“Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives.” (Galatians 5:25 MSG)
Most of us compartmentalize our lives into sections--work, business, home, family, church, social, entertainment--and we conduct ourselves differently in each situation. We split the spiritual from the secular. Many of us delegate Sunday morning to spiritual time. Or we may spend some quiet time every morning before we go on to do worldly things. It doesn’t seem practical to mix the two. Yet, compartmentalizing spirituality and relegating it to a small corner of our day is limiting. How can we incorporate the Spirit into every detail of our lives?
We may not recognize some of the barriers that we unwittingly erect to cordon off the Spirit. For example, when facing a major decision, most of us take an inventory of our resources and talents, look at the pros and cons of each side, and make the most efficient, practical, and productive choice. Thus, our resources, talents, logic, efficiency, practicality, and productivity--all can become barricades against the Spirit.
True surrender is only possible when our options are limited. Once the barriers of pride and self-sufficiency come crumbling down, we are no longer able to compartmentalize. Brokenness thus becomes a blessing; it leads to vulnerability, which, in turn, allows the Spirit to flow freely into every aspect of our lives.
(Continued in next post)
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