We should stop here for a moment to explain that as soon as you turn to your spiritual counselor with a dilemma, you may have mixed emotions. For the first time, or the first time in a long time, you may feel odd by contemplating the truth of your pending situation. The shadow of 'truth' is always present, each and every time we choose or decide. The question is always, how will we respond? Just as our spirit is now always present, so too is the truth. With an active spirit we now become cognizant of the truth and the role it plays in the emotional struggle we now face. Truth's recognition through the Holy Spirit dwelling within us is always there. In every situation. We have lived our entire life ignoring it, distrusting it, abandoning it. Yet, it is always easier (and much more gratifying [in the short term or during the experience]) for us to dismiss it as “it's not for me”. It is easier to repeat our ‘old pattern’ behavior, and then, if necessary, to rationalize the consequence(s). Even if we know the potential outcome is not in our best interest, for many it’s actually more comforting to repeat the experience despite knowing and acknowledging (a potential negative outcome) rather than to trust an invisible ‘God’. When your spirit is active and alive with the presence of God through the advent promise of a relationship with Christ, you now possess the temerity to recognize truth and its strength, by making it your reality in each specific and every particular scenario. There is nothing else available that will allow you to see the truth of your decisions in real time prior to enactment, as will the spirit of God within you. How to make the jump? How does one go from neophyte (new) believer, with a now ‘born again’ activated spirit to an engaged, expectant receiver of ‘good news’? How do we learn to be expectant as to our response in a situation, which requires choice or decision with a consequence attached? As with learning to ride a bicycle, parallel park a car, being part of a team, learning a musical instrument, or any prolific new skill set: practice, practice, practice. Or as applied to our spiritual grounding and growth: hear, listen, trust, act; repeat! The more we allow ourselves to turn inward for spiritual counseling and guidance in every important relationship or actualized decision, the more comfortably accustomed we become in asking. The more we ask, the more He answers. However, because His Spirit always answers with the truth, it is in our repeated recognition of that truth (or not) which enables us to control the consequence of our action (or not) before it occurs. Simply put, the more we ask and accept what He (God the Father through His living Spirit, in Christ abiding within us) would have us do, the more controlled our response or reaction. With our "counselor’s direction" we can sidestep the holes of adversity in our lives present and future instead of continually trying to dig ourselves out. We are able to start living full and blessed lives. Once you are on the path, Stay on the path. This is the key! Join me next time when we look at How our spirit works with the Spirit of God within us.
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December 2020
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