“Today
admit your need, seek God’s help, celebrate his love, live for his glory, study
his wisdom, work for his kingdom, rest in his grace.”
~Paul
David Tripp
What if we could formulise
the spiritual life? Seven nuances of faith are presented above and explored
below:
1. Admitting Our Need
The most important step in
addressing any weakness is admitting our need. It’s certainly the first step in
12-step programs of recovery. Everyone needs God whether they admit it or not.
When we begin each day by admitting our need we recommit to re-establishing our
spiritual search. Such a search embarked upon in earnestness avails us to the
answer; an answer that unlocks our day.
2. Surrendering So We May Be Helped
Admitting our need leads
to seeking God’s help. And the only way we may be helped is by surrendering our
weakness, and surrendering in our weakness, before God who is the only One that
can help. The more we admit we need help the more secure we are in the truth of
life. Life sorts us out. Only in God do we have an adequate response, overall.
3. Celebrating How Much We Are Loved
The One that helps loves
us. We give up on God, readily, but God never gives up on us. There is much to
celebrate in this unconditional love that refuses to let go of us. Whenever we
bask in God’s love the Fruit of the Spirit is returned to us. We are blessed in
joy, peace, patience, and goodness, etc. For love, we grow in virtue.
4. Living For God’s Glory
It seems easier living for
God’s glory when we understand, afresh, how much we are loved. It’s a very
normal response to love God back in recognition for just how much we are loved.
When we live for God’s glory our sacrifice is for love; we need no credit. Our
privilege and our pleasure become united in the quest for wisdom.
5. Studying God’s Word
The great condition of our
spiritual growth is our ongoing immersion in the Word of God—toward growth in
wisdom. This is our lifeline to a fervent spirituality that keeps us growing in
the good times and stable in the not-so-good times.
6. Working For The Kingdom’s Cause
With all of the foregoing
stowed, energising our spiritual efforts, working for the Kingdom’s cause is an
abounding freedom. And with every endeavour toward the Kingdom’s end we are
affirmed that God is blessed as we work in our humble way.
7. At The End, And Always, Finding Rest
In God
Symbolic of day’s end, and
of Sabbath, we learn to rest and we enjoy it. Rest is earned, but mostly, we
work out of rest. Finding rest in God is the necessary process for energising
future conquests.
***
Seven magnificent things God
gives us: power at our admission of our need for help, nurture in his love,
blessing to live for his glory, the ability to study his Word, the privilege to
serve in his Kingdom, and the capacity for and enjoyment of rest.
© 2013 S. J. Wickham.
No comments:
Post a Comment