Kai Stormwalker’s Holocron

What does it mean to have a mystical relationship with God?

I will start out with a definition of mysticism, since the definitions of mystic and mystical both refer to this. According to Webster’s New World College Dictionary:

Mysticism n. 1. the doctrines or beliefs of mystics; specif., the doctrine that it is possible to achieve communion with God through contemplation. 2. any doctrine that asserts the possibility of attaining an intuitive knowledge of spiritual truths through meditation. 3. vague, obscure, or confused thinking or belief.

There are probably quite a few people who would accuse me of being a representative of definition number 3. That’s okay.

I believe that I have a mystical relationship with God because when I relied strictly on thinking I found no real answers to anything. I found college to be very disappointing because nothing I was taught there seemed to have any real significance in the world.

When I became a Christian I devoured the Bible hungrily - but I didn’t really understand it. I loved Jesus, but I didn’t really see how the Bible related to the world either. There was a lot of stuff, especially in the Old Testament, about morality and sin. But I didn’t really understand how I was supposed to deal with these tings in my own life. The New Testament said that I couldn’t do anything about it myself - that I needed to trust God for it. But what did that mean exactly?

I heard a lot of references to the Holy Spirit but I didn’t understand that either. The Holy Spirit was supposed to help you know how to interpret Scripture. Well, either that wasn’t happening or I wasn’t getting it.

Then I was reading a book by Billy Graham about the Holy Spirit. I don’t remember anything about the book except for a Scripture that he quoted. “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” Luke 11:13

So I asked.

Things began to change. Slowly at first, but then like a roller coaster, with increasing momentum. This was just over six years ago. The momentum smoothed out some, but I continue to learn more and more about God and what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

Not only did I learn from reading the Bible and finally understanding it, but after I asked to be filled with the Holy Spirit, I had the desire to spend more and more time in silence, listening for God’s voice. And not only do I hear it, but I often feel his presence. A month ago at church I sat for 45 minutes alone in a pew, with the sensation that someone was sitting with their arms wrapped around me.

There is a Scripture that says, “…do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is…” Romans 12:2. I believe that the only way you can do this is by seeing through God’s eyes. And the only way you can see through God’s eyes is by having a mystical relationship with God.

I was a Christian for 18 years before I ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The biggest change I see in how I think now as opposed to how I thought then is that I am much less judgmental of non-believers. However, I have much less patience with those who claim to be followers of Jesus while supporting war, the socio-economic system of the United States, and not wanting their tax dollars to help provide health care for those who can’t afford a $250+ a month premium. I have had my eyes opened to the fact that these are things that break God’s heart.

I get criticized quite regularly by religious people for my views.

Of course, so did Jesus.

Ah, the long-awaited entry! Thanks for this - it was a good read!