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Written by Jody Cavness for “Meet the Cavness’ ” @ http://cavnessfamily.wordpress.com/

Original post @ http://cavnessfamily.wordpress.com/2013/12/29/spiritual-suffocation/

Spiritual Suffocation
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I have to admit that I have often wondered about other people’s relationship with God, even after knowing that I shouldn’t. It’s so easy to get caught up into other’s actions and judge on a scale from 1-10 how “holy” one is. I have caught myself doing this unto others and even to myself based solely on actions. Guilty. And to prove to you that I’m wrong in doing so, Paul explains it in 1 Corinthians 4:3-4:

3 As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point. 4 My conscience is clear, but that doesn’t prove I’m right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.

We can obtain a clear conscience without having to know the eternal destiny of others.

With that being said, I wanted to touch on something that has been on my mind lately: spiritual suffocation.

It takes two steps to breathe – inhaling and exhaling. In order to breathe spiritually, it is exactly the same. We have to breathe in (reading God’s Word) and breathe out (pray). When we are not regularly doing these two things, we can “spiritually suffocate” and our relationship with God may be hindered.

Relationships only work as a 2-way street.

You cannot, I repeat, CANNOT expect God to come through for you when, and ONLY when, you are desperate.

God is a jealous god. He longs for you. He gave/gives/will give it all for you and even went to the depths of dying for you. Therefore, He wants all of you in return – 100%. Not just when you are in peril. Not just when you are waiting for your big job interview. Not just when you are pulled over on the side of the road awaiting whether or not you are going to get a speeding ticket. But also in the times of celebration from getting the job or getting a verbal warning from the police officer who let you off the hook this one time or possibly, even, from saving your life!

So how can you do give back all 100%?

1. Recognize that God is there in the pretty and the ugly. Whether it’s publicly or in your quiet time…give him credit! Not everything will go your way. We all experience trials in our lives. Embrace it because… “We know that all things work together for the good to them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28). Praise reports and prayer requests are what keeps a community of Christ thriving for more! Simple recognition goes a long way.

2. Develop a RELATIONSHIP by…well, how else do you develop a relationship? Spend time with Him. Breathe in, and breathe out. He is God Almighty, the First and the Last, and a very powerful God. He is no genie. He is no Santa Claus. We have made Him out to be that way, but He offers us way more than that. You can certainly believe in God and believe there is a god…but so does Satan and all his demons. Set yourself apart by developing a relationship with Jesus today.

Think about it this way (stay with me, here):

A stranger knocks on your door and says, “Hi. I’m a pretty good person so I’m going to move in and live with you.” What would you say? I’m not sure I could find the words to say, but I’ll tell you exactly what I would do. Door, meet face. If that isn’t bold enough, Jesus will say, “I never knew you. Away from me!” (Matthew 7:23).

Bottom line: Relationship matters, and spiritual suffocation is a real thing. You can feel it. Don’t fool yourself by claiming that God will be there for you when there is no mutual relationship. Just breathe in, and breathe out.