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At the center of this prayer in Romans is a relationship. God blesses you and me, while we trust Him. I recall in my youth having some "friends." I would call, inviting them to go out to enjoy activities. I, at other times, would wait and not hear from them. I was always the one initiating. One day, I stopped calling and gave up the "friendships." I decided that was not the kind of friends I wanted. I wanted joining in initiation.
God is like that. God wants us with and in God. If we choose not to share in the source of blessing, we forfeit the flow of blessings. This does not mean that God withholds, this means we cannot receive. If we join with the Trinity, honoring our relationship with God by time and service, we remain open to receive from God an abundance.
So, this is an essential way of the spiritual Life: Seek God, then receive from God. When we practice this cooperation with God, the Holy Spirit will come to relax us, despite the uncertainties or challenges we may face in our lives.
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1. Joyce Meyer speaks of experiencing God as a way to relaxation. How do you open up to experience God?
2. Are you relaxed in your life? If not, what is blocking your being relaxed? How may you address that matter with God?
3. What does it mean to say that God never withholds blessing and, yet, we sometimes do not live blessed lives?
4. What are key spiritual practices that connect you with God and blessing?
5. What is the one spiritual practice that God seems to use most to connect you with Him? Explain.
6. What is one thing you can do today to connect with God? To trust God more? To be more open to the Holy Spirit's power and blessing?
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*Charitable contributions would be appreciated to assist Brian in the continuance of his work of ministry. For contributions, contact Brian at barukhattah@embarqmail.com .
*Brian's book of mystical love poetry, An Ache for Union: Oneness with God through Love, can be ordered through major booksellers, or through the Cokesbury on-line store, at www.cokesbury.com .
*Brian K. Wilcox lives in Punta Gorda, FL, and Clearwater, FL, with his wife, step-son, and two beloved dogs. He serves the Christ Community United Methodist Church, Punta Gorda, FL. Brian is vowed at Greenbough House of Prayer, a contemplative Christian community in South Georgia. He lives a vowed, contemplative life and inspires others to experience a more intimate relationship with God-in-Christ. Brian advocates for a spiritually-focused Christianity and renewal of the focus of the Church on addressing the deeper spiritual needs and longings of persons, along with empathic relating with other world religions, East and West. Brian has an independent writing, workshop, and retreat ministry, for all spiritual seekers.
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