I don’t. Or at least, I didn’t. I don’t know how many times preachers, teachers, friends and authors have encouraged me to journal as a way to grow deeper with God. I have tried and failed a few times. However, this time, I’m going to journal with an additional purpose, that being to contribute to the Red Rock Blog and hopefully to the growth of some of you who read it. My intent is to submit one or two of these each week. I have been meditating on the Sermon on the Mount for some time so I’m going to start out with some of my journal entries from Matthew 5.
Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
The poor in spirit are people who:
- are happy, or happier
- see God as their only hope
- understand their abject poverty apart from God
- are humble. If they boast at all, they boast about God
- pray. Prayer is an indication of dependence on God
- seek to be filled with the spirit. The realize they cannot do life and fulfill God’s mission for them without the Spirits power, direction, teaching and gifts.
- put on their spiritual armor daily – knowing they need it to stand against the enemy.
- into God’s Word regularly because they need God’s wisdom, direction, equipping and guidance.
- know that their inheritance is the Kingdom of Heaven which they eagerly long for. They do not hold tight to the things of this world.
Are you “poor in spirit”? Do these nine observations describe you? If not, what needs to change?