"While spiritual Christians can have a sense of humor, they also recognize the necessity of maintaining a quietness of soul so there can be a continual spiritual communion with God. People today are so accustomed to being entertained by temporal activities [depending on human means to stimulate their emotions], they have little contact with the Spirit of God". - Steve Bray

     As I read the above quote, I was struck with the fact that so many Christians believe they have to go somewhere to fully "enjoy" the presence of the Lord, they somehow have to be led into His presence. They mistake the "presence" of the Holy Spirit with what is just an emotional "high" that comes from emotionally stirred activities such as music and entertainment. This is why it fades away in short order once they are out of the "atmosphere" that was created with these activities.  If no real relationship or fellowship has never been established with God, if no surrender to Him has ever taken place, can there be any real fruit from these simply emotional activities?  Still, God can use many things to speak to one that will have an ear to hear.   

    One sure way to know the presence of the Lord verses simple emotions, is the fruit that it produces in our daily lives.  Are we becoming more willing to lay down our life for His.  With a surrendered heart to God, we can have a real communion and fellowship with Him, who is our all and all.  Out of this, songs of worship can proceed out of our hearts towards our King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

     This should be the goal of our faith...to get our fulfillment and satisfaction from the Lord and not from these temporal shallow emotions that have been "worked up". But if we are deceived into believing in this false "presence" of God that keeps fading away, we may never know the real rivers of living water that will never run dry, where "righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost" is and we will never enter into that rest where we can walk daily and continuously in His presence no matter the circumstances around us.

     The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch on us, and with a jealous love rebuke us for careless words and feelings, or for wasting our time, which could have been spent in a quiet place with our precious Lord.

     This is the precious life the Lord wants to give His beloved children if we would only give ourselves completely over to Him. Compared to the life He came to give us, there is nothing in this world that can compare to it, there is no need for anything more! That is when we can truly sing the song with joy "He is all I need".

B.Hayes
3/6/2012

Rev. 4/3/2021