Dale Cresap's blog

Have you ever been involved in the legal system and required to appear in court as a defendant? You are fortunate if you have not, but all must go to court in a spiritual sense.  Have you noticed that the Bible is written in legal terms? There are judges and advocates, evidence and witnesses, accusers and laws. Even those who have not violated the law of the land have sinned and fallen short of my glory. For this you need an advocate, and should be familiar with the spiritual legal process. If you confess your sins, I will be your advocate, and will be faithful and just to forgive your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

You are familiar with my commandment to forgive others, and you take it seriously. Yet even after you have forgiven, do you keep a case on file in your heart, with all the supporting facts and evidence, enough to secure a conviction? If you hold a claim of justice within yourself, even if you don’t prosecute it openly, have you really forgiven? The Christian standard is higher than superficial expression, even as in the Sermon on the Mount I made a contrast between the ancient teachings of the law and what I taught. This burden is too heavy for your spirit to bear. Make it a deliberate point in prayer to complete forgiveness by releasing any claims of justice you hold.

Have you noticed that low self-esteem is always considered a problem and that high self-esteem is a desirable trait? This is contrary to Biblical wisdom. Can you find anything in the Bible that tells you to think more highly of yourself than you otherwise would? Yet there are many admonitions to humble yourself and to esteem others better than yourself. High self-esteem is inherent in the human race and it is a big part of your problem. The conflict between this and reality is mistakenly called low self-esteem. A mature Christian has a proper understanding of his own nature and position. He is content to be accepted and beloved by me, and has nothing to prove about himself to himself or to others.

Do you ever think of sleep as a spiritual activity? If you seek me with all your heart but are too sleepy to concentrate and focus then sleep may be the most spiritual thing you can do. I recognized in my own disciples that the spirit was willing but the flesh was weak. This is not a problem for me and I watch over you with attentive diligence even while you rest. Not all sleep can be regarded as spiritual, but if your waking life is redeemed and an expression of obedient faithfulness, then your sleep will be an extension of that, restoring and refreshing you spiritually, mentally, and physically. This is the sleep that I give my beloved, and sweet dreams.

My word teaches you to pray without ceasing. Does this seem like too much to ask, for your focused attention to be on prayer all the time? Yet there is a way in which you are able to pray always. Are you thinking during all of your conscious hours? You have my promise that I am with you always, and you know this by faith. Let this knowledge register on your mind as a constant awareness of my presence with you. Then as you proceed with your normal daily thought life you will see a shift, that your thoughts are informed by the purposes of heaven, and become a form of prayer without ceasing. 

Have you ever received a gift that someone else received as a gift and gave it to you because they didn’t want it, or bought for themselves and reconsidered their desire for it? Did this seem to be a lower quality of gift than something thoughtfully obtained for you out of deliberate purpose? It really is the thought that counts more than the monetary value of the gift. I give you gifts as well. These are not discards or hand-me-downs, for I make all things new. Even your friends who love you and give gifts with the best of intentions only know you in a limited way, but I know you better than you know yourself. The gifts I give you are perfectly suited to your innermost being. 

Do you expect to have a stronger sense of my goodness to you when the circumstances of your life are pleasant and comfortable than when you are going through difficulties? Yet in your trials I send you reminders that I am present with you and am watching out for you. At these times you are more attentive to such prompts. Do you seek such reassurances when there are no conditions that provoke you to do so? You know by faith that I am good at all times. I want you to know this by experience as well. Then your faith will be steadfast and you will know my presence and peace whether your current situation is easy or difficult. 

Do you find that most of the teaching you receive as a believer serves to reassure you that you are right? This is easy to do. There is a human tendency to surround yourself with those like-minded who will reinforce your views. I told my disciples that I had other sheep who were not of this fold, but were still my sheep. They did not understand this and were not prepared to accept it, but my words were true and as a result you are following me. My words are still true. Do you understand that I still have sheep who are not of this fold, and are you prepared to accept them? Are you prepared to accept the ministry of truth from those who are outside your familiar and traditional circle of believers?

Do you find that more people are describing themselves as spiritual and fewer are explicitly confessing and following me and practicing a traditional Christian faith? You are a spiritual being because you are made in my image. This applies equally to believer and unbeliever. It is not something you decide to do or be. You cannot escape it, and it will influence your life even if you do not acknowledge it. You may respond affirmatively, leading to redemption, transformation, and godliness, or negatively, leading to your destruction. I want your eyes to be open to see the truth that you and all those around you are spiritual beings and that this is your primary identity.

Do you value your liberty over any of your possessions? It is my gift to you, and I tell you to stand fast in it. Men can take it from you by force, but it is more common to give it away voluntarily. I warned you against being entangled in the yoke of bondage. The nobility of liberty depends on how you exercise it. For many it is an open door to self-indulgence and sin. There is no honor in this. I value your liberty so highly that I will not close the door even if you walk the path of self-destruction. Yet I also place before you an open door that leads to life. I made an enormous sacrifice to open this door for you. Exercise your liberty to walk through it and keep walking with me.