When God Becomes Your Higher Power: You'll See the World From Inside Out

By Bob Swesky

If you would like to live forever in a world that dreams are made of and some minds visit occasionally, then within these pages , you will find someone who can show you how. Greatest of all, this new life starts here on earth! Most of mankind has gotten their priorities backward. People seek to find happiness, a purpose in life, and answers to q

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert J Swesky
• Release date: Mar 2, 2017
• ISBN: 9781947136021

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When God Becomes Your Higher Power

You'll See the World From Inside Out

Bob Swesky

When God Becomes Your Higher Power

© 2017 by Bob Swesky

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, and recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Unless otherwise noted, scripture references are taken from the Holy Bible, the New International Version®,® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to all of my grandchildren with the hope that they discover long before I did that the real joy and happiness we look for in life comes from God’s world—not man’s world. May God bless you and keep you eternally His.

Acknowledgments

I owe a great deal of thanks to those who have appeared in my life but none more important than my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him are thanksgivings too numerous to mention, let alone remember.

Next, I would like to recognize and thank certain people God placed in my life who helped determine the final outcome of this writing: Michael Crabtree, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology at Washington & Jefferson College, also a counselor, a philanthropist, but most importantly, a friend; my sister-in-law, Donna Swesky, whose generosity gave me the proofreading that I needed. I will be forever grateful for her countless hours of work. My daughter, Robyn Hall, who spent weeks correcting my grammar and punctuation and has also been the support beam in my life. Jeff Sipos, my fellow brother-in-Christ, whom God placed in my life at the beginning of my latest journey. Finally, Linda Stubblefield, whom God has graciously blessed with the gift of editing. Without their friendship and love for God, this writing would not exist today.

I would also like to thank the following: Gateway Rehab South in McMurray, Pennsylvania, for allowing me the opportunity to volunteer my services every Thursday during the morning outpatient session. The Washington Drug and Alcohol Commission, for including me on their committee for Project Refuge. Resurrection Power, for offering me a seat on their board which includes my powerful friends in Christ.

About the Author

Bob Swesky received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Franciscan University and completed his practicum at Jefferson County Mental Health Clinic, which laid the foundation in his interest with helping others. Currently, Bob holds a seat on the Board of Directors for Resurrection Power, an organization that promotes and provides Christian Recovery housing. Bob is an active committee member for Project Refuge, whose purpose is to link the faith- based community with the recovery community, providing a safe place for individuals to open up and share about themselves and/or family members with church leaders who have a passion for helping those in active addiction. Bob interacts with individuals within the recovery community through sponsorship and service work in his local community. His spiritual growth has become his passion to lead both men and women in Christian recovery. Bob was mentored by Jeff Sipos, founder of the James 5:16 Project and currently the campus director of the Bible Chapel at City Mission in Washington. Although Bob is preoccupied with service work, he finds time to volunteer weekly for a local outpatient rehabilitation center.

Bob and his wife Joyce reside in Washington, Pennsylvania. They are the parents of two adult children with whom they share seven grandchildren and one great-grandson.

– Noretta Michalski, MACC, LPN

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

December 15, 2016

Contents

Preface

Introduction

Part One—One God, Two Worlds

1. Physical World vs. Spiritual World

2. Who Is This God and How Can I Know Him?

Part Two—Keys to Spiritual Growth

3. Wake Up With God

4. Walk With God

5. Look Inside

6. Look Outside

7. Spend Time With God

Part Three—Finding God in Man’s World

8. An Addictive World, An Addictive God

9. A Metaphor on Deliverance

10. Wisdom From Above

Part Four—Thoughts, Inspiration and Soul Searching

11. Thoughts From Afar

12. What Would You Do if He Came Back Today?

13. Final Thoughts From Afar

A Note From the Author

Preface

Have you ever asked yourself any of the following questions:

Is there really a God?

If there is, who is He?

Is there really life after death?

If there is, where will it take place?

If there is a God, how can I know undoubtedly that He exists?

Is there a reason why I’m here or is my existence simply the result of a natural occurrence?

I’ve given a lot of thought about these questions through the years, and I believe that is why I have been led to write about this subject. Are there answers to these questions? Well, a Book that was written long ago will answer not only these but many other questions about life. Most homes have a copy, yet this Book is rarely opened. The fact that this Book is in most homes brings about another question that many have asked: is the Bible real or only a Book of stories written by man?

Some people deny that the Bible is the Word of God. Some people choose to accept only bits and pieces so that their lifestyle will not have to be altered. Some do believe the Bible is indeed the Word of God spoken to His chosen ones who wrote it down for others like you and me to find out about God and the meaning of life. Where do you fit in? If indeed you are one of those who accept the Bible as being the Word of God, are you following His instructions by reading and learning the answers to these questions?

The Bible says, All scripture is God-breathed… (2 Timothy 3:16). A term to use for God-breathed is divine inspiration because God inspired certain men to reveal His existence, purpose, and plan for mankind. In 2 Peter 1:20-21, the Bible states, "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. 21For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."

This book came about from a PowerPoint presentation concerning the existence of God and how He can become more meaningful in our lives that I started to write for a Christian group. A secondary goal was to help turn any doubt and confusion about God into faith and belief. If you take a leap of faith and have the will to believe that God exists, then He will appear to you in supernatural ways. I use an equation which is as factual as x + y = z, and that equation is Faith + Belief = Evidence. The difference between the two equations is that the first one is an equation of the natural life; the second is an equation of the spiritual life. Both of these equations exist, but many people cannot see nor comprehend the second one.

Being unable to comprehend the truth of Faith + Belief = Evidence has nothing to do with our common sense; it has everything to do with the Spirit of God. Jesus didn’t speak words to prove He was right; He spoke words of revelation to reveal what was right—contrary to what man understood, which is why we must believe with our hearts and not reason with our minds. The Spirit of God reveals truth from the spiritual world, which the natural man cannot justify by reasoning. It’s not acceptance by way of intelligence; it’s acceptance by way of faith and belief. Then and only then will reality, or proof of the spiritual world, become a part of your inner being. God’s existence now becomes real to you by way of His Spirit in you.

If you have never witnessed the second equation in your life and have a desire to find out if it is true, then by the time you have finished reading, I believe you will. It all comes down to one simple question: do you believe you hold the answers to what life is all about or are you willing to find out about the mystery that is hidden from man yet can be revealed to you by God? That, my friend, is the way God planned it. You will never know the absolute truth concerning life unless you seek God for the answers, for scripture says; "Now to Him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith—to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen" (Romans 16:25-27).

The origin of this manuscript began on a beautiful fall Sunday afternoon without any intentions on my part as to where it would one day take me. I simply sat down at my desk and started to jot down my thoughts for the presentation I was preparing to make. I had an abundance of different thoughts about God throughout my life, but none of them were as impactful as those I was having lately. I realized the important matters worth living for were now changing and altering my priorities. Events were occurring that I once called coincidences, and I no longer believe in coincidences. These thoughts that turned into action were only as good as God’s Spirit directed me.

The initial writing started in September of 2014, and over a period of time, I struggled with content, structure, and title. I placed my fledgling manuscript on the shelf a multitude of times—only to come to the realization that I had a different purpose than what I had once thought. Originally, I did not see the purpose God had for the recording of my thoughts. Maybe I was looking at the outside world too much instead of looking in. Some of these thoughts originated at an early age, but they really materialized when I entered a non-denominational Christian ministry at the age of twenty-three. At that point in my life, the light suddenly came on inside of my dark mind. I decided to study His Word—not simply read the stories.

The Scripture says that when the great revival under Ezra started, the people celebrated "…with great joy because they now understood the words that had been made known to them" (Nehemiah 8:12). Like the people in Nehemiah’s day, His words came alive to me for the first time! I was now seeing with God’s eyes, and I believe you can also see with God’s eyes if you will ask Him. Throughout this book, I will explain how, why, and what you will see. God’s eyes will reveal matters from your heart while man’s eyes reveal things from your mind. God sees the end of things; I see only the beginnings. That is exactly why I’m learning to trust Him.

Today, I seek only His thoughts from afar. My prayer is that this compilation of thoughts and truths will bring joy to your heart, confirmation to your spirit, and inspiration to your soul. …for the LORD searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever (1 Chronicles 28:9).

Introduction

My purpose for writing this book is to help you see what most people cannot see, hear what most people cannot hear, and understand what most people cannot understand. I find that one such subject is God Himself. Secondarily, this book is designed to reveal another world that’s actually out there, but a major transformation is required to see it. You’ll need new eyes, new ears, a new mind, and most importantly, a new heart. You will also see how God can perform these changes no matter who you are, what you’ve done, and where you are today in regard to your understanding of Him. This God wants to make you more like Him and to live with you both now and forever in a place that you can only imagine!

However, as it is written: What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived—the things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit…" (1 Corinthians 2:9,10).

Did you grasp what this scripture said? God has already prepared something for those who love Him! You cannot physically see, hear, or understand what this is; however, your inner spirit can see, hear, and understand by the power of God’s Spirit within you.

The spiritual world cannot be seen with worldly eyes. Spiritual words cannot be heard with worldly ears. Spiritual understanding cannot be understood with a worldly mind. If you are gripped by the