Category: Interior Life

heaven

Does Your Heart Dwell In Heaven?

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The purpose of this post is to change the reader’s conception of reality and where their life is. I hope that it helps to create a new orientation in your soul that aligns with God’s reality. We begin with Colossians 3:1-2: “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (ESV). We can get an idea of what we seek by asking ourselves: “How do I actually prioritize my life?” We can get an idea of what our minds are set on by asking ourselves: “What do I value in my mind and treasure in my heart?” This orientation to things above is critical to our growth since the environment of our heart determines what we will become. If we Continue Reading →

cross suffering

Do You Think Suffering Is An Opportunity?

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The Apostle Paul said, “I want to know Christ–yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Phil. 3:10, NIV). Notice that Paul wanted the good and the “bad” because both were part of knowing Christ better. He loved Christ and knew that in him “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3, NIV) and that he was the source of Paul’s restoration into the image of God. Therefore, he was eager to be remade in the image of Christ’s suffering and death, knowing this was a requirement for transformation and deeper communion with Christ. The word for “participation” in Philippians 3:10 is the same word used for “fellowship” in the New Testament. We have fellowship with Christ when we suffer. It did not matter to Paul what his experience was as long as it meant that Continue Reading →

eating

Honoring God In Our Eating

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I confess anxiety about discussing the topic of eating. People easily feel condemned or embrace self-rejection, but we should be motivated to healthy eating by love for God and others. During the holiday season we are especially tempted to unhealthy eating. God cares about our bodies and wants us to take good care of them. He loves the physical world he created and the human body is the marvelous pinnacle of his material creation. When we eat too much and become overweight then we are harming our God-given bodies. The same goes for the habit of eating unhealthy food. You can find endless studies about the negative health effects of being overweight or eating unhealthy including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and an increased probability of neurological disease. Being overweight is also hard on the bodies’ joints and hinders needed exercise. Proverbs warns against gluttony (overeating): “A companion of gluttons shames Continue Reading →

viewing television

What Environments Are You Choosing?

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An important element of holiness is being careful about what we expose ourselves to. This includes what we view, hear, and read. This post takes a closer look at the environments to which we subject ourselves. Viewing and Listening. In the modern world we are constantly bombarded by ungodly images and words. Sex, violence, and materialism seem to be the most popular topics. Images are especially intrusive as they often linger in our memory. It is easy to become complacent or negligent about what we allow our eyes to see, but when we voluntarily and unnecessarily expose ourselves to ungodly images we are affecting our Spiritual life. They make an impression on our soul that conflicts with the indwelling Holy Spirit. The voluntary presence of the image produces a place in our soul that is temporarily out of harmony with God; we have allowed something unclean into the temple of Continue Reading →

humility

Want More Humility? Try These Questions

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This week’s post is a very practical exercise in humility. Below are reflection questions designed to produce reflection on our pride and humility. Take a few seconds on each one and if it seems to apply then ask God to help you see yourself more clearly. If you discover something out of order then express your desire and commitment to change to God. How willing am I to recognize when I could use the help of others? How willing am I to seek help once I recognize that I could use it? How willing am I to admit weaknesses or faults? Do I honestly seek greater awareness of my sinfulness from God? When I see my faults do I beat myself up or humbly and thankfully accept who I am before God? Do I get angry with my faults because I want to think of myself as more mature than Continue Reading →