Tag: Christian growth

Hidden Safely With Christ

Colossians 3:2-3 NIV, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”

I’ve been meditating on these verses over the last couple of days. They remind me that my priority should be on eternal things. Earthly things should not take precedence over the things that matter most to the Lord.

It can definitely be a challenge trying to stay focused on what matters most to the Lord. The responsibilities we have in our personal lives, along with the allure of the world, make it difficult to set our minds on things above. It’s like we’re in a constant game of tug of war. Although we want to do what is right, we sometimes choose what is easy instead. Following Jesus is not usually an easy path. Staying committed to Him takes perseverance.

Placing our focus on Jesus, will help us to have a better understanding of what it means to diligently seek God. We will see life and people from His perspective. There will be many impostors throughout our journey, but when our minds are set on Him, we won’t be fooled by a counterfeit.

Our lives are hidden with Christ in God. The covering that the Father has over us, will protect us. The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. Don’t be discouraged. When things get tough, look up to Jesus! He is an ever present help in times of trouble.

Rest For The Weary

Matthew 11:28 NLT, “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

There is a lot that we are up against on a daily basis, but Jesus offers us rest. We can give Him all our burdens in prayer. We can tell Him about all of our fears, and uncertainties. It doesn’t matter how small or insignificant our problem may seem. If it bothers us, then it matters to our God. There is no need to hold back anything from Him.

Jesus also gives us rest as we strive to know Him better. He wants us to trust Him with every step of our spiritual journey of becoming more like Him. No one is perfect, and growing in Jesus is a lifelong journey. We must trust Him with the process. There are times where we will feel like we’re doing better than other times. But as long as we are seeking the Lord daily, then He will help us to grow. The important thing is that we don’t give up.

The rest our Savior Jesus gives us, is a rest that can only be found in Him. He offers us His peace in a world full of chaos. His Spirit will lead us on level ground.

Psalm 143:10 NIV, “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”

A Clean Heart

Psalm 51:10 ESV, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

When we give our hearts to Jesus, the Bible says that we become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”). The Lord takes away our heart of stone and gives us a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). He also gives us His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes to live in us. He is our Helper who convicts us of sin and empowers us to live for Jesus.

Conviction is what brings us to repentance, and repentance will keep our hearts clean before God. I ask God often to show me any sinful ways that I have, so that I can repent and turn from my sin. Sin separates us from God. But repentance draws us closer to Him. The cleaner our heart is, the more we can become like Jesus. A clean heart keeps us in a place of humility and submission before God.

This is why, I love the Holy Spirit so much. He is the third Person of the Trinity who works in us to keep our hearts clean, and lead us into a deeper relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the One who reveals truth to us so that we are not deceived by the enemy’s lies.

About 10 years ago, I read a really good book called, The Person and Work of The Holy Spirit by R.A. Torrey. He was an evangelist, pastor, educator, and writer who lived from 1856-1928. His book is one of the best books I have ever read. I developed a deeper understanding of who the Holy Spirit is and what He does for us.

John 14:16-17 NIV, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever–the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”

May God’s Spirit continue to work in you to bring you into a deeper relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. Have a blessed weekend. ❤️

Ask God for Wisdom

James 1:5 NIV, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

It’s important to ask the Lord wisdom. As we navigate through life, we need Him to give us knowledge, instruction, and understanding. We are constantly being presented with choices, and we need Him to show us what is best for our lives. He can see all of our days, from beginning to end.

It’s a blessing that He doesn’t leave us alone to just try and figure it all out. Instead He has given us His Holy Spirit to guide us and teach us. Ask the Lord for wisdom, and trust Him to direct your paths daily.

The Thorn In Our Flesh

I, like most people, have wondered what Paul’s thorn in the flesh was. There are many speculations, but we don’t know for sure. He did say that this “thorn” helped him to stay humble. It kept him from thinking too highly of himself.

2 Corinthians 12:7 NIV, “or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.”

I know for me, there is always something that I struggle with at different times in my walk with God. Even if I think I’ve gotten pretty good in one area, then something else will pop up that I need to work on. God is always stretching us. He wants us to be a reflection of His Son. He desires for us to have an impact on those who are around us.

We are constantly in need of God’s grace and power to be effective. Our “thorns” will keep us sensitive to the fact that without the power of the Holy Spirit, we are nothing. It’s Him who causes our efforts, gifts, and talents to touch the lives of others. It’s Him who gives us the ability to follow Jesus.

Give your thorns to God in prayer and trust Him to use your weaknesses for His glory.

Before You Were Formed (part 1)

Jeremiah 1:5 NIV, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Before Jeremiah was born, God knew him and had already established a purpose for him.

It blows my mind that God has always known us. Even before we were being carried in our mothers womb, He carried us in His heart. There are no unplanned pregnancies in God’s eyes. He has patiently waited, and still patiently waits day by day to see His plans for us come to past.

Even before the womb, He knew you.

I have had times when I have asked myself, “Is God Waiting On Me?” God knows that we are less than perfect and that our understanding is limited. He knows that we struggle with insecurities and fears, so He patiently waits with compassion. He knows that as He waits, we are becoming who He created us to be.

Isaiah 30:18 NIV, “Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you For the LORD is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.”

There should be a longing in our hearts for God. We should want to know Him more because the more we know Him, the more we will love Him. The more we love Him, the more we will want to serve Him. Serving God wholeheartedly, while using the gifts He has given us is what will make our lives meaningful. We are blessed when we long for God.

Live Up To What You’ve Attained

Philippians 3:16 NIV, “Only let us live up to what we have already attained.”

Do you sometimes feel as if you are not making enough progress in your walk with Christ? Well if so, this verse is a beacon of hope. It reminds us to only live up to what we have already attained or achieved. The things that we have learned about, are the things that God holds us responsible for.

Growing in Christ is a process that will be ongoing from now, until the day we go to be with Him in eternity. We won’t reach perfection on this side of heaven. So when we can look back and see how far we have come, it is a reason to be thankful and rejoice! I know when I look back even one year ago, I can see the changes the Holy Spirit has made in me.

Every Christian is in a different stage in their walk with God. The key is to live up to what you already know. Doing this honors God, helps to keep our lives free from the deadly grip of sin, and inspires those around us.

Of course it’s crucial to continuously put forth effort to keep learning more about God’s Word. If we are not intentional about our growth, we will become stagnant and begin to go backwards.

Don’t allow the “ways of the world” to sabotage your progress. Stay connected to God’s Word and like minded Christians. Pray without ceasing. At times we will fall short, but as long as we repent and ask for God’s help to do better, we will continue to make progress.

KEEP GOING! KEEP GROWING!

%d bloggers like this: