I spent today on a job, doing things I haven't done in years. I haven't worked at a public job since my oldest child was 15 mos, because I chose to have my own business at home, and tend to my children at the same time. So, I found myself a little "rusty" at the skills it takes to be very fluent on the job. Oh, I have no insecurities, no doubt that I will be able to handle the job, but how much nicer it would have been to have had a little up-to-date training before being left half a day on a job I had never done, without anyone to assist me. :-) But those things happen in the 'real world'.

Likewise, in our spiritual lives, we should always be prepared, whether it's to keep ourselves ready to do battle for oneself, or to help others. We should always be ready to do whatever GOD admonishes us to do. But we aren't always prepared. We often let things slip, do not study the word, 'hear' what God has to say. Or we just don't take time for our spiritual lives - refurbishing our spirit soul, mind and body with the spiritual 'food' as we do our earthly body, feeding it the nourishment it needs to be healthy. Our Spirit needs to be fed as well.

II Timothy 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, [and] prepared unto every good work.

We have to first study God's word and get it deep within our heart and soul.

II Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Just as rust doesn't come over night on a rusty fender or in our daily lives, it doesn't come over night in our spiritual lives. It happens gradually, without us noticing it. The fender of the car may start deep within and rise to the top - so it is with the 'rust' in our spiritual lives. We fail to nurture our Spirit with 'soul food', attend church, read the word or have our time with God.

To clean the 'rust' from our 'spiritual body', we need to stay in the word, meditate on it continually, pray without ceasing, and continue to give GOD the praise, honor and glory that is due His mighty Name. We need to let our 'light' show forth to others, and fight the good fight of faith.

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night , that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

I Thes 5:17 Pray without ceasing .

I Chronicles 16:29 Give unto the LORD the glory [due] unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him : worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

I Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith , lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Above all, remember GOD is your heavenly Father, and he wants to be there every step of the way for you. Only you can make the choice that lets God give to you that which he so desires.

Psalm 100:3 Know ye that the LORD he [is] God: [it is] he [ that ] hath made us , and not we ourselves; [we are] his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, [and] into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, [and] bless his name

Heavenly Father, we ask that you show us through the Spirit the areas that could use some work to clean us of the rust in our lives. Put a burning desire within our hearts to want to know MORE of you and your WORD, to spend more time with you and less in the worldly things that keep us apart from you. Cleanse our minds of the worldly thoughts and set our heart's desire upon you! We ask this in Jesus Name. Amen.

Copyright 2004 by Barbara Sanders, Empire, AL. Used by permission.
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