Living

LIVING IN CHRIST’S LOVE

1. What are the keys to continuing freshness in your love relationship with the Lord Jesus?

To continue listening and talking with Him throughout the day about everything we are doing, I praise Him etc . . . in much the same way Brother Lawrence relates in his “Practice of the presence of God.”

I also start out almost every morning reading from the Scriptures in a kind of “lectio divina,” manner – [that is, “sacred reading as a way of prayer”] – by reading (out loud) a short passage, by reflecting on what I read (including me being one or more characters in the text), by responding in prayer, asking questions, thanking etc to what I’ve read, and finally resting in deep silence (just being in His presence).

I also read the books and letters of the Bible straight through – just to get the taste of the bigger picture. I also read a lot of other books – classic spirituality, theology, apologetics, memoirs etc. I also gain a lot by talking to brothers and sisters about the Lord and His ways in their – and in my – life.

Speaking in tongues is also a vital part of my prayer life, it comes and goes throughout the day without me thinking about it most of the time.

2. What do you experience of the Holy Spirit’s speaking and leading in your every day life?

I sense His nudges in my spirit to say and to do what He wants – this happens for the most part just prior before or almost simultaneously as I live my everyday life. Sometimes I know beforehand what to say or to do in different situations (but this is much rarer than the previous way of Him communicating to me). Sometimes I feel like He lets me decide for myself after which He and I check the results afterwards.

3. Can you describe your everyday communication with God? Has this changed much since you first gave your life to Christ?

Yes, it has changed quite a bit. I listened to Him from the beginning, but I also had a tendency to try to “force” Him to speak to me by using different formulas, structures and principles as if somehow He was far off from me and I had to get Him to visit me. . . and in His grace He did sometimes speak or make Himself known to. . . but other times there was just silence.

Now I try to flow with Him just as I described in the first question; listening and talking throughout the day because I know He is with me everywhere and always – it’s a matter of me giving my attention to Him, not the other way around.

4. What is worship to you these days? How does it play a part in your everyday life?

If you by that mean “going to church”, I’ve radically changed my views. I no longer view the church as a structure or organisation but as a family gathered around Jesus, who come together to share in the life He gives to us.

But if by “worship” you mean how you give yourself to Father, I try to follow Him no matter what, and I try to praise Him no matter what the circumstance, in confidence that He is the one who really is in charge of my life (even though I still sometimes try to get Him to do it my way…).

5. What is your experience of blessings and disappointments in your relationship with other believers?

Mostly I have good experiences with believers. My only “disappointment” comes from hearing how narrow minded and fearful we believers sometimes can be towards others – in every relationship – both with believers and non-believers).

6. What is your present understanding of local church life, leadership and structure?

As I said under question 4, I’ve radically changed my views in favour of relationships between God and the believer, and the relationship between brothers and sisters in Him being the priority – not having the focus on church or structures, but on Him. Not focusing on leadership but on Him. And in letting Him build and structure as He sees fit for just that time; also in letting Him be the one who changes and connects as He wills.

7. What 2 or 3 things have become increasingly important to you over the period since you first trusted in the Lord?

Living loved by Him and letting Him love through me. . . More and more listening and following Him no matter what the cost (my reputation, my selfishness etc). . . Learning to trust Him in connecting me to people and things He wants me to be and do in everyday life.

8. What 2 or 3 things have become quite unimportant/ meaningless/ valueless to you since God ‘turned your life around’?

“Three steps to this-or-that,” principles and rules for my relationship to my Father. . . Trying to earn anything from God. . . now I just want to receive whatever He wants to give me at this moment. . . trying to be someone in the eyes of others to please them, without being what Jesus wants me to be.

9. At the present time, what is your main area of desire, concern or aspiration?

My major concerns are in deepening my interactive communication and love relationship with the Lord Jesus, and increasing my trust in Him for every step and every relationship in my life.

Also, growing in knowledge of Christ, being conformed to the likeness of the One I love, and letting Him live in me and through me.

by Stefan Albrektsson, Sweden