Approaching God
You are about to enter a holy place, the presence of the Triune God. Allow yourself to be enveloped by the mystery, majesty, and glory that is Father, Son and Holy Spirit as He reveals to Abraham His plan.
“Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:1-3)
Listening to God
Our generous, giving, loving God delights in telling His chosen ones His redemptive plan. The Holy Spirit directs us regarding the divine plan for our lives. The Spirit told Philip which road to take, and then,
“The Spirit told Philip, ‘Go to that chariot and stay near it.’ Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked. ‘How can I,’ he said, ‘unless someone explains it to me?’ So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him…. Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.” (Acts 8:29-31,35-39)
The Spirit desires that we walk so closely to God that we will hear Him tell us when to go, who to talk to and what to say. Hearing God’s voice requires an ever-increasing level of discipleship. Find the time and place where you and God can carry on personal conversation.
Talking to God
God desires to speak to you. Are there any barriers keeping you from hearing His voice and therefore limiting the power of the Holy Spirit within you? What do you need to confess and repent of? Are there words of praise and thanksgiving that you can offer to Him?
Responding to God
Commit to opening your mind and heart to the working of the Holy Spirit, inviting the Triune God into your mind and life. Doing so, you will invite the Spirit to work through you to continue to reform this world and bring God’s kingdom.
Surrendering to God
“God, with heartfelt gratitude and humility I willingly take up my cross to follow you, desiring to be a vessel through which the power of the Holy Spirit can work first in me, but also through me to bless the nations for your glory and honor. Please, Father, bless those who bless me. Help me to grow in my understanding of your will for your world. And thank you for creating me in your holy image and for restoring me to that image through Jesus Christ. Use me to continue to build your kingdom through love and grace.”
By Evan Heerema
A HISTORICAL SIDEBAR
Although Reformed theology places a healthy emphasis on doctrine (or theology), the aim of Reformed doctrine was the heart and soul. John Calvin taught that the gospel, and discipleship, “is not a doctrine of the tongue, but of life. It cannot be grasped by reason and memory only, but it is fully understood when it possesses the whole soul and penetrates to the inner recesses of the heart.” Discipleship is a way of life and not merely a way of thinking. For the Reformers, doctrine was meant to affect the heart as it challenged people to follow and imitate Jesus in every area of life.
