Becoming a temple for the Lord
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Thailand. What a wonderful people and beautiful country I
get to serve this summer. My team of 20 fantastic Godly women and I arrived in
Chiangmai a little over a week ago. We have already grown and been challenged
by all God is doing in Thailand. What an honor to join alongside a mighty King
who is doing so much through His children here.
This week we have started prayer walks through the town and
several streets containing bars where our team members will later do ministry at
night to love on the women working there. It has been humbling to walk these
streets and hear the Lords heart through the prayers He lays on us. He
loves the Thai people so much and desires so much joy and freedom for the “land
of smiles”.
I have been struck by the dedication of these people. On
almost every street sits a “spirit house”. These spirit houses are shrines to
the protective spirit of a certain place. They are in the form of miniature
houses or temples, often times containing bright colors and intricate detail.
The house is intended to provide a shelter for spirits that could cause
problems for the people if not appeased or to appeal to ask for protection and
blessings.
I have seen people pray
to these mini temples as they light incense, give offerings of gifts or food to
appease the spirits or decorative things such as flowers or ribbons to be left
behind. God has used these mini temples in such a humbling way to my soul. As I
was struck by the act of idolatry it led me to examining my own heart first. I
realized there were areas of my own life that I had built “mini temples” around
instead of opening my hands to the Creator of all things.
After the feeling of brokenness left, then came the calling
of a challenge from the Lord.
Was I being this devout to Him, the One true God? Was I
daily laying down my offerings and asking for His sovereign hand? Was I
creating a space in my soul for Him to constantly dwell? Was I housing His
spirit in a manor that people would see my body and life as a “spirit house” in
and of itself? Was I pressing into the true and living Spirit that dwells
inside me?
Here is a bit of what I have learned about the Spirit of
God:
-True worshippers worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:52)
-The Spirit is a helper to be with us forever. (John 14:16)
-The Spirit is God’s love poured into our hearts. (Romans
5:5)
-The Spirit helps us in our weakness. (Romans 8:26)
-The Spirit dwells in us making us a temple. (Corinthians
3:16)
-The Spirit is Gods seal upon our hearts as a guarantee.
(Corinthians 1:21)
-As we walk by the Spirit we won’t gratify the desires of
our flesh. (Galatians 5:16)
These truths mean that I am already declared a temple for
the living God. It means that as I continually press into His Spirit, I will
begin to display more of Him for the world to see. That my daily sacrifices to
Him are simply laying down my own desires and asking: “Lord, what would You
have me do today?” His Spirit helps me when I am weak, instead of just
protecting me when I am strong. His Spirit is constant; it is a guarantee for
my soul.
I am challenged to walk these truths out, to live it out in
such a way that people begin to see my life as a house for the Spirit. The best
part is even when I don’t deserve or make enough “offerings” to the Spirit, the
Lord has still sealed me in such a way that I am His forever despite my
shortcomings. What glorious news and sweet acceptance I am able to walk in.
Pray that as I pass dozens of these Thai spirit houses everyday that I would be
more encouraged to display and share the Spirit of God with His children.
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s
Spirit dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16
