The Box

Where Scripture is concerned many tend to misinterpret symbolism and mishandle timeless principles. Since the Bible is the benchmark for all truth, it’s imperative that its parables, precepts and promises are not skewed. Take for instance the Ark of the Covenant. To the common seeker reading Scripture for devotional purposes, or the uninformed believer sifting through 4000 years of biblical history, things can get a little dicey with interpretation. It’s easy for things to get lost in translation.

Space would not permit me to elaborate on the vast expanse of the meanings behind the symbolism of the entire Tabernacle. Even the Ark itself cannot be unscrambled within these 700 words. But here are a few things we need to know about the Ark of the Covenant, as it relates to our own lives.

The Ark, or “Box”, as it is defined in the Hebrew text, was made of Acacia wood. Acacia wood was not wood that was found in abundance in the land of Canaan. It was primarily found in the Sinai wilderness. The Ark was constructed in the wilderness, and then overlaid within and without with pure gold. On the top of this “Box” was a lid capped with a crown, which was overlaid in pure gold as well. For this blog we’ll leave the cherubim on top of the lid out of the discussion.

The Ark’s purpose was two-fold. First, it was to protect the Word of God – the two tables of stone inside the Ark containing the Ten Commandments. Second, it was to keep God’s covenant intact. There were no magical powers about the Ark. Without the Word of God inside it was just another box. God’s Word contained in that gold box brought God’s protection, provision, and blessing to the nation of Israel. If you weren’t keeping the words of the “Testimony” contained in the Ark then you became a recipient of His wrath – just ask the Philistines.

The people of Israel were not allowed to lay eyes upon the Ark. Only one man, the High Priest, one time per year was allowed to lay eyes upon the Ark, and that only with God’s glory upon it and lamb’s blood applied to it. This was God’s way of preventing them from being tempted with idolatry. He did not want them to worship the Box, a graven image. The Box was the container of the Word and the throne of His glory.

Everything in the Tabernacle represents something about the nature of Christ, especially the Ark. Christ in His flesh – the acacia – was proven in the wilderness and pure as gold, within and without. He was the Word in flesh and the shedding of His blood was the antitype of the blood on the lid of the Ark. The crown of thorns on His head symbolized His total submission. The blood of Christ, which came from His head and downward, now covers mankind. You will never wear a crown of gold until you can first wear a crown of thorns.

In reality, your heart is that Box, made of wild acacia. Yet if you hide God’s Law in your heart, it will make it pure as gold, within and without. His blood is not just a covering for your heart, but it is literally a covering for His Word in your heart. His Word in your heart covered by His blood brings His glory upon you. As it was with the “Thorny Acacia” in the wilderness with Moses, the Lawgiver spoke to the Law receiver out of the Acacia that burned with fire but was not consumed. This pointed the way to the Box of the Covenant, made of Acacia, overlaid within and without with pure gold and covered by blood, and the voice of God spoke from the cloud upon the Mercy Seat. The fulfillment: God covers the wild nature of believers (Acacia) with the pure blood of Christ and fills us with His glory. The same voice speaks from that same cloud through us in other tongues out of the abundance of our heart. YOU are the Box.

Bishop J. Todd Nichols

For more details on this topic watch “The Box” via the link below. 

http://subspla.sh/13l3y5B

Haunted by Fear

In some cases, fear is amusing and sought after. Think roller coasters. Your pulse starts to pound and your palms begin to sweat as the seat you're strapped in slowly climbs to the top. It reaches the top, stops for a split second, and then plummets toward the earth. Some laugh, some scream, some cry. But regardless of the response, if you’re like me, you’re scared. And it’s that thrill of fear that keeps us coming back. We pay to be scared!

(In addition to theme parks, think about how much money Americans spend each year on things like haunted houses and scary movies.)

In other cases, fear is very real and very serious. Fear can cause us to make rash decisions or stop us from making right ones. Fear can paralyze us.

Some are affected by the fear of failure and difficulties…some by the fear of weakness and insignificance…others by the fear of being unloved and alone. In Romans 5, the Apostle Paul gave us the instructions to vanquish the aforementioned fears. 

Fear of failure and difficulties?  “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance” (Romans 5:3).

Fear of weakness and insignificance?  “And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation” (Romans 5:4).

Fear of being unloved and alone?  “And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love” (Romans 5:5).

Paul was telling the Roman church that God has equipped us to live out His plan for us.

Fear has a tendency to creep into our minds before we even recognize it. We let the "what ifs" in our lives leave us feeling debilitated. What if I forget what to say? What if I don't know what to do?  What if I do it wrong?  What if...

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners (Romans 5:6). He came at just the right time! And He will always be with us when we need Him! Don’t be haunted by fear!

Jesus died for you so you don't have to be afraid. He conquered your fears when He walked out of that tomb. So again I say, don’t be haunted by fear!

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7). This should give us liberty to live within His hope! Don’t. Be. Haunted. By. Fear!

Brandi Burton

Soul-Winning

My mind is mulling over thoughts on soul-winning. By no means am I the expert;

just thinking out loud.

Soul-winning is a unique mixture of science, theology, timing, wisdom, and faith – and is truly an art with regards to creativity.

Every human being has a unique fingerprint which serves as a reminder that EVERY person is different. Not only are they different from every other person but the season in which they find themselves is unique and ever-changing. It is for these reasons that people become frustrated with soul-winning and give up. First, let me say, don't let rejection in the area of soul-winning steal your passion. Not only are there others who are waiting on you to come to them, the one who rejected your advance may accept the seed you planted when the season changes.

There are so many variables that it can be very confusing. Prayer and a well-trained ear to God's voice will help with this of course. Keep following God and you will see that your success rate will climb over time.

That being said, God gave principles in His Word that eliminate the need to be perfect in every scenario, though he did tell us to be "wise as serpents and harmless as a dove."

One principle is found in Matthew 13 where Jesus told the parable of four soils: stony, thorns, wayside, and good. Some have said that this means that only 25% of what you sow will end up producing because only the seed on good ground produced. This statement doesn't have enough evidence to support it because Jesus did not say that the same amount of seed FELL on all four terrains. And even among the seed that fell on good ground some brought forth 30, some 50, and some 100-fold. The problem was not with the seed or the sower. What Jesus was telling us is that the same seed can be sown by the same sower and produce up to 100-fold in some and nothing in others. We still have to be the sower. God is the only one that can give the increase, but if the individual where the seed has been sown rejects the seed, not even God will go against nature to force increase.

Another principle about this story: Jesus did not teach anywhere in this parable, how to sow. Jesus himself did not differentiate between methods. AND Jesus himself was not scientific in His approach. Jesus said things like: "Come and follow me." "Take up your cross and follow me." "If you can't eat of my flesh and drink of my blood you cannot be my disciple."

Following the last statement above, the Bible says, "Many turned away and never followed Him again." He didn't change methods and He didn't quit reaching for people because He experienced one church split after another.

Of course, every Scripture about soul-winning can't be covered here but rest assured that nothing in the Scripture will contradict these principles. I think (which means it's an opinion), we need to remember a few things about soul-winning.

1. ANY method that brings people closer to God should be taken note of, not criticized. 

2. There is NO perfect method. Try what you feel like The Lord is giving you and if after a while it bears no fruit, find out why and if it can't be improved stop doing it.

3. Don't use criticism for someone else's method to justify your lack of effort or results. If a person is winning souls it doesn't matter whether you think their results should be better or that not enough of them are staying in the church.

4. Jesus said, "If they reject you they reject me." Don't take rejection personal. It's not about you anyway. Jesus never said, "If you sow a seed and they reject the seed it means they don't like you."

5. Stop making excuses. Stop saying you're not that kind of person. Stop speaking negative faith. Sow the seed. Water the seed. And water the seed again and again. Then leave the rest up to God.

6. God would not have commanded and commissioned you to do something that He would not anoint you to do.

7. Use any method you can get your hands on. Every person may not respond to the same method but when you find a method that reaches a certain demographic, use it, use it, use it...never stop using it or at least stop being critical of people who do use it.

8. Yes, I know that soul-winning includes making disciples. So don't stop there, keep working with them. Keep encouraging them. Check on them, teach them, befriend them. Be there for them.

My opinion is that the church is spending more time discussing methods than proving them. Jude gave us 2 simple approaches: "Some save with compassion...others save with fear." 

If Jesus were alive today the pundits would be reporting mostly negative headlines. "He has managed to get twelve men to follow Him but none of them are wealthy so, if His method only reaches 'those' kind of people we don't recommend using him as a role model for soul-winning. In addition, He managed to get thousands to follow Him but He just lost 90% by preaching about cannibalism. Let's wait to see who builds the next mega church full of wealthy people and we will copy what they are doing." Signed, religious pundit who has never done anything for God.

The bottom line is that God will bless and anoint ALL who choose to participate in the act of soul-winning. If you are one of those that says that relationships is the best way to win souls and that's the only method you use, I won't be critical, but I feel sorry for the people around you. That means ONLY the people you have the time to build relationships with will have a chance to be saved. Don't lock yourself in a box. Use ALL methods. Reach souls and don't let rejection and slow results impede your passion. People are waiting to hear what you have to say. Open your mouth and tell someone. Plant the seed, water it with prayer and tears, and let God give the increase.

Have a blessed day!

PS - Pray this prayer for best results: "Lord lead me to the hungry and lead the hungry to me." (Learned this from Bishop Chester Wright 16 years ago. It works.)

Bishop J. Todd Nichols

I Am Here

She rushes the kids out the door and rockets the car toward the church…hoping they’ll be on time, and that the kids’ nightly backseat brawl won’t feature broken limbs. She’d never meant for life to be like this.  She had become a single mom of three, working for minimum wage with bankruptcy looming. This week had been especially tough…a week of sleepless nights…a week of wondering how they'd make it. She nods to the greeters as they enter the auditorium and take their seats on the back row. As the band begins to play, the vocalists to sing, she glances around at those who are worshiping…she bows her head, silent tears begin to stream. In the midst of the music, the worship, the weight of worry…she hears a whisper, “Daughter, I am here.”

He had started this business alone, built it from the ground up; that’s what made it so tough. He walks in and puts on a smile, pats the backs of faithful employees, shakes the hands of valued customers...not letting anyone know that this time next week, his doors will be closed. He gets a few minutes alone in his office and reaches into the desk drawer. He lays his hand on his Bible and sighs…  “God, where are You?  I can’t do this alone.”  And the same voice whispers to him, “Son, I am here.”

Jesus had sent the disciples away after the miraculous feeding of the 5,000. Afraid, they rowed frantically trying to get out of storm’s way.  Mark 6:48 says, “He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves.  About 3 o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.”  It doesn’t say that Jesus came right away.  He saw their troubles.  He knew they were worried. But he waited until 3 o’clock to come their way; and would have passed them by, but they cried out, supposing he was a spirit. He responded, “Don’t be afraid! Take courage!  I am here!”

I am here. It was enough to assuage their fear, enough to lift the burden of worry.

Whatever your situation, hear the voice of the I AM…

Facing bankruptcy? I am here.

Battling depression? I am here.

Bound by addiction? I am here.

Drowning in loneliness? I am here.

1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your cares on him, because he cares for you.”

Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and he saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Psalm 145:18 “The Lord is near to all who call on him.”

I don’t know where you’re at today, but I know He’s there. 

by Brandi Burton

Don't Reject the Miraculous

They asked Him to leave.  Check that…they BEGGED Him to leave.

Savior…Healer…Redeemer…Messiah.  

Why?

He had arrived in a boat, climbed out, and freed a demoniac.

A man they feared.

A man who couldn’t be contained. By guards or chains or Great Danes.

A man who made himself at home in the cemetery and became their worst nightmare.

A man who no doubt was the reason they were “packin’.”

Mr. Insanity. Mr. Naked. Mr. Whacko Jacko.

THAT man.

That man was sitting at the feet of Jesus fully clothed and fully sane; and the people were afraid.  Luke 8:37 NLT says, “And all the people in the region of the Gerasenes begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them.”

What? A great wave of fear?

Jesus had just turned Mr. Insanity himself sane.

The man they had lived in fear of was now peacefully sitting with Jesus. Clothed. (That’s reason enough right there to be relieved.)

So what could they have possibly been afraid of now? Jesus?

Did the fact that He had just handled their demon-possessed giant like a grasshopper cause them to fear Him?

Yes, Jesus had very authoritatively cast out the demons and sent them into a herd of pigs that subsequently took a dive off a cliff and drowned…but I mean, were they imagining they were next in line to be sent swimming?

Bishop J. Todd Nichols preached a message recently and touched on the fact that they were not supposed to be messing with pigs. Under Moses, not only were Jews forbidden to eat pigs, God had forbidden them to even touch them. Pigs were considered filthy and unclean. And the Gadarenes had gotten so far from the presence of God that they were raising them!

No, the Gadarenes didn’t fear Jesus; their flesh feared the life He was calling them back to. He’d killed their precious pigs. He’d taken away the main source of their livelihood. He was calling them back to a life of leaning on Him, rather than their livestock…a life of following Him, rather than their flesh. The demoniac-turned-disciple signaled to them that their carnal party was over…and their flesh wasn’t happy. Didn’t matter that they lived in fear due to the demoniac running rampant; it was easier. They could take a life of fear over a life of faith. They would rather put up with some mess than walk righteously and be blessed. Their flesh said, “No thanks, Jesus. Keep the miraculous. We’ll take the mess.”

It’s amazing what we’ll get involved in and who we’ll become when we get away from God’s presence. We will choose to hang with pigs. We will choose the messy over the miraculous. Our lives can be filled with unhealthy relationships, addictions, sexual immorality, sickness, and the like…and all the while, the One who can meet our needs, heal our bodies, and give us the best life is kept at bay because we’re unwilling to change. We’re comfortable. We’re content to let demons run rampant. We’re content to let depression fill our lives. We reject the miraculous because we’re not interested in a life of faith. It’s too hard. Too narrow. I don’t want a cross. I don’t want a process. Give me the broad way. The broad way is easy. The broad way brings immediate gratification. (It also leads to eternal destruction…but that part tends to be forgotten.)

Choose to walk with Him. Choose the miraculous over the messy. The life He has planned for you is so much greater than the life you could make for yourself.

And besides…as for me and my “house”…no naked, insane demoniacs allowed. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever. 

by Brandi Burton & Greater Faith Webteam

Love

Saturday I'll celebrate my grandmother's life...I miss her already. One of my favorite things about her was her love for others. That love your neighbor as yourself thing? She did that, and did it well. 

My prayer for years has been for God to give me His love – pure, selfless, unadulterated, genuine love. I don’t want just a surface love that can easily fade with time or situation; I want the love of God that is never ending and never failing. If ever there was a person that came close to exuding that kind of love, it was my grandmother. I hope I can fill those shoes. 

Agape is the highest and purest form of love. It’s the kind of love that God has for each of us, and the kind of love He commands us to have for others. 

Jesus was approached one time and asked, “How can I inherit eternal life?” Jesus, knowing this man to be an expert in religious law, responded, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” The man answered, “You must love (agape) the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind. And, love (agape) your neighbor as yourself.” To which Jesus said, “Yes! Now go do that and you will live.” But then the man sarcastically shot back, “And who is my neighbor?” Some of us have probably asked the same question, and it's quite possible that we had the same motive for asking the question. We love people – mom, dad, siblings, kids, close friends, etc. – but when it comes to the average fellow human, if we do it at all, we don’t do it very well. It’s counter-intuitive. Yet Jesus says that’s second only to loving Him. 

And this wasn’t just an abstract teaching of Jesus. It filtered its way down to His followers, and they began speaking the same thing. Paul said it. “The entire law [the entire Bible] is summed up in one single sentence, one commandment – love your neighbor as yourself.” So aside from us loving Him, everything else…every accomplishment, everything we enjoy, everything we invest ourselves in…it all falls further down the line. 

To make sure we don’t forget this, Jesus told a story. It’s possibly the most famous story in the Bible. I speak of the story of the Good Samaritan. It teaches us what it means to really love others. 

Beginning around Luke 10:25 Jesus says…

We've got three men: a priest, a Levite, and a Samaritan.  And there is another man going down the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. While traveling, this man gets mugged. The muggers take all of his clothes, money and belongings; they beat him; and they leave him for dead.  These three men walk by as witnesses to this crime scene and each of them have a different response. Jesus says these are the three possible responses you could have to your neighbor. These are the three possible ways that you WILL react to the people around you. (You can read the story to see their responses.)

Jesus ends his story with a question. “Which of them do you think was a true neighbor to the one who fell among thieves?” The man said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said, “Yes! Now you go and do the same.” I can hear about love; I can have an understanding of love; but if I do not love...I'm missing it. 

The Samaritan didn't ask for anything in return. He simply gave of himself. It wasn't convenient to stop to help. It wasn't comfortable to let the severely beaten, half-dead stranger ride on his transportation as he walked next to him. 

Agape isn't free; real love costs you something. And in some cases…it costs you everything.

Although the majority would have passed me by without a second thought, Jesus saw where I was, broken on the side of this road called life, and stretched His own bleeding hands to me. The only way for Him to BE agape was to BE in my stead. He gave me His life. Now it's my choice as to what I do with it. Do I share this agape with everyone I meet or do I dare keep it to myself?  To not share His love with the world is to render His death for them useless. Of what value is the atonement if it is never applied to the debt? I have come to the conclusion that I must tell the world of His agape, as if my own life depends upon it…because in all honesty, it does.  Jesus said unto them, “Go and do likewise.” Take the whole gospel to the whole world? It starts with love. Agape. 

“By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). 

by Sarah Jene Cartwright

Strange Methods, Future Glories

II Kings 5:1-14

1 Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.

Verse 10 tells us that Elisha sent a messenger and instructed Naaman to go and wash in the Jordan River. Naaman got mad at the method chosen for him because Jordan was muddy and he was considered a great man. Naaman replied, “Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?” But in verse 14, we find that when Naaman submitted himself to the method, the Bible says that his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

We all endure trials and suffer affliction regardless of our status in life. Trees must be pruned in order to become more fruitful and when God prunes us, we should realize that there will be a gain coming from it. Romans 8:18 tells us that our present suffering worketh toward future glories which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:28 tells us that all things work together for good to them that love God and who are called according to his purpose.

Like Naaman, we may not always like the method. In fact, more times than not, this will be the case. But if we will stay the course, and submit to His will, we will see the work of God in our lives come to fruition. He makes no mistakes. Naaman was instructed to wash seven times, the number seven representing perfection in God’s order of things. If Naaman had stopped short, his leprosy would have remained.

Everything in life has a process. Take for example the simple baking of a cake. There are certain ingredients that must be used and each ingredient is different, but all are necessary to achieve the desired end result. Each ingredient must be properly measured, put into the right container and cooked at the right temperature for the right amount of time. And the most important part of the process is the chef, for it is he or she who controls all of this.

God is the Master Chef. He looks at the desired end result in our lives and he mixes in those things that we need. Sometimes sunshine, sometimes the dark clouds of discouragement, tragedy, or suffering. Sometimes we are on the mountain and sometimes in the valley. Sometimes we feel the gentle rain of refreshing in our soul and other times we feel the harshness of a cold winter’s blast. But all are needful for us.

Ecclesiastes 3 tells us that for everything there is a purpose and a season and that He makes everything beautiful in His time. If you are struggling today and you have asked God, Why? Be content in knowing that there is a why and that God is working things out in you. Don’t lose hope in your trial. Don’t question the process. Only submit. Place your life in His will and see what He will do.

Isaiah 55:8-9: My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

by K. B. Nichols

Be Born In Me

Have you ever tried something that was beyond your ability? "I’m afraid. I don’t feel qualified. How can I do this when no one has really taught me? I don’t know anyone else that does this. What if people don’t believe in me? What if I fail?" So many questions can arise when you start out on a new task, job, calling, or ministry.

My mind goes to a young lady in the Bible who found herself pregnant long before she ever thought she would be. We don’t know much about her upbringing; just that she was young, unmarried, and engaged to a good man. I don’t know what life experience she may have had managing a household; whether she came from a large family where she had younger siblings she helped care for. But regardless, motherhood was thrust upon her ahead of "her" time.

Why were she and her fiancé chosen to carry out such an important task? Good question…and I don't have an answer. But I would think it had something to do with this: they were obedient and they had faith. The Bible tells us they both believed the news from the angel and followed in obedience. Mary received and agreed to carry the promise in her mortal body and Joseph agreed to accept responsibility for Mary and the future of this child that was to be born. 

Mary could have shied away from it all. "Why me? And why now? I'm not ready for this. Surely there are other women who are more prepared for motherhood (much less THIS motherhood) and who will be supported rather than slandered. Joseph won’t get it. My friends and neighbors won’t get it. This doesn’t make sense. I can’t do it." But she stepped forward and accepted the call..."be it unto me according to thy word." Faith, trust, obedience. And because of it she had the priceless privilege of bringing the King of Kings and Lord of Lords into the world. (Often times the greatest blessings show up on our doorstep wrapped in "inconvenience" and "this doesn't make sense.")

Think about Joseph; ending the engagement would have been the kindest approach most Jewish men would have taken if they had found out their betrothed was pregnant by another. Many others would have let Mary suffer the customary penalty for adultery – death by stoning. But like Mary, Joseph displayed faith, trust, and obedience. And oh, was he glad he did! 

On top of all the uncertainty the pregnancy brought and the doubt and criticism of neighbors and friends, their journey was complicated by travel near the time of their baby’s arrival – forcing them to endure extreme discomfort to bring this child safely into the world. I’m sure at times they felt the weight of their decisions to take on this promise and had their share of doubts and fears. (It’s been said, if there is no risk of failing, then what you are doing isn’t significant.) Could they have failed? Most certainly! But by following the law to be censused, taking their son to the Temple to be dedicated, and naming him Jesus, they walked in obedience to the laws and religious customs of their day and most importantly to God’s Spirit. And as a result, their lives were enriched beyond words. 

I don't know who you are, where you live, or what you do. And I don’t know what God has planned for you. But I know this: If you will follow Mary and Joseph's lead and have faith, trust God, and obey…you too will bring to pass the promises of God that will unlock the spectacular story He’s written for you.

by Ruth Clark 

Hearts and Water

Photo Credit: Holly Biata

You’ve just finished your morning run, just Zumba’d your socks off, just chased the dog around the neighborhood, just walked off the basketball court. You’re exhausted. You’re out of breath. You are ready to lie down and die. And then…water. (Ah.) Few things in life are as wonderful and refreshing as a tall glass of fresh, clean water; it’s the drink of life. By the same token, few things are as grotesque and repulsive as a tall glass of stagnant, stinky, dirty water; it…is the drink of death.

Our heart can be compared to a glass of water. There is nothing quite like a pure, fresh, clean heart. It’s beautiful and wonderful and full of love; it’s a heart of life. On the other hand, a stagnant heart…a heart that has been left unattended and become toxic due to lack of time spent in prayer and neglect of His Word…is a heart of death. The word “stagnant” is defined as having no current or flow and often having an unpleasant smell as a consequence. If His Spirit isn’t flowing through us daily, rather than the love of God filling us, we can be filled with bitterness, jealousy, envy, negativity, and the like…causing our heart to stink.

Stagnation is a result of the water absorbing toxins in the air that surrounds it. What's to be learned from this? The places we go and the people we surround ourselves with determine whether we’re filled with life or death. If we walk with Him daily and surround ourselves with pureness and positivity, we can expect to have a heart of life and His love to flow through us. But if we neglect our relationship with Him and instead surround ourselves with filthiness and negativity, we can expect to become stagnant and His Spirit and love to be stifled within us. 

Two things to keep in mind:

1. Anytime you see pests near water, it’s a sign the water is stagnant.

Take inventory of your life; if you discover that there are human pests (pessimistic/rebellious/death-speaking folks) surrounding you, it’s probably a sign that your heart has become stagnant and could use a cleansing. 

2. If water ever has a bitter taste to it, the only way to fix it is to get a fresh/clean glass of water.

Jesus said, “But the words you speak come from the heart…” (Matthew 15:18 NLT). If ever we find the love of God absent in us and instead negative and bitter words coming out of us, it’s time for a heart cleanse.

Proverbs says, “God loves the pure-hearted” (22:11 MSG). So, how do we get there? The more we connect with God the purer our hearts become. So we talk to Him. We read His Word. We go to church to hear His Word preached.  We surround ourselves with pure people who love God. And if ever we feel our heart becoming stagnant, we take inventory and refocus on the aforementioned things.

If you take a water hose and let the flow of fresh water pour into a glass of stagnant water, as the water level starts to rise and pour over the top of the glass the microbes and toxins begin to dilute and eventually dissipate...resulting in a glass that is filled with fresh, clean, pure water. And so it is in a spiritual sense – as we refocus and His Spirit begins to freshly flow through us, the stale and bitter emotions fade and His love again refills us. 

"...God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.” (1 John 4:16 GW)

If His Spirit is flowing in us, His love will be flowing out of us. How’s your heart? If you feel a little stagnant, take some time today to refocus so that you can be refilled and refreshed anew.

by Brandi Burton