Living in fear
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For me, spirit may not seem tangible or even compatible with flesh. It seems almost abstract, vague, basically untouchable. But through the fruits of the spirit, found in connecting with the living, breathing word of God and in prayer, our spirit connects with His. He abides in us and us in Him...not sort of, not kind of, but in a concrete and solid, strength filled, way. I believe communion with Him, realizing a relationship is tangible through His love and mercy is part of His design.
Let me explain it this way.
Gestures are emotion based. People like me have a difficult time with gestures. God's act of salvation which is a culmination of human drama has little to no influence for a person who does not connect meaning to grand gestures. I remember when I first got saved, as a teenager. In fact, I have only ever repeated gestures out of some sense of obligation. By and far though I am skeptical of grand gestures, and I see them more as a form of emotional manipulation then as a tool to effectively communicate a message.
A gesture seems so unplanned and disordered. It seems that for the most part if concerned parties just sat down and talked things over they could have a much more rewarding verbal experience. A gesture to me has always just seemed like a really lazy way of telling someone what you want them to know without taking upon yourself the responsibility of effectively communicating it.
The problem here is that gestures are fundamental for the fabric of Christianity. God has revealed himself to us. Now this, in theory, could have come about in any manner of ways. God could have appeared to Caesar, George Washington, or Josephus. He could appear to us right now, and give us his revelation. If he had a message for us to hear then the most effective manner to communicate it is to simply tell it to us directly. People almost entirely miss the realm of indirect communication, which is what all Christianity has to assume is how God speaks to us today. Even with a belief that stipulates the highest degree of objectivity at the point of origin for our faith, the reality is that right now God is silent, and all we have are his gestures from the past.
Gestures are emotion based. People like me have a difficult time with gestures. God's act of salvation which is a culmination of human drama has little to no influence for a person who does not connect meaning to grand gestures. I remember when I first got saved, as a teenager. In fact, I have only ever repeated gestures out of some sense of obligation. By and far though I am skeptical of grand gestures, and I see them more as a form of emotional manipulation then as a tool to effectively communicate a message.
A gesture seems so unplanned and disordered. It seems that for the most part if concerned parties just sat down and talked things over they could have a much more rewarding verbal experience. A gesture to me has always just seemed like a really lazy way of telling someone what you want them to know without taking upon yourself the responsibility of effectively communicating it.
The problem here is that gestures are fundamental for the fabric of Christianity. God has revealed himself to us. Now this, in theory, could have come about in any manner of ways. God could have appeared to Caesar, George Washington, or Josephus. He could appear to us right now, and give us his revelation. If he had a message for us to hear then the most effective manner to communicate it is to simply tell it to us directly. People almost entirely miss the realm of indirect communication, which is what all Christianity has to assume is how God speaks to us today. Even with a belief that stipulates the highest degree of objectivity at the point of origin for our faith, the reality is that right now God is silent, and all we have are his gestures from the past.
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History Princess,
My explanation is just me testifying of His Glory manifested in my life. I am not the authority when it comes to explaining Him or His ways. I do know, as you do, He is the way, the truth, and the life. I think it important for each of us to have our own journey with Him. I try not to lean on my own understanding but to trust in His. Hugs and Love in Christ.
My explanation is just me testifying of His Glory manifested in my life. I am not the authority when it comes to explaining Him or His ways. I do know, as you do, He is the way, the truth, and the life. I think it important for each of us to have our own journey with Him. I try not to lean on my own understanding but to trust in His. Hugs and Love in Christ.
I so do value your gift of articulation. Seriously your eloquence with words is beautiful to read and explore. For me, He is anything but silent.
They said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?" Luke 24:32.
In my experience, the Holy Spirit testifies to this truth still occurring. I, myself know a heart burning as He still ,today, explains the verses to me. The experience of Him, the communion with Him is not a gesture, not a vague ethereal experience. He is alive and well, dwelling in the lives of us.
They said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?" Luke 24:32.
In my experience, the Holy Spirit testifies to this truth still occurring. I, myself know a heart burning as He still ,today, explains the verses to me. The experience of Him, the communion with Him is not a gesture, not a vague ethereal experience. He is alive and well, dwelling in the lives of us.
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I could not say that about anyone, that is yet another aspect of Him that sets Him apart. I know sometimes my jargon can make my witness seem cliche and not real clear. As I get to know you and others that respond with things like "huh, what are you talking about", lol, I realize that I need to reach outside the box of christianese. Thank you for speaking your truth with me History Princess.
No offense taken, I am merely speaking my experience and my truth of my experience. It may not be yours but it is clear to me. Again, I think it is personal to each believer. He knows who He is dealing with and tends, communicates, to us individually. To me, I am clear, hahaha. To you, jibberish, lol. This is why He is the One you lean into, not me or any other man or woman.
Hello HistoryPrincess,
You are absolutely perfect! God has wired you according to His plan and purpose for you! You are loved and accepted in Him.
Your mind is high functioning and suppresses information from your heart. It’s okay but, it helps to understand why you process information the way you do. 😍
Our minds receive information from our physical 5 senses. If the information cannot be seen, smelt, tasted, heard or touched then our minds reject it and say it does not exist. Totally logical - nothing wrong with this. We need our minds to connect us with our physical surroundings.
However, our hearts have the ability to seek and find information from a different realm - the spiritual realm. We have 5 spiritual senses that are the same as the physical - smell, taste, touch, sight and hearing.
When you hear thoughts in your head you are using your spiritual ears. Remember Yeshua/Jesus would say, “he that has an ear, hear what the Spirit is saying.”
Dreams and visions are spiritual eyesight.
You have all 5 spiritual senses - everyone does. We oftentimes are just never taught about them yet, they exist.
After we are born again of God’s Holy Spirit and water, we can connect with God in the Heavenly Realm - this is the sweet fellowship place where we are seated with Christ in heavenly places.
No worries if you don’t understand- God will teach you! He loves you! .
You
You are absolutely perfect! God has wired you according to His plan and purpose for you! You are loved and accepted in Him.
Your mind is high functioning and suppresses information from your heart. It’s okay but, it helps to understand why you process information the way you do. 😍
Our minds receive information from our physical 5 senses. If the information cannot be seen, smelt, tasted, heard or touched then our minds reject it and say it does not exist. Totally logical - nothing wrong with this. We need our minds to connect us with our physical surroundings.
However, our hearts have the ability to seek and find information from a different realm - the spiritual realm. We have 5 spiritual senses that are the same as the physical - smell, taste, touch, sight and hearing.
When you hear thoughts in your head you are using your spiritual ears. Remember Yeshua/Jesus would say, “he that has an ear, hear what the Spirit is saying.”
Dreams and visions are spiritual eyesight.
You have all 5 spiritual senses - everyone does. We oftentimes are just never taught about them yet, they exist.
After we are born again of God’s Holy Spirit and water, we can connect with God in the Heavenly Realm - this is the sweet fellowship place where we are seated with Christ in heavenly places.
No worries if you don’t understand- God will teach you! He loves you! .
You
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I have been a Christian for a good long time and have experienced anxiety, fear and panic attacks. It is not fun at all. The bible does have quite a lot to say on trusting God. Many times it calls those blessed who trust in God. It can be hard to trust though. I think that one thing that makes it harder for me to trust is that God is not someone I can see with my eyes or hear him speak with my ears and so when I am alone even though God is there, I can't see him. But we are called to live by faith.
