Silent Spirituality

Have you ever been drawn to someone's spirituality? In those circumstances I think some are actually drawn to the Holy Spirit displayed in the individual saint, but other times I'm afraid we're drawn to the other person themselves. Call it mystery, wonder, adventure, the possibility of something better, some mystical spirituality that someone possesses that we want to be a part of. Some of that may hit or miss you, but the point is the vast difference to which you are drawn: to the person or to God.

The above perspective seems to focus on the observer and not the person on display...but I think it is just as important to look at yourself on the other end. If I have any "spirituality" worth sharing, it is the kind that puts others' focus squarely on God. The degree to which others begin focusing on me is the degree to which I am a distraction from God to them. The perfect witness or inspiration would be one where no one remembered your name, what you even looked like, or any specific detail about you...but instead they remembered the movement of the Holy Spirit in them and their revelation about God that was true and in their core.

Of course, as humans I think we find it extremely difficult to completely meet this picture of spirituality, whether from the observer or sharing role. But that doesn't change our aim: decrease me and increase you, Lord. John 3:30 - "He must increase, but I must decrease."

What is of equal or greater importance than the degree to which you achieve this pure, God glorifying witness, is the intent of your heart. When you share your spiritual thoughts with others, what is your motivation? Not 100% pure all of the time yet? You're a normal child of God...but be on your way...seek to grow in this area and pray in communion with God for it. God knows how to give good gifts, none greater than the Holy Spirit.

Luke 11:13
"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (see also Matt 7:11)

Do you see someone whose spiritual insights inspire you? Try to see less of them and more purely the Spirit. Realize that the same God works in you and will work his perfect purpose in your life just the same as theirs. You need not wonder if you can hear from God like others: you can and you likely have without even recognizing it. Besides, we were all once sinners condemned to Hell for eternity, yet we now have everlasting Heaven through Christ. If this is possible in the fraction of a second when you accepted Christ, what might be possible through Him by morning?!!

Jesus in Matt 6: 3-6, 16-18 -
But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly...
...Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."

It happens most purely when no human knows of your impact, but God sees in secret. It happens when the slightest of circumstances gives glory to God in the eyes of an observer and you never know it until Heaven. And it even happens when you are unfortunately aware of your impact and are seen by others as spiritual. I say "unfortunately" because any self-realization can be a burden if you think that you are responsible for producing the next inspiration or witness, or if you take pride in what you feel you have accomplished. How hard for the flesh to be a silent anonymous witness and how much harder for that witness to be unbeknownst to you...but how pleasing and pure to the Holy Spirit inside of you.

Seek to be fulfilled by spending time with God alone, instead of on display and through things seen in the flesh. The mundane gives glory to God as much or more than the great things seen by men. For when men see, they often attribute some of the glory to other men. How glorious when all praise and glory is instead given to our Heavenly Father.