Articles
Growing
We all want to grow. Physically, growth occurs naturally. However, spiritually it is not the same. Growth takes deliberate effort and great desire. We are encouraged to have the same desire for the word as a baby has for his mother’s milk (1Pet. 2:1-2). A few simple suggestions to help:
- Focus on your strengths. Maybe your strength is not reading the Bible through in a year, but you can take a passage each day and meditate on it. If we take one passage a day and do that, then at the end of the year we will have read and mediated on 365 verses in the Bible. If we do that each year, then the Bible will become second nature to us. Find what works best for you in your relationship with God’s word.
- Give equal time. Yes, we are overbooked. Our lives are crowded. But don’t we choose for them to be that way? We make value choices every day. So, can we choose to find just 5 minutes to do that Bible verse reading. We will take the time to get “fixed up” to go out. Why not take the time to give ourselves a spiritual fix up as well? How long does it take for you to get dressed? Comb your hair? Put on your make-up? We pay great attention to these details. Simply becoming aware of how we use the time we have been given will help a lot. We must take care of ourselves spiritually too.
- Enlist the help of someone else. Choose someone to help you with your strength and control of your time. This is about crafting a habit that will become second nature to you. We don’t have to think about when it is time to eat. We know! It is second nature to us. This not about someone pressuring us, but having someone to encourage us. Share your desire to grow spiritually. Share your desire to have a better life filled with prayer. Share how you want to be able to read God’s word better each year.
- Enjoy moments of spiritual success. Remember those times that you prayed to God and He answered your prayer. Remember that moment you were tempted to sin but you resisted the devil. Recall those moments when life was drifting and how God strengthened you. I am afraid we dwell on the sin part of our lives so much we forget the moments of victory. We need to remember God can do exceedingly, abundantly above all we think or ask (Eph 3:20).
- Finally, if we want to have a close relationship with God and His people, we need to be where they are. Assembling together ought to have the effect of stirring us to love and good works. Approaching God in prayer together reaffirms we are not alone. Singing together lifts our spirits. Opening God’s word together builds us up. Remembering our Lord in His memorial reminds us of His sacrificial love. No marriage will survive if husbands and wives do not spend time together. In the same wayo, our relationship with God and His people will not flourish and grow if we aren't together often.
We all want to grow. We all want the affirmation that we make a difference. It takes deliberate effort and attention.
Rickie Jenkins
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