Spiritual Vitality

You thrill me, Lord, with all You have done for me!  I sing for joy because of what You have done. 
Psalm 92:4 NLT  

I’ve written about my aunt Ann a bunch, probably because her character was the closest to Jesus out of anyone I’ve ever known. Her age caused her to decline—but despite the frailness of her body and the loss of her memory, it didn’t dampen her spirit. She still laughed and cracked jokes (even if they didn’t make any sense), she still told us how much she loved us (even if she didn’t know who we were anymore), and she still made cute old-lady-Southern-twang comments like “Well, praise the Lord!” (even if she didn’t have a reason to). There was an inherent strength about her, a light behind those cataract-filled eyes that never stopped shining. Even on her deathbed, she looked up at the ceiling and joyfully said, “Oh, if you can only see what I just saw!” How can someone that close to death seem so—alive? 

The reason was simple: Aunt Ann remained vibrant until her last breath because of one thing: spiritual vitality. Jesus transformed her spiritually, and it shined through her physically. Reading the Word does this; thinking of others before ourselves does this; staying in community with believers does this; and living in a constant state of joy and gratitude does this.  

When the Holy Spirit shines through us, three things happen:  

  1. A joyful countenance. When we intentionally recall all that God has done for us, we can’t help but display a worshipful, grateful, and joyful attitude!  

  1. Relational harmony. The more spiritual vitality we have, the more love we have for others. The love God has for us starts to overflow in our relationships, producing greater unity than ever before!  

  1. Personal growth. Despite the aging of our physical bodies, spiritual vitality nourishes and transforms our souls. It prunes our personality, which results in unusual favor with both God and man!  

We weren’t created to walk around like zombies, depressed and bitter and annoyed all the time! We were created to live while we’re alive! Spiritual vitality brings a confidence that changes everything—and yes, I mean everything!  

God, I know that spiritual vitality leads to a rich and satisfying life. Help me to have a worshipful attitude and relational harmony as I continue to grow in You. Amen. 

 

This is an excerpt from A Confidence That Changes Everything: Devotions to Shine Bright in This Topsy-Turvy Life, the new book by Hannah Crews!