I am in no way an ism-ist, I don’t actively seek out descriptive terms to label or identify whatever thought or idea that has been placed before me. I believe such endeavors would delude the sweet taste of mystery and stiffen the joy of the chase for knowledge, which of course is “vain” in intent unless recognized as unsatisfying in comparison to the beauty of righteous ignorance toward certain matters. I embrace the unknown, as bewildering as it often is, as an opportunity to marvel at the complexity that is ever-present outside of myself. The Spirit is far beyond comprehension in complexity, yet all the more simple for a soul to understand as needed, it’s the divine romance and holiest of mysteries that is always right in front of us, but never tangible. When the Lord is speaking to my heart and mind and trying to expand the two to better suit His will, I often find myself at a loss for what He is trying to say, not surprising as I’ve never breathed a universe into existence nor given life to the entirety of creation by creating a single Word. I do however see Him leading me to a further understanding of what He is attempting to teach me through discernment by prayer and supplication (Philippians 4:6). I know He is working in my heart and mind to see His ways more clearly to better exalt Him in realizing His own heart and mind, it truly blows my mind.
I do however find myself labeling these ideas that are solely the Spirit showing me something new (that I need to know) with catchy profitable titles, and Lord willing, that are glorifying to Him. Such is the case with the mindset that the Lord currently has me chasing after with my whole life, the idea of Intentionalism Theology. I have recently been seeing a decline in desire to be recognizable by the world, a pursuit of pure piety in the form of fleeing the flesh and flash of our current culture. What seemed at first to be a want for monasticism (there’s another one, but that one is not my own!) quickly turned into John 15:19, 1 John 2:15, John 17:14, and countless other passages, being all the more real and true of my image bearing self! I love being a vessel for God, to show that outward expression of the inward grace that is worship in a true and profound way. All glory be to God for shaping me as the clay that I am and the Potter that He is, His majesty and music flow from my very surrendered life to speak to a world lost and deaf to the symphony that was orchestrated and has been flowing from His heart since before…ever!
I feel with full confidence that the Spirit has defined in my heart this Intentionalism Theology to be an active, constant positioning of ourselves in the shape of reverence, where worship is the essence of our existence as an outpouring of difference in living. Having had an awestruck eternal experience like no other. Living as though transformation is real and evident as it bursts forth in a life unrecognizable from its former self, a life set apart. We become Spirit obtained and Spirit obsessed, captured and enticed by the eternal allure of the holy fire, burned and scarred, internally maimed and externally marred to show that a mighty work has taken place. The destruction of an old life for the sake of holy reconstruction, to show that the remake to recreate has occurred, and nothing could ever compete with this great change nor this great Source of such change. We are to and will be seen as outsiders and outcasts, of which are true and is our longing to continue to be true as we pursue holiness in a manner that isn’t forced or required of us, but simply inevitable. One in-dwelt with the Holy Spirit is anew, is changed, and can’t help but exude the essence of that change through a new life with new desires, but only One love, re-found. I earnestly pray and seek continued insight from the All-seer as to what all this means and how it should influence my life, God’s Word and it’s impact is our only plumb-line for what truth is and I know that He will provide what I need to know to live as though He is real and worthy of living in the shape of reverence.
“Holy Spirit, You are real and really involved in my heart and mind, continue to teach me Your way, Your wisdom and give me understanding as You will. I seek You in comprehending my many thoughts and pray that they would reflect Your truth and glorify You as truth. I love Your words and ideas that You give to me, please use them to show a change in my life that only You could bring about. Use me to be different in this dark world to introduce it to Your marvelous light. Shape my heart and mind and let them shape my actions for Your glory as I pursue Your holiness in a life set apart, in Christ’s name I pray, AMEN.”
I do however find myself labeling these ideas that are solely the Spirit showing me something new (that I need to know) with catchy profitable titles, and Lord willing, that are glorifying to Him. Such is the case with the mindset that the Lord currently has me chasing after with my whole life, the idea of Intentionalism Theology. I have recently been seeing a decline in desire to be recognizable by the world, a pursuit of pure piety in the form of fleeing the flesh and flash of our current culture. What seemed at first to be a want for monasticism (there’s another one, but that one is not my own!) quickly turned into John 15:19, 1 John 2:15, John 17:14, and countless other passages, being all the more real and true of my image bearing self! I love being a vessel for God, to show that outward expression of the inward grace that is worship in a true and profound way. All glory be to God for shaping me as the clay that I am and the Potter that He is, His majesty and music flow from my very surrendered life to speak to a world lost and deaf to the symphony that was orchestrated and has been flowing from His heart since before…ever!
I feel with full confidence that the Spirit has defined in my heart this Intentionalism Theology to be an active, constant positioning of ourselves in the shape of reverence, where worship is the essence of our existence as an outpouring of difference in living. Having had an awestruck eternal experience like no other. Living as though transformation is real and evident as it bursts forth in a life unrecognizable from its former self, a life set apart. We become Spirit obtained and Spirit obsessed, captured and enticed by the eternal allure of the holy fire, burned and scarred, internally maimed and externally marred to show that a mighty work has taken place. The destruction of an old life for the sake of holy reconstruction, to show that the remake to recreate has occurred, and nothing could ever compete with this great change nor this great Source of such change. We are to and will be seen as outsiders and outcasts, of which are true and is our longing to continue to be true as we pursue holiness in a manner that isn’t forced or required of us, but simply inevitable. One in-dwelt with the Holy Spirit is anew, is changed, and can’t help but exude the essence of that change through a new life with new desires, but only One love, re-found. I earnestly pray and seek continued insight from the All-seer as to what all this means and how it should influence my life, God’s Word and it’s impact is our only plumb-line for what truth is and I know that He will provide what I need to know to live as though He is real and worthy of living in the shape of reverence.
“Holy Spirit, You are real and really involved in my heart and mind, continue to teach me Your way, Your wisdom and give me understanding as You will. I seek You in comprehending my many thoughts and pray that they would reflect Your truth and glorify You as truth. I love Your words and ideas that You give to me, please use them to show a change in my life that only You could bring about. Use me to be different in this dark world to introduce it to Your marvelous light. Shape my heart and mind and let them shape my actions for Your glory as I pursue Your holiness in a life set apart, in Christ’s name I pray, AMEN.”