True Spirituality

Bienhome Muivah *

A church in Imphal on Christmas eve on December 24 2014 :: Pix - Bond Armando

What is true spirituality, and why we want it? True spirituality is the relinquishing of our own will to the will of God. This surrender releases Him to pour His life into you and through you. It is a win-win proposition. We receive from Him for our own personal benefit as well as for the benefit of those around us.

We are truly a river. His life flows out from us, nourishing and regenerating our lives first and the world around us in the process. Yes, changing the world is a natural result of the river of God’s life flowing through us. We do not have to try to flow, we just flow. Just as life flourishes along a river, life flourishes around us. The hungry and thirsty are attracted to a river for a river sustains, produces and gives life, just as we do.

Many see this river of God as a cure-all for their own personal needs and problems, without regard to the benefit of the world around them, however, the heart of our destiny is understanding the nature of God’s ever-expanding influence on the world around us. So many believers are consistently dissatisfied with their Christian experience.

This unsettledness is directly related to the selfish attitude with which we approach blessing. We are healed, delivered, forgiven, and strengthened so that His life can flow through to the world. Anything less is ultimately frustrating and unsatisfying. True spirituality is understanding that blessing is a natural, or, shall I say, supernatural result of serving Him.

The blessings follow us; they do not lead us. His life flows through us. We can often see the fruit of this flow as we live our lives and allow God to live His life naturally through us.

So let Him live through you. Be content in what He has given you, knowing that the more you yield, the more you experience His supernatural power. Be happy to hear His voice and commit yourself to be His purposes and see what will happen. Blessing will become a way of life.

True spirituality is also marked by the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, meekness, self-control, and steady faith toward God. The life of God oozes through a spiritual person. It is a liberating and fulfilling way of life, for spirituality results in understanding that God is the all-in-all in you. Your striving ceases. You discover that His burden is truly easy and His load is high.

Serving God as a believer is an exhilarating lifestyle for the spiritual person, for your job is to relax, cease from your own ways, yields to Him, and let Him minister His life in His own way in you and through you.

True spirituality is not in doctrine; it is the reality of the life that lives the doctrine. If a doctrine cannot be lived, it is not true, as doctrine flows from reality. Doctrine can never make reality; it either defines reality or limits it.

There is something about true spirituality that we have missed. There is a depth of reality, of existence that changes us completely. We no longer need to resist reality, dump down the gospel, or try to explain away the supernatural activity of God. God can’t, won’t, didn’t, doesn’t-are phrases that you no longer have to accept.

God is infinitely bigger, wiser, and more involved with all of humanity that we can imagine. He can do and will do anything we let Him do. This is the raw gospel. This is the truth without limitations, definitions, or boundaries. This is accepting the things of God as He does them, without resistance or fear.

We are meant to be spiritual people living in this world, but spiritually connected and in union with God. We are in this world, but not of this world: “I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (John 17: 15-16).

Jesus was heavenly minded and earthly good. True spirituality means that the more heavenly minded we are, the more earthly good we are.

True spirituality means you are connected with God. Now, what does that means? It means you see as He sees. Feel what He feels. Love what He loves. It means your spirit is literally “plugged in” to His spirit. Everything He is and has can now be in your experience.

We are created to dwell in the spirit. Our spirit was created to be in union with God. Like a hand fits in a glove, we were made to be one with Him-now, in this life.

We are not fulfilled without Him, without connecting to Him and His reality. This is not a profound statement. Every human being knows they have an inner need. But not everyone knows how to fill that need. It is frustrating for many to discover that the things that are supposed to bring peace do not accomplish that desire. Church services, programs, rituals, and traditions may all have their place, but they cannot replace Him. They are very poor substitutes for His manifest presence.

Religion, in general, tries to fill our God-sized hole. But most don’t realize that somewhere along the way we have lost His presence. Only the presence of God will satisfy our inner yearning, and only union with Him will bring ultimate satisfaction. Nothing else works, nothing else can work. Our spirit cries for Him and will not be satisfied with anything less than Him.

Stay connected with the spirit for a fulfilling life!