Rather, it is emphasized in the Bible that in order to find God, it is important that we improve ourselves spiritually. It is important that we change our perspective of God and life in general to a better outlook. Take, for example, the story of Job. Job is an example of a person that has encountered a lot of obstacles in his life.
In one day, he lost everything; his livestock, his servants, as well as his 10 children who were killed by invaders. He also experienced a skin disease. Job is a perfect example of a person who has a good outlook despite challenges.
After all, God is the mighty shepherd that provides for His children. We are then reminded that God provides even when we are down. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Finding God also means growing spiritually. That is why it is important that we continue to grow in finding God through continuous learning of the teachings of Jesus Christ. Peter expresses the importance of spiritual growth,.
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires 2 Peter Peter added as he wrote,. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Peter But to truly find God in the biblical perspective, we must acknowledge His Presence, seek Him, follow Him, change our attitude for the better, and attain spiritual growth.
So, what is it with you? Do you need just a little more fire power for your eventual response? Or, do you just enjoy feeling miserable toward Christians like me that you readily dismiss as "reprobates," "apostates," or severely misguided nitwits who are "proof" the "end is near?
Is it possible that somewhere deep within you, my words strike a chord of authenticity? Might it be that you keep coming back because that something in you is quietly calling out to you and it feels right? Do not run from this, my friend. Do not let your fear, your ego, your position or your anxiety over what others might think of you if you finally admit that you, too, have had questions and doubts about all this theological nonsense you've been told you must believe, or you will go to hell.
If it rings true, my friend, in the deepest part of your soul, that's because it is true. Others of you are reading this, but you're at a different place. Your openness, your willingness to change your way of thinking is like fertile soil, rich and ready for new seeds to take root, spout and grow. It is for you, I write these words, and offer them as portals into Presence within you now. Could it be that you are reading this article because it is God who is knocking on the door of your consciousness?
I love the way Rumi, the Sufi poet put it: "I have lived on the lip of insanity The door opens! I've been knocking from the inside.
You will decide how to regard any of this. You will also decide whether to regard your next thought of God, whether is is God or just some genetic impulse that science has not thoroughly explained.
I would kindly suggest, however, remain open to the possibility that the fact you're reading this, as well as every thought of God you have that follows, might just be God awakening in you.
Ralph W. Emerson said, "Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, know that we carry it within us or we find it not.
If you make it your practice to give a little attention to every thought of God you have, you will soon start believing each thought of God is God. This is how believing works. Believing, at least in the way Jesus expressed it, has little to do with content and everything to do with conduct. So make these suggestions your spiritual practice. This is how faith grows and believing, or trusting works. So, as you make your new way of thinking -- ie. In it, I explore this in great detail.
Even all things. If you make this your new way of thinking, you will begin believing, and so behaving, that the God who is in you is the same God in others as well. Can you imagine the difference it would make in your life, in your relationships, in this world, if you could see God, not just in yourself, but in everyone and everything else?
Rather than labeling me some "liberal Christian," or "progressive Christian," and then dismissing, or worse, despising me Rather than me labeling you some "narrow-minded fundamentalist," or "dispensational, pre-millienial Christian," who is only interested in escaping the world with the Rapture , can you wonder with me what difference it would most certainly make if people made it their spiritual practice to see God in each other Some of you will recognize these words are from Psalm , one of my favorite psalms.
Maybe one of yours, too. They and their neighbors did it every year. At the end of the week, the family packed up and headed back home. The Bible tells us that Mary and Joseph noticed their Son was missing after a few days of travel.
After three days of searching, Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the Temple talking to the Jewish leaders and asking them questions. Look, Your father and I have sought you anxiously Luke You may be wondering why it took Mary and Joseph so long to figure out that their son was missing. How could they not know, right? How could Mary and Joseph go three days before they wondered where Jesus was as they crossed the desert? Remember I said they went to Jerusalem with their neighbors?
There were hundreds of them! It was customary for the kids to travel in one group with older siblings and caretakers while the parents and elders traveled in a separate group. They had no reason to worry.
Nevertheless, they did, and He was nowhere in sight, so the only thing to do was retrace their steps and go back to Jerusalem.
They searched all over the city until they found Jesus still in the Temple talking to the teachers and asking them questions Luke He knows everything already! Mary and Joseph had forgotten their Son was no ordinary boy. They had forgotten His divinity. And in their defense, I think I would have forgotten too in a situation like this.
Do we truly know where to find Jesus? But where do we actually find Him?
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