4. Although the Kingdom of God is not a physical place, it is just as real as something material.
(Before looking at the questions below, take a few minutes to think about this statement. Invite Jesus to speak to you about what He would like you to notice.)
Do you sometimes struggle to believe that anything exists besides this physical world?
Reflect on the evidence that confirms the idea that there is more to life than our physical existence. Maybe make a list of thoughts and ideas. Invite Spirit to speak to you, revealing to you more of the spiritual reality of your life.
Consider asking God to give you something—an experience, thought, feeling, or just a sense—to show you that He is real and present in your life. Try not to create too much of an expectation of how you would like God to meet you; rather, think deeply about your desire, your longing, and make this the focus of your attention. Be OK if nothing “happens” immediately; trust that God will surprise you at some point.
Consider the amount of energy you give to thinking, feeling, paying attention, being aware, reflecting, sensing, etc. What part of your daily life do these spiritual activities play? Can you imagine how they could become more?
Our materially focused culture often questions the reality or genuineness of spiritual things. It can be helpful to note that “spiritual” does not necessarily mean “God.” There are many things in our lives that are spiritual but not necessarily about God. Our emotions and feelings are spiritual. For example, anger, love, grief, joy, and fear are all real but do not have material substance.
Have you ever walked into a room and felt something—an upbeat vibe, a serious tone, or a fearful atmosphere? These are spiritual realities. Thoughts are spiritual. Attitudes are spiritual. How we feel and think about others: prejudice, judgments, admiration, envy, pride, etc. are all spiritual. Our beliefs are spiritual—they have no physical matter. Although none of these things have material qualities, no one would question that they are real.
To say, then, that the Kingdom of God is spiritual should not confuse us. Similarly, to say that the Kingdom of God is real should not cause us to doubt. Our problem is that we often do not notice the spiritual things in our lives because our attention is drawn to the material. We are inundated by situations and inputs that suggest that our material life is all that is important. But
beneath every desire we have for something material, there is a deeper spiritual desire. We say we want possessions, but we really desire security, approval, or love. We obsess about feeding and caring for our bodies, but what we really desire is peace, joy, contentment, and rest. In the end, we find that what we really want, desire, and long for is essentially spiritual.
What is most true and real about us is our spiritual life; we are spiritual beings and the spiritual world of the Kingdom of God is our true home.