Chewing Bricks - Practical help to put you in the spirit

Being a believer is both a privilege and a blessing. Think back to a time when you didn't have God in your life. Very likely your worst day with Jesus was probably better than your best day without Him when you were in the world.

Our walk with God requires us to do things that to the natural, human mind seem very unnatural and peculiar. These things seem to put a lot of Christians off doing them at all! Unfortunately unless we do what the Bible tells us we will not see the blessings and the victory in our lives. You have to work the Word for the Word to work.

Do you ever feel that some actions of faith are downright unnatural? Things like praying in tongues, speaking those things that are not as though they were, praising God when you really don't feel like it, acting like you have received when in the natural that couldn't be further from the truth...

The truth is that we are required to do these regardless of how we feel. As Christians we are three part beings. Spirit, soul and body. To put it more correctly, we are a spirit, we have a soul and we live in a body. The reason things seem peculiar to the natural mind is because the mind is not saved. The mind is independent of the spirit and is in fact contrary (goes against) to the spirit (Romans 8:7). The mind cannot receive or understand spiritual things:

"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned". 1 Corinthians 2:14

So what do we do when we feel awkward, dull and unconvinced in the natural?

WE DO IT ANYWAY!!!

This is easier said than done but a fellow sister in Christ puts it very well.

As she struggled in her walk as a new believer to put thoughts aside and do what God was telling her to do, she decided to do it anyway and in her own words it was like 'chewing bricks' in the beginning. Not only did it feel unnatural, it felt unpleasant and pointless but one day God told her to do it anyway and to do it like she means it! Effectively to pretend until it becomes real.

Brothers and sisters, we may have to do some things as believers that feel unnatural, peculiar and downright difficult. Our flesh may scream and have a temper tantrum but we must do it anyway! And one way to achieve this practically is to (pretend) say it utill we believe it, until we get to the place where the (our) spirit takes over and we are in the zone and it is becomes perfectly natural and easy.

Do this today. Start praising God, praying or speaking out faith-filled words over your situation, DESPITE HOW YOU FEEL. Pretend that you are praising/praying/speaking, exactly how you would want to, with faith, fervour and passion. In the beginning you'll feel like an imposter and you will feel like you are chewing bricks but before you know it you will step into the spiritual zone where it will all just flow. Persevere! You will win. In the beginning it is a battle between the flesh and spirit but if you don't give up the spirit (our spirit) will take over. Furthermore, if you practice this every day you will become more proficient in it. Just like training in the gym. The first few sessions are difficult but as you get fitter it gets easier.

It's the same in the spirit. The more you do anything the easier it becomes!

We hope you are blessed with this word and hope to hear your powerful testimonies soon!

Blessings,

Oceans Church