"What am I currently doing that will have an eternal impact? What do I need to spend less time doing in order to focus more on the eternally significant goals to which God calls me?" -Chris Hodges, Fresh Air.
One of the best ways to ignite our spiritual life is to refocus our lives on what really matters to God. The most significant thing we can do is alter someone else's eternal destiny. I had the opportunity to help someone decide whether or not they wanted to make a positive difference or an eternal difference in their life this week. The significance of this decision meant I would boldly speak truth with grace to a friend but challenge him to consider leading his life in a totally different God-honoring way.
As I listened to this guy talk about some of the challenges he faced, I couldn't shake the impression that his relationship with Jesus wasn't clearly defined. So I asked him how the challenges effected his relationship with Jesus. He admitted he didn't really have one. We talked a while about some strategies that would improve his situation but I couldn't shake the notion that if he needed more than advice. His life needed altering.
We talked freely about how God might be working through his current situation. Sometimes we can get a new perspective on our own problems when we focus our energy on God not the problem. God often has an easier time revealing his solutions when we concentrate on his ways instead of our own. When we focus on eternal life and its significance, everything takes on a different meaning. What would it take to ground yourself in what is real and what matters most to God? Our spiritual life can ignite with zeal as we participate with the Holy Spirit and experience personally the eternal significance of a changed life. We cannot continue to retreat into self-absorption and self-defeating focus. Friends, we can know the spiritual life we long for is within reach if we act and allow God to fuel the fire within.
"After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." Acts 4:31 (NIV)
-Pastor Jen