Posts Tagged ‘Christian author’

The Intentional Spiritual Life

Monday, May 9th, 2011

The older I get, the more I realize the importance of being intentional about my health. As a result, I try to eat nutritious food and workout at a gym at least three times per week. Believe me, some mornings I’d rather sleep in, but I know my body will feel sluggish if I choose my bed over a bike or elliptical machine For me, and probably for you, intentionality is vital to fitness.

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The same is true about my spiritual life—intentionality is the key to spiritual health. And so, I spend time alone with God every day. I read His Word, I journal the things I learn through it, and I invite His presence into every thought and action.

I don’t consider doing so a chore or religious obligation. Rather, I view it as a privilege and joy to develop friendship with the God of the universe. Imagine! God rules over all, and yet He knows my name and longs for relationship with me. Is growing that relationship worth the effort? Absolutely!

Psalm 105:4 says, “Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him.” Talk about the spiritually intentional life! The words search and seek are active verbs. They tell us to “look carefully through something, trying to find what is there or hunting for something lost or hidden.”

If we want to be spiritually fit, we need to be intentional about it…continually, not just when we feel like it. We need to value Jesus and seek Him diligently. Money, career, position, stuff, and even ministry will try to lure us away, but we need to make, and keep, Jesus as our priority.

When we do, we find His strength for life’s difficult situations. We learn how to respond to prickly people in a God-honoring way. We discover wisdom for major decisions. Every aspect of our lives benefits when we’re spiritually fit. What do you think? Is the effort worth it?

Question: What actions do you take to be intentional about your spiritual fitness?

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God’s Watching (in a Good Way!)

Monday, June 7th, 2010

Hi y’all. I just flew in from Edmonton where I spent the last four days for ministry purposes. Had no access to wireless during this time, so I’m now catching up and posting my blog. I hope you had a wonderful weekend! Here goes for the day’s devotional…

I recently read a well-known Christian author’s view about God’s involvement with people’s lives. Basically, she believes He watches our comings and goings from His throne in a cosmic observation tower, disengaged from life as we know it on earth. Frankly, my first thought was What Bible is she reading? 

The Scriptures teem with examples of God’s active involvement in people’s everyday lives. Take Joseph, for example. Only an all-seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful God could have orchestrated the details to position him as Egypt’s second-in-command. How about Esther’s winning a beauty pageant and being thrust into position as Queen so she could later save an entire nation from annihilation? Then there’s Jesus Himself cooking a beach breakfast for His disciples, weeping with sorrowing sisters at Lazarus’ tomb, and eating meals at the homes of saints and sinners alike.

The Bible I read tells me that God watches over us, but not with disinterest – He’s invested ‘way too much in us for that. Psalm 121 describes His role in vivid terms:

“I look up to the mountains – does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.”

With those verses in mind, I simply cannot understand how a professing believer can think God watches from a distance with no care or concern for involvement. The Scripture is clear – God watches over us but He’s also with us every moment of every day. Amazing. That assurance gives me hope, confidence and peace beyond measure.

How do these verses encourage you? How have you seen God actively involved in your life?

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