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'Acting on the "fruits of the Spirit" is how a spiritual heart is developed, according to Christian theology. This involves a person consistently living out virtues like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, which are considered the results of the Holy Spirit's work in a person's life. Cultivating these qualities isn't a result of one's own effort, but a process of allowing God to work within, which naturally leads to a more Christ-like character.
'Ignoring the reality of this truth appears to be not fully comprehended. Vacant of a spiritual heart, God's Spirit surely is not working accordingly. Understand that spiritual growth often happens during difficult times. Embrace the resistance as an opportunity for your faith to strengthen.
'Incorporating spiritual living in one's daily life requires discipline, self-control
and above all...perseverance! Unnecessary distractions will always hinder the hope
of truly finding an inner peace.
'Precisely the reasoning not to get entangled with attempting to understand scripture
from the standpoint of those who "think" their way of understanding 'trumps" that of all others.
'Often better to stand on one's own relationship with God's will and become scripture "savvy"
between self and the Holy Spirit. It works when one works on it!
'It goes beyond a surface-level reading to include a deep, practical understanding
of biblical truths and how they apply to daily life.
'Gratitude for salvation in the Bible is a profound and active response to God's grace, marked by recognizing His goodness and love, which compels believers to live lives of worship, obedience, and service. It involves appreciating that salvation is a gift from God, leading to a lifestyle of thankfulness in all circumstances, and motivating a desire to please Him and love others.
That These Truths Be Recognized Is True Spirituality
(Traumeri by Schumann)
'From the earliest times, mankind has been aware of the transcendental power which governs and sustains the Universe. From the beginning, mankind has hungered for knowledge of this Power and has longed for understanding. It is an innate need of all mankind. Development of the Idea of God through the centuries has brought forth a variety of creeds. When the world's great religions are examined we discover that all the various religions and creeds have more or less the same idea of God - though God, the Creative Power is called by many different names throughout the world, and the attributes of God are viewed from many different perspectives.
All religions have, with one voice, ascribed three fundamental qualities of God ---
They are: Omnipotence - all powerful; Omniscience - all knowing; and Omnipresence - presence in all things.
'The primary tenet of all religions is that God is the perfect embodiment of Love, Grace and Compassion; is absolute perfection; and is the source of all creation. All creatures are God's children. That is the central truth of all the world's great religions. God is One, though the various religions personify and speak of God in many ways. Each religion is a revelation in its own way of this great truth, the Oneness of All Creation. GOD is not the monopoly of any particular creed or religion, as all share in this Oneness. In fact, GOD is not religion at all, GOD simply IS!
'From this perspective, without God's Grace and Love nothing can exist and without God's Power nothing is done in this Creation. All the different religions, large and small, are various paths leading to the same goal -- an understanding of the morality and ethics of successful life, our relationship as individuals to God, and the afterlife when the physical body returns whence it came.
'The central message of all religion is that in the diminishment of our Self-centeredness, our sense of Self-righteousness and Self-importance, our egocentricity, in service to our fellow man, we become less fearful of living and of dying. We become more loving and less defensive as we lift our eyes off ourselves and to the Creator, and are truly able to recognize and love our brothers as ourselves, experiencing a deeper sustained happiness and connectedness with the Creator and the details of life. We begin to understand the great Truth, "Life without the death of Self has no meaning.", and we find Life more Abundant.
**Many interpretations of scripture view spiritual enlightenment as a central purpose, providing a framework for understanding and a path to a meaningful life. . Enlightenment is seen as a divine gift that illuminates God's truth, helps believers grasp the spiritual meaning of scripture, and aligns them with God's purpose. This process often involves an awakened awareness and understanding of spiritual reality that guides moral, intellectual, and relational conduct.
Enlightenment provides a purpose to scripture
Understanding God's word:Spiritual enlightenment is the process by which the Holy Spirit helps believers understand scripture, moving beyond a simple intellectual reading to grasp its personal and divine significance. Passages like Psalm 119:130 ("The unfolding of Your words gives light; it imparts understanding") connect the revelation of God's word directly to light and understanding.
A transformative process:Enlightenment is not just an intellectual concept but a living, transformative faith that aligns a person's heart and mind with what is good and real. It moves believers from a state of spiritual blindness to one of clarity and vision. Living in alignment with divine purpose: The process of enlightenment guides believers in their daily lives and helps them move towards better theology. It provides a framework for living according to God's will and purpose.
A gift from God: Scripture frames enlightenment as a gift from God that is essential for developing
a relationship with the divine. For example, Ephesians 1:17-18 describes a prayer for a spirit of wisdom
and revelation so that "the eyes of your heart may be enlightened".
Shift in perspective:Enlightenment involves a fundamental shift in one's perspective, a different "lens" through which to see the world. A key example is the belief that the Holy Spirit guides believers into all truth, speaking only what He hears and revealing what is to come, as promised in John 16:13-14.
**(Intended solely as informative and subjects to reflect on. ®
Spiritual maturity and growth depend on the measure of one's intent. )
I stood by this truth then, and I stand by this truth today.
The significance of this truth has surely helped shape my spiritual life for over two decades. 'Praise God'
'Spiritually, to be "united with Christ" means a believer is spiritually and mystically joined to Jesus through faith and the Holy Spirit, so that they share in His life, death, resurrection, and all the blessings of salvation. This union is not a physical one, but a deep, comprehensive spiritual reality where Christ's benefits become the believer's, enabling new life and identity in Him.
Aspects of spiritual union with Christ
Holy Spirit as the bond: The Holy Spirit is the agent that connects believers to Christ, bringing about this
spiritual union and enabling a mystical bond.
Union in His work:Through this union, believers are seen as sharing in Christ's historical life, death, and resurrection.
What is true of Him becomes true for them through faith.
Source of all spiritual blessings:Being united with Christ is the foundation from which all spiritual blessings flow, including election, forgiveness, justification, sanctification, and adoption. New identity and life:A person united with Christ is considered a "new creation," with a new identity and a new life that reflects Christ's.
Eternal reality: This union is not temporary; it is a reality that lasts throughout the believer's life and into eternity. Distinction is maintained: While deeply connected, the believer and Christ remain distinct individuals.
"It is conceivable there are those who struggle with the attributes of a spiritual life" means it is understandable and possible that some individuals experience tension, conflict, or difficulty in embracing or practicing the core qualities often associated with a spiritual way of living.
'The Holy Spirit is surely a connectedness that requires daily awareness,
perseverance and discipline. Listening to the noise of worldliness will surely
hinder the ability to hope for a Holy Spirit connection.
'God's Spirit surely must be moving in many lives, as it is being seen more and more
those coming into this fellowship that state they have recently "been saved". It is always
uplifting to witness.
'Most likely, there have been changes in a person's personal life that they feel something is missing,
therefore, bringing them to decide to include God in their life. This is always a gladness to witness
a person's decision to include God in their life.
'I hope each come to learn there is peace awaiting, so long as one learns a spiritual awakening
is a transformation of out with the old me, and in with a new me. I hope each stay grounded in
fully understanding by acting upon and applying the attributes of the Holy Spirit in one's daily life
will surely bring cause of a character transformation, so long as one perseveres in all of one's coming and going.
'Let us pray to know Love is the greatest asset, and with selfless Love, there comes a joy to behold.
'Make no mistake, any distraction from hoping to achieve one's own truth will surely
be a hindrance in one's spiritual truth of reality, here in the now.
'Those disconnected surely can be witnessed by the intent to lead others with their own
desired selfish desires, on their own worldly path.
'Living a Christlike life...characterized by love, humility, and spiritual principles—and a "worldly" life, which is influenced by material possessions, self-interest, and societal values. 'A Christlike life is not worldly because it prioritizes spiritual and moral integrity over the fleeting pleasures and values of the secular world. This involves a conscious choice to follow the teachings and example of Jesus, even when it means being different from the surrounding culture.
("This content is for informational use and is not a substitute for 'Spiritual' advice. Be sure to do your own careful 'inventory' before taking action based on anything you find in this content. Intended solely as informative and subjects to reflect on.")
'Make no mistake, the "noise of a restless soul" describes the pervasive, internal human experience
of seeking meaning, purpose, or a sense of "home within ourselves" that has not yet been achieved.
'And surely the "noise of a restless world" only adds to a "restless soul". Surrendering to God
surely is a spiritual endeavor, never to be fully accomplished, no matter what is said to make one
believe it is simple, it is not. Thinking otherwise, a fool is close at hand, self.
'Over two decades ago, I came to the decision I needed God in my life, and I did surrender to one
of my greatest problems, which surely has turned my life around. Total completeness of surrender
to God simply is not within the nature of mankind, as the greatest flaw rest with "free will".
'The problem of free will, or sometimes referred to as the dilemma of determinism. It is only in a world with free will that our actions can be considered truly good or bad. A cause is the reason an effect occurs; without a cause, the effect would not happen.
'The cause of a disorderly and unmanageable lifestyle, surely, is the effect of this spiritual journey. I stand on this truth of it all, no more, no less.