A Few Thoughts About The Spirit - Pt. 2

For today's Daily Devo, we're going to continue thinking about the Spirit of God, and how the Spirit of God works in and through us.  

I believe that the Spirit of God within us creates a longing to connect not just with other people, but with God, who knows us better than we know ourselves. 

We long to know and to be known.  We long to truly feel.  To not give in to the despair that comes from the resignation that this is all there is, and there is no Creator or Designer, no plan or purpose. 

Because when we resign ourselves to this--even slightly--we end up trying to fulfill our longings with other things, other feelings or even what some might call other "gods." 

But when those longings are met for real. We know it.  When we realize (sometimes surprisingly) that there really is a God, and that God is actually connected to us.  It draws out emotions, feelings we didn't know we had. 

And when we respond to these emotions we often sing... or pray... or weep... or stand up and dance... or we fall down to our knees or on our faces... 

This is called "worship" by some people--a full-on, emotionally-charged, hard-to-explain feeling that can't be shaken, and can't be faked. 

Here's an awesome thought.  You were made for this.  That stardust inside of you contains not just your DNA for this moment, but the very DNA of the One who spoke all of this into existence in the first place. 

Which is why when we see others going through the motions of worship, or we find ourselves doing the same---we know that it's not real.  We feel stuck in a rut.  It might feel comforting for a bit, but the energy isn't quite right.  It doesn't feel the same.  It's not authentic. 

It doesn't make you want to dance. 

It's not true worship. 

True Worship doesn't just go through the motions.  

True Worship is the response to an authentic encounter with the God who imprinted us with His DNA, loves us more than we can ever know,  and also desires to be connected with us by any means necessary.

I would encourage you to experiment with something today:  

When you experience joy... When you feel a moment of a connection with someone... When you feel peace wash over you... When you have a feeling of gratitude... When you are angry over injustice...  When you mourn with someone who is mourning...  

Stop and silently acknowledge these feelings as a movement of the Spirit of God within you.  Pray a prayer of thanksgiving that the wind of the Spirit is blowing in your life. Then celebrate---however you feel you can in the moment.  

And may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you now and always. Amen.