Romans 12:11-12 ‘Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;’

DAILY READING –John 4:43-54; 1 Chronicles 17; Zechariah 6

For people who live in the world’s coldest regions like the Eskimos,  constantly maintaining bodily warmth is crucial to survival. And one way the Eskimos survive and thrive in the earth’s most challenging environment is by wearing traditional native clothing which are often warm and waterproof in the extreme winter conditions.  Most Eskimo clothing are made from animal furs; the same materials that keep animals warm in the far northern climate. Caribou fur, for example, consists of densely packed hollow hairs that trap the air and super-insulate the animal. Other furs that are used in traditional clothing include beaver, moose, wolf, Dall sheep, snowshoe hare, muskrat, and marten.

Indeed, long before the arrival of Euro-Americans, the Eskimos had already perfected some of the world’s warmest clothing.  Ancestral native Eskimo people invented the parka—a jacket with an attached hood that gives unequaled protection from cold and wind. Today, parkas are manufactured all over the world using all sorts of modern materials. Indeed, the Eskimos have proven to be among the world’s greatest experts in dealing with deep cold environments. Once warmly dressed,  Eskimos can be out for days, unharmed,  in temperatures far below zero.

Likewise, the world is a spiritually cold environment, and we need the warm covering of The Spirit to survive. Indeed the world lies in evil and wickedness, and  we need the Presence of The Spirit constantly surrounding us to keep off the spiritual coldness that tries to grip men’s hearts.  And key to surviving the spiritual polar climate we live in, is to stay warmly covered. To survive, you’ve got to dress for the weather. To walk around without spiritual covering is dangerous,  it can result in injury or even death.  Therefore we constantly need the fire of The Spirit, as a spiritual shield around us. And we maintain this fire through a prayerful lifestyle.

Romans 12:11 tells us to be “fervent in spirit.” The Greek word for “fervent,” is zeo, which means “to boil with heat.”

We have a responsibility to stay hot for God no matter how cold our spiritual environment is. Whenever, the spiritual temperature is dangerously low, if we are not careful, our love, like many, will grow cold (Matthew 24:12). Therefore, if we are to survive the world’s harsh spiritual atmosphere,  then we must keep our fire constantly burning through a life of fervent prayers. Originally from creation it is God’s intention that we be covered continually by His Spirit, which is the covering of glory. In the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were covered by God’s glory, this was why they could be naked and not be ashamed. It was when this covering of glory departed, after they had sinned, that their suffering began.

Today as believers it is God’s plan that we be covered by His Spirit. It is through the warmth of The Spirit, that we are protected from the spiritual coldness and evil in the world. When we dwell in the secret place of The most high and abide under the shadow of The Almighty then we are totally protected from harm. Indeed when The Lord becomes your refuge, you become completely inaccessible to every evil.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to constantly maintain spiritual warmth by surrounding myself with Your Spirit. I thank You Lord, because  under Your shadow I am completely protected from all harm in Jesus Name.

QUOTE;

It is only when you can see God in the light of who He truly is that you can begin to walk in the overflow of His blessings. – WORDBITE 222.