Setting an Example in Spirituality

Spirituality is a big subject. I'm not doing a treatise on it as if for my doctorate. Just a few thoughts.

We've probably all heard the saying, "You can't lead others where you've never been yourself." I've quoted it and believed it. But now when I stop to really think about it, I have to add something. There is no place that God hasn't been. So if a person is being led by God to lead others where the person has never been, that puts a whole different slant to it. Abraham led his household, and didn't even know where he was headed. He followed God's leading. What I'm trying to say is that we can't put limitations on God's ability to use us at any time, any state of experience or lack of.

That being said, God's abilities must never be an excuse for slacking off and being casual or lazy about our relationship with Him. We should be setting the example by spending time with our Lord daily, in communication with Him. If we want to lead others into a place of worship, we should go there regularly ourselves. The same goes for modeling a close friendship with the Most High. It's kind of like if I wanted to introduce you to the president of our nation. As an ordinary citizen, it's not going to happen. If I work in the White House, there's a breath of a chance. But if I'm the president's own daughter or son, it's a done deal.

Here are some of the areas of spirituality to attend to:

Strengthen our faith by reading God's Word daily--"faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." (Rom. 10:17)Besides, if you study the real thing, you'll recognize immediately if an imposter comes along. That's what the Feds do, you know, to find counterfeit money. They study the real deal.

Prayer--requests, confession of sin, giving thanks, adoring and praising Him, and interceding for others. "Pray continually..." (1 Thess. 5:17)

Awareness; practicing His presence--He is a friend alongside. We don't want to ignore our friend who is walking alongside us, helping us, comforting and guiding us and wanting to enjoy us and vice-versa. (John 15:15)

Perhaps the most important but neglected one of all, Listening. I could have put this as part of any of the above, but I feel it needs its own category. Some say the Spirit of God speaks to us only through the written Word of God. This is short-changing His abilities indeed! And these people are missing some of the most intimate, life-changing moments with the God who loves them.

Yes, countless times He has spoken to me through His Word. Most often that's how He's revealed Himself to me. But in the spirit, He has whispered to me, sat next to me, held me, planted words in my mind and heart, given specific instructions to me, even danced with me. If any of these veered off from or disagreed with what His Word says, then I would know it wasn't from Him. Always we must test the spirits according to Scripture.

I know, I know. There are those who abuse experience and exploit emotionalism, who imagine things, even who commit atrocities and claim "God told me to." But please don't "throw the baby out with the bath water"! Reverently, intelligently, fearfully (that's awe-fear, not scared-fear)seek Him and trust Him to reveal Himself to you. He promises that His sheep know His voice from a stranger's voice. He's promised not to give you a stone when you ask for bread. He created us for fellowship with Him! There is MORE!!!!!! I see so many believers--sincere, good followers of Christ--who are missing out on the vast riches of His close presence. Did you know that, according to Proverbs 3:32 the Lord actually takes us into His confidence? Only really close friends do that.

Whatever it takes, pursue Him. Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you. Ask Him for a close relationship. It's a request to which He won't say no.

A leader of a choir or a member of a choir--both need to be setting an example for other believers in developing their relationship with God. Remember: when Moses was with God, he had to cover his face afterward so people wouldn't see the glory fading from it (it is noticeable to others when we have been in His presence!).

People in the New Testament "took note that they (disciples) had been with Jesus." (see? being with Him makes a difference in us, and others see and recognize it).

2 Corinthians 3:18 says, "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." There is a definite difference in those who are in close walks with Him.

Caution: as a young believer, I met someone who had a radiant face, sweet spirit, and quoted Scripture easily. She spoke in words used by evangelical Christians, appeared to be a mature and Spirit-filled woman, and I thought she must be a fellow believer. That's when the Lord taught me about the devil being able to disguise himself as an angel of light. Wanna know how I figured it out? Some of the Scriptures she used were taken out of context, and twisted just a tiny bit so the meaning was very slightly altered. There was just enough truth in what she said to make it sound right. As it turns out, she was a member of a cult! I'm including this information so you will be cautious, and ask the Lord for discernment. He will not let you slip up, and He will protect you.

James 2 and 3 has a lot to say about what we do. "Faith without deeds is dead." Deeds are important. When I was in first grade I met a boy in school who said he could fly. This was something I'd been trying to do. I'd stand on the turquoise hassock and flap my skinny little arms as fast as I could, but gravity got the better of me each time I jumped. This boy claimed to have the gift. I listened to his tales of flight with awe and anticipation. Finally, he agreed to demonstrate. He lined up the picnic tables on the playground end to end, saying he needed a long runway. He began to run, flapping his arms. At the last table, he leapt into the air, sailed about five feet, and continued his flight on the ground. I experienced shock, righteous indignation, disappointment, and even anger. Why, he was running, not flying! He had excuses. Said he was just "flying really close to the ground." But it was too late. I saw he was a fake.

Let's not be fakes in our spiritual flight. God has prepared good works in advance for us to do. If we talk all day about spiritual things but never do anything about it, what good is it? We're just flapping our lips. See Eph. 2:10.

There, I've done for the day. Do you have some ideas to add? Please do.