Spirituality: A Divine Encounter Towards a Divine Shift

By: Micah A. Tecne

 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

Spirituality is defined by the quality of life generated and nourished by the Spirit of God, in which believers experience the power and presence of God in their lives. True spirituality comes from living under the control of the Holy Spirit and is evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit, spiritual maturity and growth in holiness. It is more than knowing the Almighty God but it’s encountering the Divine that drives us to believe and move us towards a divine purpose. Encountering the holy God causes us to turn from our wickedness towards His righteousness. All of our desires would be anchored in pursuing a life that is pleasing to Him: a righteous life with no compromise. We shift from our filthiness towards purity and holiness. We allow the divine to change us - our hearts and minds.

Living a life of true spirituality is seen beyond what is seen by the naked eye. It is inward, which radiates on the outside of us. A divine shift! We no longer desire for our own self-gratification but to please the righteous God. Zacchaeus desired to encounter Jesus that brought Him into something spiritual, a life-changing experience! It was his decision; it was his choice with no external compulsion to repent from his wickedness and change. Our desire to live a life anchored on the value of spirituality starts with our firm decision to encounter the Divine Who enables us to move towards righteous lives. Are you desiring for a divine shift? Decide now! Have a genuine divine encounter through a genuine prayer like the Psalmist and David prayed:

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!