~The single, most effective  tool we can have in our garden
 is an intimate, submitted relationship with Jesus Christ~ 

This submitted relationship is the only way the Holy Spirit will produce His beautiful Fruit in our lives; the Fruit of: 
LOVE,  JOY,  PEACE,  PATIENCE,  KINDNESS,  GENTLENESS,  GOODNESS,  FAITHFULNESS, AND SELF-CONTROL.
Merely doing a religion and "checking off the boxes" creates what I call, "Modern Day Pharisees."  This type of character development is all about works and produces the ungodly fruit of:
self-will, self-entitlement, self-righteousness, legalism, judgmental attitudes, control and dominative personality-types. 
Religion does not bring the necessary inner transformation God requires in order for us to become
fellow gardeners with Him, in the soil of mankind's soul.  We must be submitted in order to sow His Seeds.

Jesus Himself gives a stern warning about this in Matthew 7:22-23, "On Judgment Day many will say to Me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your Name and cast out demons in Your Name and performed many miracles in Your Name.'  But I will reply, 'I never KNEW you.  Away from me, you evil doers.' "

The Lord gives us many instructions in His Word to abide by, including to "Not forsake the assembling together."  I do my very best to submit to His Lordship over all areas in my life and to closely follow His precepts. 
Here, I am highlighting what I call the, "Five Spiritual Disciplines" in specific reference to what has created a
dramatic, life-changing shift in my intimacy with Him.

Beginning in 2006 I began to cultivate this intimate relationship with Christ through the daily practice of the following

Five Spiritual Disciplines
~Always begin your day and your quiet time with a heart and mind of gratitude~ 
"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." ~ Colossians 3:17

       #1. STUDY HIS WORD WITH HELP FROM HIS HOLY SPIRIT.
​2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.”
Each day before I read the Bible, I ask the Holy Spirit to, “Please speak to me.”  He always shows up!     
#2. APPLY HIS WORD AS HE SPECIFICALLY INSTRUCTS YOU.
Psalm 119:11, “Thy Word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against Thee.
#3. MAKE YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS AND SPEAK HONESTYLY TO GOD
He knows your thoughts and your heart anyway, so why NOT be honest?
 Philippians 4:6 instructs us, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. 
Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. 
We must maintain an attitude of gratitude.  God truly hates grumbling and complaining.
#4 BE STILL AND LISTEN TO GOD SPEAK TO YOU. 
An earthly relationship cannot be one sided.  You speak to your friend, and then you listen to her speak to you.
  Why would it be any different with the Lord?
Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I AM God.”  Stillness is our way to knowing Him.
Practicing daily stillness has completely changed my relationship with Christ. 
It is my anchor and the most essential, important part of my life.
Practicing stillness is NOT like the mediation exercises of yoga or the New Age Movement. 
"BE WISE AS A SERPENT."
#5 SUBMIT EACH DAY TO JESUS AS YOUR LORD. 
Get in the passenger seat and let Him do the driving.
Psalm 119:133 says, “Guide my steps by Your Word, so I will not be overcome by evil.”

How do we submit to someone we don’t trust?  We don't.
How do we trust someone we don’t know?  We can’t.
 How do we know someone we don’t spend time with?  We won't. 

WE MUST SPEND TIME WITH GOD DAILY IN ORDER TO BEGIN TO
TRUST HIM,  KNOW HIM AND SUBMIT TO HIM.  

​IN TIME, WE WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH HIM AND BEING IN HIS PRESENCE IS SOMETHING
WE WILL DESIRE AND SEEK IN EACH MOMENT OF EVERY DAY...
"The Kingdom of God is within you." ~Luke 17:21