Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Words of Encouragement

Like a flowing water that does not become stagnant, neither does the word of God. It is like the water that rushes over us and cleanses our hearts from all wrong thinking and acting.


Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. - 1 Peter 1:22-23



My Communion with God. It purifies me. As believers we often believe that the only work that needed to be done, was done. However, what we do not realize is that we need to come daily to God for him to direct our thoughts and to give us the strength to "kill the flesh". We were purified when we were saved from our sins. What takes place in our time of communion with God is he "refreshes" us.



The blood of Christ covers all our sins and we are saved. Yet, we in this body must still contend with the desires of our flesh. The self still wants to have its own way and do its own thing. That time with God will refresh us with new strength to be able to die daily to the desires of our selfish flesh. It is the truth of God's word that purifies us.



The Holy Spirit equips us through the word which purifies. The Holy Spirit continually grows that seed that has been planted within us. We grow each time we allow the word to purify us, change us, direct us and correct us. Each time we allow the word of God to permeate who we are, we grow.

This is one of the reasons we need to come to a time of worship and devotion with the Lord. Otherwise, we will grow weak and become spiritually anemic. We will not be able to overcome the desires of the flesh for selfish gain if we do not spend time in the presence of God.



Today, I pray that we do not neglect our time with God. I pray that when you spend time with him today, he will refresh you and help you to continue to "die daily".