by Bud McCord, Abide International
The only reality that is always good and always about to happen is God.
One of the surest signs of true spirituality is inward, personal joy. A person’s inward joy is always linked to an awareness of something very good that has happened, is happening or is about to happen. When we do not perceive anything good happening or about to happen we lose our joy and our inner strength begins to fade.
God is the good that is always happening for believers and a joyful awareness of God brings joy and strength.
This is why the Bible says “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” Nehemiah 8:10
Psalm 32:11 affirms this: “Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!”
God is. God is good. God has happened, is happening and is about to happen. God is a rewarder of those who seek Him. When we remain aware of God’s goodness moment by moment we will experience this joyful awareness that becomes our strength.
Ephesians 5: 17-21 describes this joyful awareness that gives strength.
“Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.”
Spiritual disciplines such as listening, praise, thanks, confession and affirmation have been a part of discipleship since Jesus walked with His first disciples. These habits are joyful awareness habits. When we learn to practice these disciplines as a normal part of our day to day spiritual behavior we will experience joyful awareness of God’s constant goodness. Strength will be our reward.
What do you do every day in order to heighten your awareness of God? To fail to heighten your awareness of God on a daily basis is to lose spiritual strength.
I know a missionary who listens daily for six days a week to a dramatic reading of 12 chapters of the New Testament. During the last 10 years he has listened to the New Testament 144 times. He is one of the joyfully aware people I know. He is also very strong in the Lord.
It is hard enough to deal with the weakening of our physical strength as we age or when we are sick. To lose our spiritual strength is not necessary if we remain joyfully aware that God is always happening!
Bud McCord
| Abide International is an organization dedicated to helping Christ-followers worldwide understand and experience true satisfaction in Jesus as a moment by moment reality. |
About Rachel Brewer
I am a daughter, sister, wife, mother, and friend. My journey is to find balanced health in my life spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Reaching out to others through the sharing of information and encouragement through daily life and my website www.puregoodness.net.
