Spiritual Intimacy

Raleigh feels Maku's girlhood fears as her parents died

I recently saw the movie Pacific Rim on Netflix, that I found to be compelling.  It originally came out a year ago, and is just now beginning to gain popularity.

In the movie, the planet Earth is being attacked by very large evolving alien monsters called Kaiju (think Godzilla).  To fight these Kaiju, a branch of the military developed "Jaegers," large robots piloted by two people whose minds must be linked to operate it effectively.  One person could not operate it to defeat the Kaiju.  Both people needed to be linked and focused on the task.

This process of linking minds is called "drifting." To be able to drift, two people must be "drift compatible," or able to trust one another enough to bond at that level of intimacy.  When drifted with his partner, a pilot has access to her memories, feelings, everything.  Most of the pilot pairs were family.

I found myself thinking about this bond.  I thought about how we are often ill-equipped to fight the worldly temptations and battle the things unseen when we are not bonded with the Holy Spirit.  We have to rely on Him who is within us to be effective.  The more we trust the Holy Spirit, the more effective we become at overcoming what comes our way.  He is the One who knows our thoughts, our memories, our feelings, ... everything.  He understands what we struggle with, and He helps bear our pain.

Alone, we are not effective.
Bonded with the Holy Spirit, there is nothing we cannot defeat.

"What is impossible for people is possible with God." ~Luke 18:27 (NLT)

Augmented Perception

Have you ever heard of "Google Glass?" This is a wearable computer that provides a way to access the environment with an augmented reality.  

Users wearing the glasses can say, "OK Glass, take a picture," and the glass will not only snap a photo of whatever you are looking at, but can also send it to your contacts.  It takes videos, sends text messages, offers turn-by-turn directions, and will bring up google articles of whatever you ask it to.  Check out the video sample.

I just absolutely loved the concept of yet another geeky device that reminds me of Geordi LaForge's visor (from Star Trek - The Next Generation for my non-geeky readers).  But then I started thinking about perceptions.  What if we believers could don a set of "Godly Glasses?"  What if we could have the augmented reality of having God's perception on the upper right corner of our daily vision?  It would be so helpful to have God's word helping us to see the world as He sees it.  Imagine looking at a person you have judged to be "just fine," but then having the "Godly Glass" alert you to what that person needs.  

The Bible tells us we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit that does help us navigate the world, much like my fabled "Godly Glasses." Consider this verse: "And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.  For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for.  But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words." ~Romans 8:26 (NLT). 

We can get better at hearing the message of God when we train ourselves to listen.  Spending time in the Word and in prayer is the key to learning how to see the world through God's perspective.  We can train our minds to think on things of God.  When you find yourself dwelling on something negative, perhaps an unfortunate life event or even your current circumstances, dive into the Word.  Pray.  These are the key actions we can take to alter our perceptions and change our worldview.  Shy away from the things of the world that are triggers to bad thoughts.  

"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth." ~Colossians 3:1-2 (NLT)

Gift of Power

Bruce Banner or Incredible Hulk

Have you ever felt powerless and weak when you were facing an adversity?  Have you wished that you could be filled with power when the need arose?  Growing up as a girl in the 1970's, I admit I was fascinated with the TV show "The Incredible Hulk."  Bruce Banner was accidentally exposed to gamma radiation and given to turn into a large and powerful creature when he became too angry, or if his life was in danger.  This is a power Bruce felt was not his, and rather was more of an alter-ego, because he wasn't always in control of the Hulk.

I've been studying the gifts of the Holy Spirit as described in the New Testament of the Bible.  When the Spirit came upon the believers of the early church in Acts 2, there were many signs and wonders.  Winds whipped through the house, and tongues of fires appeared upon the people.  Believers spoke in other languages, and performed all kinds of miracles.  They appeared for all to be supermen.  Men with innate power and abilities.

However, the source of the power was not theirs.  God would choose to fill them with His Spirit and then consume them.  The power manifested by the men was actually God's Spirit overflowing through them.  It gave them strength to speak before many people and withstand tremendous persecution and abuse.  God knew we believers would need Him, and His power is still bestowed on those of us who remain close to His Truth and choose His path.  I've written about our responsibility when we have this great power in a different post (Great Power, Great Responsibility).

When God fills us with His Holy Spirit, we may feel like Bruce Banner did when the Hulk came out - a bit out of control.  But, God means for us to submit to Him and allow His power to work in our lives and in the lives of others.  We must yield to Him.  If we worry about criticism, this means we are still focused on ourselves.  Don't worry about making a mistake.  Remember, God is big enough to handle your mistake.

"He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.  Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.  But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.  They will soar high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint." ~Isaiah 40:29-31