Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” —John 3:3

Sometimes we are fresh and eager to attend a prayer meeting, but do we feel that same freshness for such mundane tasks as polishing shoes?

Being born again by the Spirit is an unmistakable work of God, as mysterious as the wind, and as surprising as God Himself. We don’t know where it begins— it is hidden away in the depths of our soul. Being born again from above is an enduring, perpetual, and eternal beginning. It provides a freshness all the time in thinking, talking, and living— a continual surprise of the life of God. Staleness is an indication that something in our lives is out of step with God. We say to ourselves, “I have to do this thing or it will never get done.” That is the first sign of staleness. Do we feel fresh this very moment or are we stale, frantically searching our minds for something to do? Freshness is not the result of obedience; it comes from the Holy Spirit. Obedience keeps us “in the light as He is in the light…” (1 John 1:7).

Jealously guard your relationship with God. Jesus prayed “that they may be one just as We are one” — with nothing in between (John 17:22). Keep your whole life continually open to Jesus Christ. Don’t pretend to be open with Him. Are you drawing your life from any source other than God Himself? If you are depending on something else as your source of freshness and strength, you will not realize when His power is gone.

Being born of the Spirit means much more than we usually think. It gives us new vision and keeps us absolutely fresh for everything through the never-ending supply of the life of God.

Journal DJR
Good morning Lord, Today’s devotional sounds like just another facet of what you have been teaching us about staying connected …Jealously guard our connection, Be born again every day, Stay curious and excited about what new thing you have for us next.

So many of my children get their names on the rolls and then dont take advantage of the new life that I offer. There are various reasons, fear, lethargy, traditions, temptations, etc. After you have tasted my eternal life now, you will be ruined for going back to live a worldly life. But even so, you must keep the connection tight and my life flowing or you will get stale.

I’ve been there. Some things I’ve done to re-connect haven’t worked as well as I hoped. ???

You can rely on the promises. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened. Sow and you will reap. Consider the farmer. He sows, and then he keeps on tending his field and reaps in due time. Also the athlete and the soldier … they keep on training and then receive their reward. There is an immediate welcome for a returning prodigal but there is also a continual flow of life to those who tend to their connection. Seek both. keep it flowing continually and when you fall off the wagon and stray, come back quickly. You know you are always welcome in my house.

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