Living a Passionate Christian Life

Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash

 Don’t be lazy when hard work is needed, but serve the Lord with spiritual fervor.

~ Romans 12:11, CJB ~

What are you passionate about? What gives you motivation? What are you committed too? Being a mindful and thoughtful Christian, we want to explore the very reason to live life to its fullest. Keeping the Lord at the center – we move with passion and determination. Christ was passionate about the people around him. He was passionate about serving and walking in obedience. He displayed genuine and authentic passion in His ministry. Despite the struggles, challenges, and obstacles that came His way – He faced mortal life with zeal, compassion, love, and a passion to live each day.

For us, we feel that our zealousness slowly fades away with each inevitable struggle. If that is the case – maybe it is time to slow down, to take a sabbath, find ways to be grateful for what you have, and above all else, pray to our Heavenly Father. And, if worry and fear has weighted you down some – pray with great intensity and passion to seek God’s divine grace that will renew your soul.

Our relationship with Jesus Christ. Our relationship with the father. Our relationship with ourselves and others give us the motivation and adventure we need to find fulfillment in life. Passion brings into our lives a sense of fulfillment.

~ Today’s Prayer and Meditation ~

Heavenly Father, renew my spirit and my passion for life. Through my love, my heart speaks a solemn testimony of my faith in you. As I walk in obedience, let my passion and zeal for your love and grace be worthy. Let me walk in assurance of my faith and my actions direct others toward your grace and infinite love. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Pursuing Hard After God

 Authentic Christianity begins with one main experience: pursuing hard after God. What does it mean to pursue hard after God?

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me

~ Psalm 63:8, ESV ~

---

A. W. Tozer writes:

We pursue God because, and only because, He first put an urge within us that spurs us to to the pursuit (The Pursuit of God, 2013).

We approach the Sovereign creator because he first calls us into relationship with Him. Not of any good we have done in our own lives. He regenerates us by creating a new heart and gives us a new spirit (Ezekiel 36:26). We are drawn to Christ because it is God who draws us (John 6:44). Tozer continues:

...it is by this very prevenient drawing that God takes from us every vestige of credit for the act of coming. The impulse to pursue God originates with God, but the outworking of that impulse is our following hard after Him; and all the time we are pursuing Him, we are already in His hand...

This idea of pursuing God requires we hunger and thirst after righteousness (Matthew 5:6). It is our genuine response to what has already occurred in our own lives. We cultivate a genuine and personal relationship with the Savior because of God's grace in that while we were yet sinners, Christ had died for us (Romans 5:8).

Being made in His image we have within us the capacity to know him. ... The moment the Spirit has quickened us to life in regeneration our whole being senses its kinship to God and leaps up in joyous recognition. That is the heavenly birth without which we cannot see the Kingdom of God. It is ... not the end but an inception, for now begins the glorious pursuit, the heart's happy exploration of the infinite riches of the Godhead (Tozer, 2013).

Are you pursuing hard after God? Have you experienced the power of God's sovereign grace in your life and received a new heart and spirit whereby you hunger and thirst after His righteousness? Have you truly been saved and been born-again by the simple message of the Gospel and have truly received Christ as your Savior? Where do you stand in relation with God?

The days are growing short, the time is almost at hand. Come unto Christ and know that through God, we receive eternal life because he sent His only Son to die for each and every one of us. Through Christ, we receive forgiveness of our sins, and it is through Christ we may enter into the Kingdom of God.

 

How Opposition is Beneficial to an Authentic Christian Life

 For it must needs be, there is an opposition in all things ~ 2 Nephi 2:11

... it is as necessary that we should have difficulties to contend with, in order to make intelligent provision for our spiritual concerns, as it is that we should have the winter frosts and stormy weather to enable us to make discreet provision for our temporal necessities.

(Benefits of Opposition: Richards, Franklin D. Provo, Utah April 4, 1886).

---

We live in a very fragile and vulnerable world. At any given moment, tragedy may strike us unannounced - leaving us devastated with great loss and mourning. Others struggle with vices they are no longer able to control. Still, many find themselves isolated, alone, and wondering if anyone truly cares. Each one of us are battling our own demons and face our own struggles. We question, become angry, and feel weighted down by these challenges. We are wrestling alone and in silent.

As Christians, we understand that there are going to be trials we will face. Through these trials, our faith will be increased.

How then does opposition benefit us? We know the reality of our fallen world. We know there is sin. We know that there is exposure to various trials and temptations. We understand that because of our fallen world, many have turned away from Christ. For us as Christians, there is peace and hope that many others are not fully aware of or are understanding toward.

This does not mean that we will have an easy life. This does not mean that we will not face our own struggles. What this means is how we are anchored in knowing that through these trials we are walking through, there is peace and sustaining support from our beloved Savior. If only we turn to him, even with very little faith, he will help us through those storms and those struggles.