3. The Devotional Life - Sharing God's Spiritual Life

The book of Psalms gives us the key to understanding how we share God’s spiritual life. We listen in on the words and conversation of a person fellowshipping with and worshiping God. We often find the psalmist speaking directly to God as he says:
    “Answer me when I call, O God” (4:1) NASB.
    “Give ear to my words, O Lord” (5:1) NASB.
    “O Lord my God, in You I have taken refuge” (7:1) NASB.

In his contact with God, the psalmist also speaks of himself as follows:
    “My soul, wait in silence for God only” (62:5) NASB.
    “My soul waits for the Lord” (130:6) NASB.
    “To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul” (25:1) NASB.

These passages indicate that coming into contact with God involves the soul. Someone has pointed out that with the mind the soul knows, with the affections the soul feels, and with the will the soul chooses. Just as the tree draws nourishment to sustain life—for growth and for overflow into fruit—so the taproot of the soul, which includes the mind, the affections, and the will, is God’s provision for us to share Christ’s life, to sustain our spiritual lives, and to grow and overflow into Christlike fruit.

Taken from Meditation, by Jim Downing, pages 24-25, © 1976, 2001, 2011 Used by permission of NavPress.

Jim Downing was recruited to The Navigators by founder Dawson Trotman in 1956. He served in many roles until his retirement from full-time ministry in 1983. At 98, Jim remains active on volunteer staff with The Navigators’ Collegiate Ministry.