Then I realized that my heart was bitter,
and I was all torn up inside.
I was so foolish and ignorant—
I must have seemed like a senseless animal to You.
Yet I still belong to You;
You hold my right hand.
You guide me with Your counsel,
leading me to a glorious destiny.
Whom have I in heaven but You?
I desire You more than anything on earth.
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
but God remains the strength of my heart;
He is mine forever. Psalm 73:21-26 NLT
Do you really desire God above everything else on earth? Are you single hearted towards God? Have you ever told God that? Have you ever told Him you love Him? We are very vulnerable and fragile creatures. The resilience we need can only be imparted by God Himself, just like our faith. Our job? To trust Him. To commune with Him in our hearts and inner being. We were created to be in deeply connected communion with God. I believe our soul has a space that can only be filled by His Holy Spirit. The human condition yearns for our soul to be satisfied, and we can try to fill it (and we do) with everything but God (drugs, money, alcohol, sex, religion, fame, status, and other various stimuli) but it will never really satisfy our soul – because our soul space was created to be filled with the very Presence of God Himself. Many die still looking for their souls to be completed, when God has been reaching out His hand for them to take it … but they never do.
Religion can only take a person so far. Relationship with God is the only way to have any real love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, THROUGH the Holy Spirit. If it isn’t the fruit of the Holy Spirit then it is just a shadow of the real, and not eternal. What can compare to the peace of God in your heart? What can compare to actually feeling and experiencing His love? Ritual and formulas don’t bring those things. Only He can bring you those things, it is NOT by our striving or efforts. How deeply do you commune with Him? Do you begin each day seeking that communion with Him? Do you give everyone and everything to Him at the end of your day, releasing EVERYTHING into His care?
Is He really your fortress and shield? Is He really the comforter of your soul? Does He give you direction and instruction every morning about your day ahead? Do you even try to listen for it? Does He give you assignments for your day? Do you have the courage and obedience to carry them out? Communion with Him is the ONLY way to walk with Him …every day. Are you enough to handle all the forces that will come at you today? Or is He enough to handle it IN you? A Sunday morning service will NEVER be enough to give you what you need from Him. You must learn to commune with Him deep within your soul every day – just you and Him alone together.
Do you purposely set yourself to soak in His Presence… daily? How important is Jesus to you… really?
Recommended tools to help you in this journey: The Pause App by John Eldredge (zero $ / free), program – 30 days to Resilience, book Resilient / Restoring Your weary Soul in these Turbulent Times