What is the Spirit of God’s place in Christian living? As you let your request be made known to God, (verse 4:7) the peace of God comes from the Spirit. The peace surpasses all understanding. The peace protects your heart, the way a garrison protects a city.
Analyze the threefold relationship. I’m in Christ, that’s the basis of the relationship to the Father. As I relate to the Father in my position in Christ, the Spirit of God will empower me as I deal with the problems of life. This is how walking by the Spirit works. The walking is the end result of practicing Romans chapter 6 and 8.
The critical point is our relationship with the Father. That’s why we have to make sure that we are not confusing God the Father with our family of origin. The quality of our spiritual life will be directly related to how we understand the Father and His view of us. A relational reality exists among the three members of the Trinity. We are in Christ, so we can relate to the Father with the result that the Spirit of God empowers us to handle the affairs of life.
This is good, sound New Testament theology, but it is also good, sound psychology. Psychology says one of the biggest problems in life is dealing with the family of origin. The solution is to be adopted into a new family, and the Trinity provides one.
Now this empowerment is positively emotional and mentally enabling. The place of emotions is critical in properly understanding the empowerment of the Spirit of God. God the Spirit does not produce abstract philosophers, but lovers.
Application
Isolate several of your favorite anxieties and do the following:
1.List them.
2.Describe them to God.
3.Ask for His help in general.
4.Ask for His help in specifics.
5.Thank Him specifically that He is bigger than each problem, and that He is with you through the difficulties.
6.Pray until you are PEACEFUL! (Phil. 4:6-7)
How do you view the role of the Spirit of God in your life?
Focus on what Christ has done and is doing, and cooperate with any positive healthy impulse the Spirit may provide. Since the devil does not influence by love, joy, and peace, you can be confident that the positive desires and insights are to be followed.
