The secret to a sound spiritual life is balanced living.  Eating healthy foods, getting the proper amount of sleep, communing with nature, spending time in the word of God are all part of the process.  Yet I have known many born again Christians, even many with the baptism of the Holy Spirit, who have not an abiding peace whether in trials or relative calm.  They are still on a treadmill running here or there, anxious and worried over people, places, or things, subject to all the wiles of the evil one.  Why is this?

            Even with a new nature, they are still subjects to weights and sin and are running the race with heavy baggage.  Unless they learn the secret to a spiritual life, a balanced life, they will never receive the Blessing.  Having been born again and Spirit-filled, I did not come into the Blessing until I learned the art of quietness, the art of stillness, the life of inner peace.  Only after I was delivered from spirits of fear, anger, and lust, only after I eliminated the need to save the world with constant business, good things though they were, and began the process of balanced living, did I attain the Blessing and truly begin to enjoy peace and tranquility.   It was then that the process began to work.  I learned the art of healthy cooking and eating.  I began to buy nice clothes so that I would be presentable to the world as a successful Christian.  I went out and leased a real nice car.  I invested money in music to enhance my time in solitude and I get my hair groomed regularly.  And I also learned how to give: not to organizations and institutions, but to the people God has placed on my path and almost all, not relatives, but people God has placed on my heart.

            The best witness to the love of Christ and the love of God is getting the victory.  Step back and take a good hard look at whose and what you are.  Recognize where the need is, recognize where you have failed, and recognize that unless you receive the Blessing, most of what you do is of little lasting value.  Be still and know that I am God is my battle cry!  Be still and know that I am God is my message.  Achieve inner peace.  Achieve outward harmony.  You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free.  Be free!  Walk in the Spirit!  Live by faith and live in love! Do it!  Today if you hear his voice, harden not your heart.

Amen