Spiritual Cultivation

20262026 Dr. Mike 2026 CHURCH, Foundational living, spiritual cultivation, Spiritual Growth

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

The Corinthian church was having a human problem that the Apostle Paul dealt with in his letter to them. The congregants were playing favorites. In some ways they were following their celebrity preachers. Some favored Apollos, others Paul, or Peter. So Paul corrected them.

He explained that we are all brothers and sisters of the Lord gifted to serve each other. Some of us are better at planting the Word. Others are good at watering the Word. But the One who gives the growth is God. Thus, focus on HIM and be grateful for those who serve as they do.

Then he gave a metaphor of the church being a building. Some people serve by laying the foundation. From there, others build upon the foundation. They may use gold, silver, stones, wood, hay, or straw. The fruit of their work will be revealed when tested. He basically implied it is better to build your house with stronger material. So choose wisely.

He then emphasizes our body is the temple of God’s Spirit. That the temple is sacred and one needs to be wise in the material they choose to lay upon their foundation.

In other words, better to cultivate your soul with Godly material. Plant seeds from a good source. Be sure to water the seeds with fresh water. Yet, whatever the source, remember it is God who gives the growth. So lean on HIM at all times.

Saturate yourself with HIS Word. Align yourself with HIS Spirit. Surrender your kingdom under the domain of God’s Kingdom. Invest your resources to cultivate a soul that hungers for God’s presence. Learn to share your life with HIM as HE shares HIS life with you. Become more aware of HIM in your daily routines. HE is always present.

Continue to cultivate your soul to be open to the planting and watering of Jesus. It is easy to take a day off. But time with God makes the rest of the day flow with greater meaning and purpose. It is more enjoyable knowing your God is with you and you are with HIM in everything you do that day. Besides, are not relationships built by sharing interests and time together? What better way than to cultivate your soul for HIS glory and purpose and reap the benefits along the way.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

^{Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler}

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“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. ” (Colossians 1:9-12 NIV)

God’s Guarantee

20262026 Dr. Mike 2026 assurance, God's Guarantee, Holy Spirit

“He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.” 2 Corinthians 5:5

How do you know you are a Christian waiting for a heavenly home? What evidence confirms you know you know? Or are you unsure? What would it take for you to rest with assurance?

I like the way Paul shared his faith in 2 Corinthians. He expressed and reminded the local brethren of the confidence we have in Christ.

He pointed to our spiritual dwelling as the proof. That one of our responsibilities now is to maintain the physical body. That we will stand before Christ to give an accounting of our deeds while in the body. That we can be assured of our heavenly home because of the Spirit HE has given us as a guarantee. Some translations state a down payment and others a pledge. But the meaning is the same. Our evidence is the Spirit that lives in us.

When we seek to be reconciled with God, HIS arms are open wide. HE gladly accepts us into the fold. When we surrender our personal kingdom for HIS Kingdom, HE then knows we are serious. HE provides us with the resources to live out HIS ways. HE comes with the Holy Spirit to empower us in our walk with HIM.

You know the Spirit is with you when your attitude and emotions become more and more like Jesus’. He may give you special gifts in the process. Or HE may not. HIS decision. As you lean on HIM and grow in knowledge of HIM, we experience HIS grace. The Spirit will water you with the richness of God’s ways.

As you seek to deepen the relationship, drawing closer to God, HE will draw closer to you. I liken it to a ballroom dance with the Almighty. HE leads and we follow listening to the heavenly music and rhythm of HIS heart. A dance that includes love and adventure around the ballroom floor of planet earth.

If you are unsure you have HIS Spirit, ask HIM. Let HIM know you want a deep, personal relationship with HIM. You want to experience life in the arms of Papa God and be trained under the tutelage of Lord Jesus. We are not talking about a religious event, but a way of life that you carry wherever you go. A deep, abiding relationship with the Creator of the universe. The one who wired you and wants you to live your potential now and into eternity.

It may not be the self-picture you currently hold, but it will become the one HE designed you for eternity.

HE will put HIS guarantee on it. Ask HIM!

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

^{Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler}

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Pride’s Prison

20262026 Dr. Mike 2026 boast, humility, Pride, pride of life, proud

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:15-17

The enticement of the world is strong. We are all encamped in its arms. We may believe we are independent. We stand on our own two feet. That no one influences us. We make our own beds. We think.

Yet, over time, slowly, within each day, the cultural influence sneaks in. When we are young, we have little awareness of the power of our desires. If it feels good, we do it. If we want something, we go after it. If it makes us exalt ourselves, we get it.

But as the years go by, hopefully one learns before the floor crashes. Not everything we desire is good for us. Our feelings may be misplaced. All the toys, status, fame, and fortune available to us does not buy us real love, joy, and peace. What we thought would give us the freedom to experience life to the fullest, didn’t. Instead it has led us into a prison of emptiness.

The pride of placing oneself the center of the universe has caused many downfalls. We initially see this outcome in Genesis 3 with Eve grasping for the forbidden fruit. Compare this event with Jesus in Luke 4. Under a similar temptation, HE placed God in the center of HIS world and didn’t allow the enemy to win.

The pride of self-importance only leads to a prison of spiritless outcomes. When pride elevates us ahead of God, watch out. We have lost our way. When we take all the credit for our accomplishments, look out. We are walking into solitary confinement. A place where we get a nasty taste of ourselves. Pride is the downfall of many.

Over the years, I have either seen or experienced how pride locks up their victims. For example:

Pride prevents one from having a deep relationship with others.

Pride fails to forgive others and turns the event into a life-long road of bitterness.

Pride fails to forgive oneself causes one to live like a victim without hope.

Pride pushes help away until one lives an isolated life without friends or family.

Pride causes one to sacrifice their health for the attainment of a fleeting moment.

Pride isolates one to their hurt.

Pride makes one miss out on the virtue of humility and its fruit.

Pride’s short-term win leads to long-term failure.

Pride destroys friendships.

Pride leads to poor decisions which may destroy one’s life work.

Pride blinds oneself from the need of a Savior.

The list is endless. Each of us lives with pride. The problem is when it raises its ugly head to blind us from reality. How do we deal with it?

When one begins to live under God’s domain, one learns how to live with a servant’s heart. Humility becomes the robe to cover our pride. Yes, we appreciate pride when the moment is right. But we also know pride without God’s Spirit leading causes damage. As we surrendered our kingdom to Lord Jesus, we are being trained to live like HIM. This means placing Father-Son-Spirit the center of our life. When one does, one learns to share in the Triune God’s life. Pride then doesn’t lead to a prison sentence, but a pathway of humility with freedom for self and others.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

^{Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler}

Click Here for more Writings Neatly Bound in Book and Audio Formats Available at Your Favorite Bookstore.

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)