We find LIFE in Jesus not only for eternal salvation but for daily salvation. Ask Him to live His LIFE through you today.

Lord, You are the way, the truth, and the LIFE!  Fill us with Your LIFE.