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I have been asked to “Share my personal stories of how I appropriate and live the truths of Spirit-anointed living.” So here is one such example. I trust it is helpful and meaningful to you. 

Do you care about how your faith and how the Christian faith as a whole is perceived by those outside of it? Do you think only internal perceptions matter since you are in the light and those outside are in darkness? Do you think admiration and respect for believers is constant or trending upward or downward? A Biblical requirement is that those seeking positions of leadership have a good reputation with those outside the faith. This also matters because those outside the faith are your pool of potential converts and their perception of the character of believers matters.

I have chosen to live outside of the BOX. This has involved many small step-by-step decisions, made over 73 years. As each box was rejected, it was like experiencing the death of something I had once trusted in. However, I now see that I was stepping from sinking sand to the Solid Rock.

I promised that I would return. My earliest followers expected me right away, but they were wrong. History has unfolded over many years. During this time my followers in every generation have tried to predict the time of my return, and all of them have been wrong. In addition it has caused needless divisions among my people. What would be a better way to respond to this promise? Does the certainty of my return add urgency to your life, since you don’t know how many days you have left?

I have struggled with feeling that it is too late in my life and I have missed out of years that I could have been walking in a closer way with the Lord.  About 3 years ago He showed me a major misunderstanding that I had since my childhood of a particular scripture that had caused me great hurt and a sense of alienation from the Lord.   I have had a transforming renewal with the Lord as He took away that misunderstanding and my life with Him has exploded into a beautiful and intimate relationship.  But I then struggled that I had 'wasted' time all these years protecting my heart from Him.  He has been reassuring me that nothing has been wasted.  

Michelle Francis from Brisbane, Australia sent in the question below.

LaWanda - Oh, Lord my God, Jesus.  I love you Lord.  Thank you for your presence.  Thank you for your word that fills me and covers me.

Has your understanding of me remained constant throughout your life? Do you study the Bible to refine your concept of me? What else provides you with such guidance? Have your life experiences shown you errors in the way you perceive me and made you revise the way you see me? Don’t be surprised if I come to you disguised as your life. If I do will you recognize that I am teaching you? What is the alternative? To think that you can figure it all out from books, even the Bible? The alternative to learning from your life is not to learn from your life.

Do rituals matter? When you pray does it matter whether you kneel or put your palms together, or even close your eyes? If prayer is a purely spiritual matter does your posture matter? I hear your prayers regardless of your physical presentation. Does it make it easier for you to pray if you assume the position? Everywhere you walk is holy ground but it is up to you to decide whether you will take off your shoes or not. Rituals are symbolic and symbolism is real. If some practice sharpens your focus and improves your spiritual awareness and devotion go ahead and go for it.