How to Start Your Awakening Process | Spirituality for Beginners with Eckhart Tolle

Old age is not the end of personal growth. Like adolescence and the midlife crises, we are faced with a last rite of passage, which prepares us for death. When we complete this bumpy ride, we have increased individual power and insight, enjoy life more than ever before, and experience the peace that is associated with spirituality.

There are three areas in the inductive bible study method, Observation, Interpretation and Application. The final area we will be looking at is Application. How does the text that has been observed and interpreted apply to your life? Or another way to look at it is how do you apply and put into action what has been read? In James 1:22 we are told the following, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says”.

People engage with the concept of Spirituality in many different ways and degrees of intensity. The question isn’t how Spiritual to be, we are pure Spirit, but how to balance our energies between earthly and Spiritual matters for the brief journey of life.

Interesting, that when somebody, usually my children, “crosses me” and bucks my idea of how I think it should be, there is something in me that wants to withdraw and withhold. Withdraw and withhold my attention, interest, presence, approval, affection…

The very thought of steering people deliberately off course is enough to give any right-thinking person of influence shudders of immediate panic, a rampant sweating of the brow. Such is the physiological response to a repugnant thought intuiting abhorrence.

Do you know any 20-somethings – at work, at home, at play or in relationship – who are “wise beyond their years?” Not intellect, intelligence, book knowledge or trivial facts. But in their orientation to, and perspective about, life and living. Conversely, do you know 40-somethings or 60-somethings who are childish (not child-like) in the way they approach life and living? Such is the difference between “growing old” and “growing up.”

We saw Jacobs’ daughter Dinah loosing her virginity when Shechem out of lust took her. Even though the event was a sad one; we can also identify that it was her fault. Dinah went out to see her unbelieving friends; never preached God to them and never even let her friends know that she worships a mighty God who hates sin. The unbelieving young man took the advantage and had sex with her.

The Tao Te Ching, generally referred to simply as the Tao was written in the 6th Century BC by Lao Tzu. In spite of its years the Tao survives as one of the five most printed books across the globe in thousands of languages. The highly esteemed philosopher Dr Lin Yutang has stated that “if their is any one book in all of Oriental literature which should be read above all others it is Lao Tzu’s book of Tao.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2). Sometimes, out of ignorance, and a seeming show of humility, some Christians pray to God saying: ‘we’re nothing thy sight”, or you’ll hear “we’re but dung before thee.” What a terrible act of self devaluation!

In his letter to the church in Galatia, the great apostle Paul said that he has laid aside what he wants to do for what Christ would wish him to do. In other words he was given up his own desire for the Father’s desire for his life. This is one of the greatest revelations of the new creation. The life of the old you was supplanted with Gods divine life.

Literally, power means the possession of controlling influence, superiority or authority. But power as used in the scripture above is dunamis in the Greek, meaning divine energy, might, strength for wonderful works, efficiency, or miracle-working ability; it means inherent dynamic ability to cause changes. This power is what the believer received when the Holy Spirit comes upon him.

Abraham, after helping to defeat the enemies of Sodom refused to accept any compensation from the king of sodom in spite of his persuasive words. In his words, “I will not take from a thread even to a showlatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest though shouldest say, I have made Abram rich” (Genesis 14:23). Abraham understood that there was nothing the king of Sodom could give to him that would compare to the advantage God had given him; he had a treasured relationship with God.