Deep Spiritual Aspects God Wants to Instill in Us

What if we knew God wanted deep spiritual aspects for our Christian lives?

These aspects, once instilled in us, help us on our spiritual journey, but are different than what we often want.

What’s happening in our world confirms this truth: we have zero control over most things in life.

Still, the Lord never created us for control. Control was always meant to remain with Him.

“For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.” Psalm 22:28 (ESV)

Instead, our heavenly Father created us for dependency on Him. 

So there are deep spiritual aspects the Lord wants for our good and His glory.

Here, we will discuss 4 of these and compare each to what we might prefer.

(1.) God wants our surrender, not our sufficiency: Deep Spiritual Aspects

Although your struggles and needs may look different than mine, we all experience the same moments of desperation. 

Like the kind that makes us hope we are all cried out, or question our faith, or pray the same prayer over and over.

But we hold the power not to let it affect the trajectory of our lives. Our power comes in focusing on how complete God is, not how incomplete we are. We concentrate on our heavenly Father’s sufficiency, not of our shortage. 

To do this, we put the spotlight on God’s power and glory. Total serenity comes in placing our hope in the Lord alone. We fully surrender to who He is as God and Lord over our lives.

“Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God.” 2 Corinthians 3:4 (ESV)

Prayer: Lord, help me surrender to You. Because in You, I find true sufficiency. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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How I Learned Not to Go on Guilt Trips

We weren’t created to experience guilt trips. But we learned to send ourselves and each other on these unpleasant excursions because sin entered the world.

First, let’s look at desirable trips.

Maybe a planned or spontaneous travel schedule. Perhaps our favorite vacation spots. Possibly, places familiar or unknown. Or, traveling abroad. And a voyage by sea.

Also, guided tours, historical landmarks, the mountains, a natural wonder, the beach, tropical climates, and soaring altitudes.

Still further, there are resorts for sight seekers, adventure junkies, and tourists of all shapes and sizes. Crossing out a bucket list item—going somewhere we’ve never visited.

Even people are labeled trips.

Whatever the mode of transportation. Whether a one-way-trip or round-trip. Short or extended stay. It’s movement toward a point of destination. A journey for recreation, relaxation, and getaways—a means to escape.

Learned Guilt Trips

Sometimes we go on trips and land somewhere we’d rather not visit. The worst trips ever.

Guilt trips qualify. Guilt trips make us painfully aware of being stuck in an unwanted place. So we feel it deep inside. A restless, unsettled state of wishing we were home—back to familiar surroundings. A safe place.

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A Special Valentine Invitation: Will You be Mine?

What if there’s a special valentine invitation unlike any we’ve ever received? 

When you think of love and Valentine’s Day, what memories come to mind?

Perhaps you received Will you be mine? invites in grade school, college, and into adulthood.

Maybe a special someone entered your life, you received a marriage proposal from the love of your life, or your spouse went over the top to celebrate your love.

Even a sweet childhood memory may still captivate us.

Or, your memories surrounding this love-holiday uncover feelings of emptiness or a lack of love.

Memories from childhood to the present you’d rather forget. 

Because many of us have experienced both highs and lows when it comes to love and special valentine invitations.

But the most lavish, epic, and monumental Valentine’s Day to ever take place in history, celebrates the best kind of love—God’s extravagant love.

This is Love

First, let’s look at what love is and what love is not.

The Bible contains some of the most powerful and beautiful words ever penned on love. 

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (ESV)

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6 Sources of Real Joy Never Taken From Us

Real joy is the end result of God’s faithful promises. The Lord adds these spiritual sources of joy to our lives that no person, not even the enemy, can take from us.

Still further, joyfulness is:

Ammunition for difficult circumstances and people. 

The best medicine for a downcast spirit. 

A shield against attacks from the enemy. 

So let’s look at it in a broader sense. And not just what we believe and know, but also how it manifests in our lives—how we live joyful.

You see, unlike images, there’s not a filter for joyful. Instead, it lies beneath the surface and radiates through.

God wants to bring a smile back to our face. But more than that.

He wants to bring rejoicing back to our soul.

Real joy is the end result of God’s faithful promises. The Lord adds these spiritual sources of joy to our lives that no person, not even the enemy, can take from us. Share on X

God provides many wonderful sources of rejoicing. But in this article, we look at 6 along with Bible verses for each one.

And I love powerful refrains in certain songs and poems. So after each of our points, repeat the refrain I include out loud.

Sources of Real Joy: Salvation, God’s Works and Word

1.)  In salvation.

“Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:12

“My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.” Psalm 71:23

Is my joy showing through? 

Because there’s no filter for joyful. 

And it’s never shaken or taken.

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