Spirituality Guide

Being a spiritual person does not mean that you are a pushover. When you are spiritual, it simply means that you have a deep relationship with God and with all that is right. A lot of times, people mistake spirituality for weakness, and that’s just not so.

Do you ever get that feeling? That pushover feeling? Fight against it. Stay spiritual, stay connected, but fight the feeling or implied need to be all, to all, all of the time.

You’re spiritual. Not stupid.

Sometimes helping others is being a good person. Helping is something that the other person undoubtedly welcomes excitedly. Imagine being in need and having no one to help you. If you are an independent person, then you know the feeling of having to ask; you hate to do it. What if you had no one to ask for help?

Remember the story of baby Jesus and how His family had to ask for room at the inn? No one nowhere had room for Him, and yet when they found out (later) it was Jesus, so many were willing to help. Should our help be contingent on who it is we’re helping?

As children of God and laborers in the ministry of Jesus, we should be willing to help no matter what the situation or what the cost is. Our help should be based upon our willingness and availability and not on the benefit we’ll receive if we do. There is an immediate gratification if we help others. Often, we don’t realize the magnitude of our help. We’re implore throughout scripture to be helpers “one to another�.

Look around you. Is there someone in need of your help? Is there someone who is waiting and wanting for that blessing that they have been praying for to come?

Can YOU be that person that will lend a helping hand?

When you really, REALLY need God, He is always there. I needed Him today, and yes, He was right there for me.

My children were outside playing today with my neighbor’s kids. We were chatting and watching them play, ride their bikes and just be kids. All of sudden, in a literal second, my son’s bike got away from him and he was headed down the hill…..towards a tree! My neighbor reached for him as he passed her, but she couldn’t grab him. He rode down the hill, the bike was shimmy-ing, and he was visibly nervous. I stood there, watching, completely frozen. There was nothing I could do. I prayed silently and quickly, calling Jesus’ name. That’s all you can do sometimes in a crisis.

He got to the bottom of the hill and wiped out, barely missing the tree. As he fell, he stretched out his arm and fell the long way. My son’s head was about 6 inches away from the stump of that tree. He messed his arm up pretty bad, requiring about 7 stitches. Now this is what I praise God for:

No matter where we are, what we’re doing and how we’re doing, God always takes care of us. When we’re not looking, when we’re not aware, when we don’t have a clue! My son’s injuries could have been worse, much worse. But because God is so wonderful and protective, they were what they were. I’m SO thankful they weren’t worse.

Let’s just stop for a moment and think about all of the near-misses we’ve had. Think about all of the things that we barely made it out of. We have a God who sees all, hears all, and knows all. He’s got the whole world in His hands, taking care of every little detail of our life. The God who hung the sun and moon in space is gracious enough to care about our every concern. He is everything and all things, all at one time.

And, he’s even protecting little boys who wipe out on their bikes.

What, do you think, is true ministry? Is it speaking eloquently to people, making the ooooh and aaaaah at your every word? Is it being able to command thousands upon thousands of people to react at every word you speak? Is it programs, events, networking and conferences. What do you think is true ministry?

I have an idea, of course. But I want to know what you think. If we minister to folks, do we expect results? Are we satisfied if we don’t see any? What if we cannot gauge the numbers for the conference to see how many accepted Christ? What if the now-saved brother decides he wants to be no-longer-saved; is our ministering in vain? Is having the weekly teen summit really enough? How about the weekly Lunch For the Lord’s Leading Ladies program?

What, is your idea of true ministry?

Tell me yours.

I’ll tell you mine.

Remember that peace we’ve been talking about for the past couple of days? Is it still elusive to you? Have you found it yet? Have you been able to carve out that quality time and spend time in the presence of God? Or, does He have to still wait?

When we go into the presence of God, there is so, so much peace and quietness. He told us to cast all of our cares upon Him, so that we are able to come into His presence ready to receive all that He has in store for us.

Do you need an answer? It’s in His presence. What about direction? In His presence. Confused? Angry? Discontent? All will dissipate in the presence of the Almighty God.

Is it magic, or, or, or a miracle? No! It’s simple. Being in His presence stills and calms your spirit. You are then able to hear Him and receive clear instructions.

Try it. Go into he presence of God ready to receive and watch Him fulfill your requests.