Many Christians feel flat. “Where’s the touch of God on my life?” they wonder. “Why don’t I feel His presence within me? To be fully engaged spiritually means to be “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God,” we read in Ephesians 3:19. In other words, it means to be totally filled with God Himself.

When that happens, what’s “normal” in the Christian life? First, growth toward maturity. When God fills us, everything changes. It doesn’t happen all at once. Initially, we might not even notice some of the changes. That’s because maturity is a lifelong process. We’re still aware of weaknesses. We still face trials and hardships. But as we look back, we’ll notice areas of growth. Our spiritual muscles grow stronger and stronger.

Second, loyalty to the church. When God fills and renews us, we make a commitment to our local church. We speak well of it. Even though it has faults, we love it and defend it. We discover and begin to exercise our spiritual gifts “for the common good” [1 Corinthians 12:7]. We generously support our church and meet the needs of brothers and sisters in Christ who could use our help and encouragement.

Do you want a vibrant, growing, and robust faith? I hope so! Ask God to fill every fiber of your being day after day.

This is Luis Palau.