Connecting with Our Holy Side

Dear Friends:

Last week a woman from Ireland wrote, “I feel over the last few years I have lost touch with my holy side and lost connection to jesus and God, I was wondering through this tough time how would you recommend finding my self fallen in love with the lord again?”

This comment caused me to remember the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7. The church was commended for their “deed, your hard work and your perseverance” (v. 2). They did not tolerate wicked men and they persevered and endured hardships for the name of Jesus (v. 3). They even “hated” the practices of the Nicolaitans who were the popular sect of their day. They knew their spiritual enemies and they knew what NOT to do!

“Yet, I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love” (v. 4). Apparently, they were so focused on avoiding the wrong and defending themselves against the wicked that they neglected their first love; Jesus Christ. They “lost touch” with their “holy side” and “lost connection to Jesus and God.”

How easy it is for us to become entangled in the affairs of this world that we neglect the spiritual disciplines that draw us closer to Jesus and empowers us to live for Him in victory. We choke out our daily Bible reading, worship, prayer, and mediation on God’s Word. We neglect intentionally focusing the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart to be pleasing in the sight of God (Psalm 19:14). When we are no longer compelled by our first love, we lose our focus, intentionality, and purpose. We become tossed like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6). This leads us to doubt our beliefs and belief our doubts. When we are driven by our first love, we will believe our beliefs and doubt our doubts.

Network211 helps people discover and grow in their journey with God. We help unbelievers discover the joy of being in a loving relationship with our Master. We journey with individuals who need to focus on loving Jesus. We encourage and empower believers to strengthen their first love and to take their walk with Christ to the next level.

It is with your partnership that we can journey with people to live for Jesus. We go with them from where they are today and journey with them to where they need to be in relationship with Him. Here are some examples.

• “I suffer depression and suicidal desires” (Congo)
• “I have been on a journey of conversion to Christ for several months. I feel like under attack, family and financial events that destabilize me and yet I cling and I surrender to the love of God. Very difficult not to give in to discouragement. Thanks for your prayers” (France)

No matter where we are in our spiritual journey, we must keep the fire of passion for Jesus burning each day. We provide JourneyOnline.org as an online interactive discipleship community. We respond personally to individuals who write to us. And, we direct them to a local church.

Thank you for partnering with us at Network211 so that we can empower individuals around the world to get in touch with their “holy side” and “connect to Jesus.”

 

Blessings,

Dr. Mark Flattery

Network211 President