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"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he
who seeks finds; and to him who knocks it will be opened." (Matthew 7:7,8)
During our spiritual journey to seek and develop a loving relationship with
God, many obstacles may interfere with our ability to focus on and serve the
Lord. Often times our lives lack the simplicity needed to increase our
awareness so that growth and development may occur. We must be mindful of
our environment and inner thoughts to gain insight into our current
situation. Today, we often live incredibly stressful lives that are hurried and chaotic. Situational crises
may occur and become our central focus. Our time may become
absorbed by worry, depression, or anger. Developing an awareness to the
things that take our focus off of God is necessary so that we can be open to
receive God's revelation without interference. Once aware of these obstacles, prayer and
meditation may be entered into rendering us free to worship the Lord.
Reflection is of great importance
when exploring our feelings and thoughts as we move towards a greater
understanding of God. This marks a time in which you, through the Holy
Spirit, begin to recognize the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit
begins to cultivate and transform our lives to a more God-centered way of
living.
"And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the
heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all you soul, so that you may live." (Deuteronomy 30:6)
"For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for
his good and pleasure." (Phil. 2:13)
The work of God in the innermost being grants us the
strength to obey and turn away from sin. The Lord is continuously pruning
and molding us so to carry out a greater purpose. This pruning helps an
individual respond with a new will and to replace former insensitivity's and
stubbornness to God.
" I
am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that
does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that does bear fruit He
prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the
word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch
cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you
unless you abide in Me. (John 15:1-4)
In this way we are transformed. It is this way we are able to embrace a
loving relationship with God. Taking time out to both contemplate and
reflect is vital so that we can discover God's revelation and respectively
worship with an open heart and mind.
"For God so loved the world that
He gave His
 only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the
world, but the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16,17)
Jesus'
Ministry
God & Creation
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