Maintaining a Spiritual Glow
by a Wesleyan Missionary (updated)
Keep a restful heart. Hurts, slights, frustrations, misunderstandings, differences of opinions, or unhappiness with God’s providences—may quickly ferment into resentments, critical feelings, and bitterness of spirit—which in turn bubble over in words that cut and bruise.
To avoid this, I determine to drop each disturbing thing at the foot of the Cross, appropriating the healing of Christ’s cleansing Blood, and accepting each unwanted thing as His choice for me, remembering that “…God…maketh my way perfect” (Psalm 18:32). Thus shall His peace and rest prevail (1 John 1:9; 1 Peter 5:7; 1 Thess. 5:18).
Operate on the basis of short accounts with God and man. At the earliest awareness of a fault, a failing to measure up to the Divine will for me—being too earthly minded, God’s kingdom and righteousness not of first importance, carelessness about some duty, words unkindly spoken, a temper of heart toward anyone that is not of love—I will, humbly seeking His forgiveness and enabling, measure up to whatever adjustments He designates.
By vigilance and obedience keeping the heavenly connection clear, I shall maintain the spiritual glow that permits God to flow constantly through my life in revival.
Saturate myself with God’s Word. I shall be judged by this Word (John 12:48). Faith is strengthened and stimulated by the Word (Rom. 10:17). God reveals Himself through the Word, and its knowledge will make me a better witness. Therefore, I shall give it, with prayer, top priority in my daily schedule (Psa. 119:11, 105,130).
Develop my prayer time beyond the “gimme” stage. I purpose to enter more fully into the joys of worship and fellowship with the Lord, allowing Him to talk to me, too (John 4:23,24; Psa. 27:14; 1 John 1:3-7).
Let God use me. My hands, my strength, my possessions, my sympathy, my friendliness, my interest in and concern for those I contact—I will keep submitted to God as channels for revealing Himself to others.
Give as God directs. I will give as much as He chooses, and seek His will as to where He wants it to be used (2 Cor. 9:6-15).
Love. My goal shall be to love my God with an undivided heart and my fellowmen out of “a pure heart fervently” (1 Peter 1:22), because I allow His love to spill itself out through my day by day life (Rom. 5:5).
