Suggestions as to how we might keep freshness in our relationship with the Lord
In Part 1 we considered three suggestions that might help us stay fresh in our relationship with the Lord. They were
1. Not taking the Lord for granted
2 Keeping a child-like humility
3 Always committing our way to the Lord
We are now going to consider a further 4 suggestions (4-7) that might help us stay fresh with the Lord. These suggestions all can help based on my own experience.
4 Walking in the Spirit
Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
So often, we start in the Spirit but end up in the flesh performing what has become a ritual. The ritual becomes a tradition which then becomes a tablet of stone.
Walking in the Spirit entails being responsive to the voice (wind) of the Spirit. When a yachtsman sets off on a voyage, he must catch the wind at the right angle so that the yacht will be propelled by the prevailing wind. However, he will not have gone far before he will need to adjust his sails to keep moving in the desired direction.
So, it is with the Lord we need to keep going back to the Lord for redirection and course correction.
If the yachtsman is sailing at night, he must navigate by his compass or by the stars (if it is a cloudless sky). Modern navigation is assisted by satellites which allow the navigator to triangulate their location. However, the sailor or airplane pilot must keep making constant checks on their direction to avoid drifting off course and into danger and so we must keep referring to the Lord for fresh directions.
5 Cleave (cling) to the Lord
Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before your life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Deuteronomy 4:4 But ye that did cleave [1] unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day.
We need to stick to the Lord with His superglue (love). Sometimes we feel that we are on a bucking bronco but if we cling tight and hold on all will be well.
Our walk with the Lord is like a dance in which He is the leading partner, the minute we stop holding on to Him as he moves, we are at first out of step then eventually dancing on our own i.e. doing our own thing! Sometimes we hear the still small voice from behind saying this is the way we ye in it.
6 Intimacy with God
In the bible the physical intimacy between a man and his wife was described in terms of ‘knowing’ e.g. and Adam knew his wife. Our spiritual intimacy with God comes through knowing Him and we come to know Him progressively through meditating on His word and by fellowshipping with Him in prayer. Not just petitionary prayer! We can get intimate with God in praise and worship as we open our hearts to him. Telling your spouse that you love them increases intimacy. To know God is to love Him so we ought to tell him.
7 Desire for God
When read how the psalmist panted for God like a deer for water in the desert (Psalm 42), we must admit that sometimes our hunger and thirst for the Lord is not what it should be. However, our God is so gracious that we can pray to Him asking Him to increase our hunger and thirst for Him. We can be sure that such a prayer is in His will!
Other areas you might want to explore in seeking freshness with the Lord include abiding in the vine, staying accountable, remaining faithful, staying teachable, being available and finally resting in the Lord.
Conclusion and prayer
Let us repent of taking the Lord for granted and stepping out without consulting Him.
Let us ask Him to give us a child-like humility and trust in Him.
Lord teach us how to commit all our ways and all our works unto you, for unless you the Lord build the house we labour in vain.
Teach us how to walk in the spirit, moment by moment, constantly being aware of the Holy Spirit’s leading, not getting ahead or behind you or to the left or the right.
Lord teach us how to cleave and cling to you knowing that nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Give us a hunger and thirst for you each new day that we might know you in all your glory and grow intimate with you the living God.
Amen
After thought: The aroma of your fresh relationship with God is attractive and can draw people to something real.
[1] Cleave; 1692. dabaq, daw-bak'; a prim. root; prop. to impinge, i.e. cling or adhere; fig. to catch by pursuit: --abide, fast, cleave (fast together), follow close (hard, after), be joined (together), keep (fast), overtake, pursue hard, stick, take.