Good morning…
I learned lots of tantalizing tidbits as I read my two Spiritual Direction books. In passing, one set of authors wrote, “The next time you feel enthusiastic about something, remember that that word means literally ‘God within’ you” (p. 87 in Hagberg and Guelich’s The Critical Journey: Stages in the Life of Faith).
With my intrigue sparked, I drove home from my spiritual retreat and hopped on my computer. Of course, I had to google “What is the root word for ‘enthusiastic?'” We all know her synonyms. Great excitement. Lively interest. Extravagant passion. But I did not know that the root word for “enthusiastic” in both Latin and Greek means “being possessed or inspired by a god.”
I understand more fully why God’s first of ten commandments is simply “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). God yearns to be the focus of our great excitement, our lively interest, our extravagant passion.
Matthew reiterates God’s top request in chapter six, verses thirty-one through thirty-three. “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things (these lesser gods) dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
Above all else is our greatest excitement about God? Do we give the LORD every day our lively interest and extravagant passion? Are we enthusiastic about the Kingdom of God as it expands within and around us? We are designed to be believers in the One True God. When we have no other gods before God, we live rightly, with integrity, and our Heavenly Father gives us everything we need.
Today, let’s pay keen attention to “God within” us.
…Sue…
