Spiritual Awakening

Dr. Mike 2022 , , ,

Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Is God knocking on your door?

I am always amazed at how our beloved Creator consistently pursues each person until they arrive at a place in life where they have to make a choice. The decision is whether or not God is for real.

For if God is not real, then you & I can live one’s life being #1. We then can also easily justify combating all others who may want to challenge our seat of authority and power. But if God is real and the creator and owner of the universe, which includes all space and matter, then we are HIS creation and subject to HIS decree. Otherwise, we are in rebellion and face the wrath of the government HE leads.

Yes, Jesus knocks on everyone’s door in their lifetime. Yet, because of the noise in our life, we may not hear. We may become, with the everyday struggles of making a living, or preoccupied with enjoying the music and sounds around us, unaware of the doorbell ringing. Yet when life quiets down, and we find ourselves alone without tasks to perform or people to entertain, reality slowing invades our world.

Sometimes when trauma occurs, one realizes their need for help. When a loved one passes away, we are reminded of our mortality. When a relationship turns sour, the pain of upside-down love tears at our heart. When we accomplish a major goal in life, we stop and ask if this is all there is. When we experience the best of the best, is that as good as it gets? Or could there be more about life than the accumulation of wealth, power, and fame?

Each of us has a hole that is longing for fulfillment. We chase after dreams, goals, and relationships thinking we will find full satisfaction upon their accomplishments. But when achieved, we stop realizing we are not yet fully satisfied, we want more. So, like a greedy two-year-old that wants too much, they seek more. But the end result is the same. More money, more power, more fame, more, more, more, and more soon comes the realization that more of the same isn’t the answer.

Without God, there is only the physical world of matter. But with God, the physical world is only a portion of reality. God is Spirit and also lives in a spiritual dimension. When one comes to realize that man needs not only the physical to prosper, but also the spiritual (MT. 4:4) to become a complete person, then a whole new world opens up.

Now the spiritual world can be a dangerous place without proper guidance. Ignorance is bliss until reality slaps one’s face.

When Jesus knocks on your door, HE is letting you know he wants to have a personal relationship with you. He is inviting you to his table. He wants to spend time with you and share HIS life with you and you share your life with HIM. In this relationship, HE provides you with the guidance, support, and wisdom to help you lead a full and abundant life.

Someone once told me that us humans are like the wicks of dynamite. Some of us have short wicks and others have long wicks. But when lit, the spark burns along the wick until the dynamite explodes. People are the same way. Some catch the fire, and their world quickly explodes. Others have to wait for the spark to hit the center of the trigger before they experience the new life.

God uses different means and different vehicles to draw us to HIM. But each one begins with us having our eyes open to the spiritual dimension around us. When that happens, then we need to choose which Spirit to follow. I, like many others before and now, believe Jesus Christ is the central core of God’s creation. When you come to know HIM, than you discover all your travels include HIM. Yet some roads are substantially more rewarding than others. But with HIM being the center-focus, the Spiritual dimension of life aligns with the physical and the physical with the spiritual.

And yes, when you actually catch God’s Spirit, you will begin to experience a more enriching physical life without the trappings of carnal passions. You awake to a world of beautiful-good but also realize the inhuman evil and ugliness around you. But with God, you are able to put everything in better perspective to help you navigate through life.

Isn’t it interesting how God’s plan from the beginning of time is to unite the physical with the spiritual (Rev 21:1-7) into one world?

If Jesus is knocking on your door, I hope you have the courage to open the door and start a relationship with HIM.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager, Faith-Integrator, Scribbler  

Available for Your Devotional Study: 

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Religious Trap

Dr. Mike 2022 , ,

Joshua 23:11-13

Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God. For if you turn back and cling to the remnant of these nations remaining among you and make marriages with them, so that you associate with them and they with you,  know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you, but they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good ground that the Lord your God has given you.

When God brought the Israel people from slavery in Egypt to their promise land, Joshua was their leader. On his last few days on earth, he recorded the above warning (Joshua 23:11-13) to the people. Since God did a mighty work removing many of the nations around them, Joshua reminded the people to be careful and not associate with those people still remaining who do not follow the Lord. In other words, do not be influenced by the religious practices of others.

The situation is no different today as back then. We live in a multi-religious world. There are those who believe no difference exists between the religions. They are generally the people who have no faith except in themselves. Those who have a belief are either fully committed in their way or simply live culturally within the community. And every religion has multiple divisions within themselves. So, stating they are all the same is a distorted observation of a complex situation. 

The religious trap is believing all faiths are the same. That there is no difference and one of them can’t be more correct than the other. They all worship the same God but choose different methods of expression is the false illusion of the trap.

If there is no absolute truth, than one’s person opinion is as good as another. However, if you believe in objective truth, than only one faith is on target and all the others are leading people away from experiencing God’s fullness and purpose.

I remember the start of my own journey in pursuit of God.

As a teenager with a mission to discover what is the purpose of life, I read everything I could get my hands on.

I took classes on world religions. I read about the eastern faiths. I read books by people who discussed their faith and the reason why they practiced their faith. Even though I was raised in a Christian culture, I was open to everything else. I wanted to know the truth and wherever the evidence led me I followed.

In some ways I completed a circle of knowledge. But this time I had evidence, factual history, and experience of putting God to the test and seeing circumstances and situations come together in a pattern weaved over time. My entire worldview was reshaped. Today, the best grasp I have is knowing God as Triune consisting of Father-Son-Spirit.    

Now when I read Scripture with God’s macro plan in mind, I plan and execute strategy built upon my micro plans knowing HE is involved in our lives more than we even realize. As I pursue my work, HE is accomplishing HIS objectives with me. As I yield to HIM and learn to walk HIS ways, HE occasionally lets me see what HE is doing in the lives of those around me. After these many years of applying myself to do things HIS way, slowly the eyes become more attuned to HIS Kingdom and purpose.

The world is a chaotic place. The institutions and practices around us were developed over time to put order into the culture. Generally, though, the systems are most often built upon ungodly principles unless its founder was a Believer. Even then though, unbelievers’ step-in overtime and changed the Judeo-Christian foundation into a secular rock. You can look at many of the Ivy universities in this country as an example. The majority of them started as Christian institutions for the development of pastors and lay leaders. But today, they are all secular.    

When you understand that God’s way allows you to order your way in this world patterned after HIS character, you have a roadmap on how to deal with others and prioritize your life values for the greatest return on your time and investment. Life becomes more than survival or experiencing the next thrill. Life is designed to groom you and me for eternity. When you capture God’s macro vision for you, you find purpose and meaning behind everything you do.

In fact, you realize others may call you religious, but in reality, you are not religious but living life to the fullest with the least amount of heartache, and a Spirit of abundance in everything you do. The trap is failing to choose the faith that maximizes your human potential while serving others to achieve theirs. Pursue God and HE will let you find HIM. This is not religion, but a deep, intimate relationship with the Master Designer of Life.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager, Faith-Integrator, Scribbler  

Available for Your Devotional Study: 

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What is Prayer?

Dr. Mike 2022 , , ,

Psalm 42:8

“By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.”

Prayer is the direct means of communicating with your Heavenly Father. Jesus maintained direct contact with his heavenly Father through prayer. Jesus taught His disciples how to pray. Prayer was Jesus’ main staple throughout his life.

As his disciples, we likewise have the opportunity to keep in constant connection with our Heavenly Father throughout the day. The apostle Paul instructed us to be constant in prayer (Romans 12:12). Prayer is the prime activity of a mature Christ-follower. (Acts 6:4)

Below are a few Biblical examples which highlight the impact of a prayer life.  

  • Prayer strengthens faith (Luke 22:32)
  • Prayer heals people (James 5:16)
  • Prayer builds common ground (1 Timothy 2:1)
  • Prayer maintains your focus on God. (Jer. 29:12-14)
  • Prayer empowers people (2 Chronicles 7:14)
  • Prayer changes you (Eph. 3:14-19)
  • Prayer produces Godly outcomes (Jeremiah 42:4)??
  • Prayer opens doors where there are no doors. (Eph.3:20)
  • Prayer is worship. (Luke 2:37)
  • Prayer is offering yourself to God. (1 Kings 8:54)
  • Prayer is submitting yourself to God. (Ps. 86:1)
  • Prayer is our memorial to God. (Acts 10:4)
  • Prayer makes everything that is good in God’s creation holy (I Tim. 4:5)
  • Prayer personally reveals the power of God. (2 Kings 6:18)
  • Prayer opens God’s Spirit in you. (Romans 8:26)
  • Prayer is our incense to God. (Rev. 5:8)
  • Prayer reduces anxiety. (Phil. 4:6)

These came to me just this morning. You probably could list more yourself as you pray and meditate on the means of directly communicating with Him.

The bottom-line: Jesus was a praying rabbi and so are HIS students. Learn the value, honor, and privilege of directly praying with the Creator of the universe, your Heavenly Father who wants you to know HIM and learn to share your life with HIM as HE prepares an eternal home for you. In prayer, you will discover a whole new world and way of life when you unleash the divine relationship you have with the Almighty.

You find yourself participating with an Infinite God in HIS work. You slowly learn HIS view on many topics. You begin a personal journey with HIM sharing your life with HIM as HE shares HIS life with you. You find yourself enjoying HIS presence while you live out your everyday routines. And if you keep a journal of your prayers and record the outcome, you will strengthen your faith and become more assured that HE cares for you and wants what is best for you.

Prayer is your access to a Heavenly Dad who wants HIS child to live a meaningful life being prepared to serve in HIS Kingdom for eternity.

PS: You may want to check out my latest devotional prayer e-book “Overflowing Prayers Rooted in Jesus Christ” (see below) if you seek a way to jump start into a more effective prayer life.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Encourager, Faith-Integrator, Scribbler  

Available for Your Devotional Study: 

Encourage a Friend…Share Today’s Message!

Copyright 2013-Present | Abbaco LLC | All Rights Reserved