Put in Life

God is a god of life. He breathed life into man from the beginning of Creation (Genesis 2:7). His intention was that man should live spiritually and physically forever, experiencing “life more abundantly” (John 10:10). Though Adam and Eve chose death when they chose to disobey God’s command, we can choose God’s life over the devil’s lies (Deuteronomy 30:19). We choose God’s life when we choose Jesus, who is life.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

When we choose Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are born again. God’s nature—His Spirit—of life comes to live on the inside of us. God replaces the spirit of death that once lived inside us with the purity of God’s life.

It is the Spirit Who gives life [He is the Life-giver]; the flesh conveys no benefit whatever [there is no profit in it]. The words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are spirit and life (John 6:63, AMPC).

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you (Romans 8:11, NKJV).

After we’re born again, we have another choice to make. What will we choose to put into the new life that God gave us? Will we choose to put in sources of nourishing life or sources of depleting death?

We are made up of three parts: spirit, soul, and body. Our spirits are the real us that will live forever and spend eternity in either heaven or hell. It needs the nourishment of spiritual food. Our soul is our mind, will, and emotions, and receives soul fuel as well. Our body is what our spirit and soul live in, and requires physical food daily. All three receive the life or death, we choose to put in it.

Our spirit is the most important recipient of the life we choose and affects the state of our souls and bodies. Whatever we put into it will determine whether we have life in every other area. The wonderful thing about spirit “life-food” is that it is free. It simply requires our choice.

 

How to Put in Life

Invest in God’s Word

When we implement God’s Word, the Bible, into our lives, we are putting in life. Jesus is God’s Word, so when we invest in the Bible, we are inputting the Son of God in written form (John 1:1). Every time we give attention to God’s Word by obeying, reading, and speaking it, we are putting in wisdom, prosperity, health, and success.

My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings. Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh. Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life (Proverbs 4:20-23 AMPC).

This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success (Joshua 1:8, AMPC).

 

Worship

God deserves our worship—in the good times and the bad. It ministers to Him, but it also ministers to us as it invites His presence into our lives. Any time God’s presence is our priority, He pours out His life into ours. Here are just a few of the benefits of putting in the life of worship:

It brings victory (2 Chronicles 20:15-20).

It provides deliverance from our enemies (Psalm 18:3).

It satisfies the soul (Psalm 63:1-5).

It repels depression (Isaiah 61:3).

It brings liberty (Acts 16:25-26).

It brings joy (Psalm 100:4, Psalm 16:11).

It draws men to God (John 12:32).

It strengthens our faith (Romans 4:20).

 

Pray

 Prayer is communication with God and is an important part of every Christian’s life. No communication with God results in a lack of life-flow from God to us. But when we consistently communicate with Him through prayer as a lifestyle, we not only hear life-giving Words from Him, but we have access to His life-giving wisdom and answer to our life’s needs (Philippians 4:6).

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NKJV).

 

Go to Church

 When we attend church, we’re not just sitting on a pew listening to a sermon and singing songs. We are investing in our spiritual health. We’re edifying, or building up, our lives with fellowship, worship, Bible teaching, and opportunities to serve. We go home fueled for the rest of our week, and our walk with God is strengthened.

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25, NKJV).

  

Receive Godly Counsel

Who we allow to speak into our lives determines what direction our lives will go. Their counsel will impart life or death, depending on their source. A person who looks to God’s wisdom when giving us counsel will always provide life because it’s straight from God’s Word, life in written form.

Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days. There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand (Proverbs 19:20-21, NKJV).

 

Hang Out with Godly People

 Like Godly counsel, who we spend time with influences our lives. Even if it’s just for fellowship and fun, another person’s values and attitudes will rub off on us. They can bring life by influencing us to grow in our walk with God, raise our life’s standards, and make wise decisions. Or they can cause us to stumble by steering us away from God’s life.

Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits” (1 Corinthians 15:33, NKJV).

 

 Listen to Life-Giving Messages

 What we watch and listen to influences just like our relationships. Music, movies, and other forms of entertainment offer life or death. Those based on God’s Word will bring life as Joshua 1:8 tells us. But the ones that fill our minds with carnal messages will only draw us farther from God’s life and sensitivity to His Spirit.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things (Philippians 4:8).

 

There are many more specific ways to put life into our lives. These and others provide nourishment if they are founded on faith in the Savior that gave us the life we could never provide on our own. The more we put God’s life in, the more we will experience its benefits.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me (Galatians 2:20, NKJV).