Loneliness is a universal problem. But there is hope...
By Michele Rayburn
I never feel lonely when I spend time alone with the Lord, and when I practice His presence the rest of the time. When I am not "filled with the Spirit" is when I am the most lonely.
What a blessing it would be (what revival might even come) if all of us Christians would make it a priority to develop our Spirit life through close communion with Christ. Then our lives would be more fulfilling. And when we come together again, our fellowship with one another will be more fulfilling.
What the Church seems to be lacking today is the Spirit of Christ moving in our own personal lives the way God meant for it to be. We lack spiritual teaching that will draw us back to Christ. The teachings we often hear tend to be man-centered rather than Christ-centered.
We should keep our focus on Christ and imitate Him, instead of looking at ourselves and beating ourselves up about how imperfect we are. He’s not surprised by our weaknesses. Even before we were born, He knew how we would stumble. But we are "accepted in the Beloved". So we should keep our focus on Him. We should think on things like God's everlasting love for us, His total acceptance of us, and our security in Him.
I think that if we don't fully comprehend and receive God's love for us, we may feel unacceptable to Him when we fail. And that kind of alienation can also make us feel lonely.
When our own lonely heart is comforted by our communion with Christ, then we can fellowship with others in a way that will ease their loneliness.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
It's so important to be sensitive to the fact that as brothers and sisters in Christ, we really need each other.
Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
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3 comments:
I really love this post, Michele. I am amazed how we can be alone even in a crowd! Yet, if Christ lives in us by His Spirit, we are never alone.
Practicing the presence of Christ, drawing near to Him, having fellowship with Jesus is just that....practicing. We have 'church' programs for every age, pot lucks, cruises, home gatherings, etc....but are we talking about the intimacy of Christ Jesus living in us? Are we really 'amazed' with His love and tenderness toward us? God wants us to talk to Him and cast all our cares on Him and to comfort others as we are comforted by Him. "I am my beloved and He is mine." His union with us, that is the most intimate we could get! For about nine years now, God has made Himself so real to me; I can't really put it into words. I know that the more I talk to Him and 'practice', as it were, to fellowship with Him, the more He makes me 'feel' His very presence in me. It makes me weep with such a comfort to even write it at times. I want believers in Christ to hear it. We do live by faith in Jesus....by My Spirit says the Lord! He then lives His life through us. His will is done, and all things will work together for good.....Romans 6:28. In the midst of our life on this earth, no matter what happens, or not 'happens', we have, as believers in Christ, Him; wherever we are.....we truly are never alone. Let's walk in the spirit,and be filled with the knowledge of His presence keep on communing with Him and pray for one another as we speak the truth in Love! Thanks Michele for speaking the truth in love!
Thanks Jan. I loved your comment, itself being a comfort to me. Just as having you for a sister-in-law and friend has always been.
After we talked, some Scripture verses came to me, that I see you even alluded to in your comment, that I added to my post..."to comfort others as we are comforted by Him".
I'm glad that you were blessed and somehow comforted by this post.
In His Love,
Michele
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