This weekend I am taking  my Ladies' Council team on a planning retreat. It's an annual thing we do each January. 

I have some dear friends who allow me to use their place in the country. My team and I take it over for two days to plan our Ladies' Retreat where we'll also put gifts together for the ladies and organize other Retreat materials. We'll also do a little ministry business and I'll do some vision casting and equipping. I love this time with my team! It's just us.

Anywho, today's passage of scripture is kind of like the footnote for what I want to share with my team this weekend. It is the end result of our true mission, what we'd like to see happen in the precious ladies of Calvary Community Church. But I promise not to short change you in the process because this is just good. Really!

I was sitting in the Prayer Room this morning, trying to wrap my head around the message that's been pounding in my heart for you all. Fullness. Here's what that word means: the state of being filled to capacity. Now lets look at our theme verses again. 

So all the FULLNESS of God dwells in Christ's mortal body. He was filled to capacity with God. Right? We agree that this is what this scripture is saying. Okay. So in Christ, through him, we have FULLNESS. We are filled to capacity with Jesus. Please, please, please, don't rush past that. This is important and I want you to really get it. What this verse is saying is that we can never have more of him than we have right this very minute because he has already filled us to capacity with himself. We can be closer to him and our intimacy can grow deeper. We can experience times of greater anointing and his power, but he has already given us all of himself.

So I know what you're thinking. "If that's true, why is it so hard for me to stay connected to him in the way that I want?" Or, "Why can't I feel his presence?" I'm glad you asked! There are several reasons but let's look at verses 6 and 7 to help us determine some explanations.

If we want to stay connected to the Lord and become more aware of his presence in our lives, then we need to be living into these verses - continuing our lives in him by pressing into the Lord through prayer, reading his Word, walking in the light with other believers, doing regular spiritual practices... 

We need to build up our faith in obedience to the things he's asked of us and in utilizing our gifts and abilities in ways that honor him. And here's probably the one thing you never considered as a spiritual practice, but it is and it makes a difference in your spiritual maturity - a thankful heart. 

The Lord is drawn to thanksgiving. Have you read the Psalms? He loves it when we are full of thankfulness. I thank the Lord every time I get a parking space up close. And guess what? I get lots of front row parking! I think it's because my heart is truly grateful that I don't have to walk the length of a parking lot (not that I couldn't stand to do more walking) and I express that each and every time. 

I want my life to truly reflect one who is FULL of Jesus. I am full of him, but I want others to see it and I want that for you as well.

Father, may my life reflect Christ in every way. May the fullness of his presence in me, over shadow my weaknesses and my failures. May I look more like the woman you created me to be, more and more, day after day.

 

Read Now

 

Theme Verses

Next Steps...

1) This week practice cultivating a thankful heart. Take note of the little and the big blessings in your life and make it a point to thank the Lord for them as often as they come to mind.

 

2) Take some time over the next few days to meditate on the word "fullness" as it relates to this passage of scripture.  look at the definition I gave you and imagine yourself, FULL of Christ. What does that look like to you? Write down your reflections from this time.

More About Cheryl