We’re all unfinished people. You. Me. We. We’re people who are becoming.
So I embrace this perennial season of hope and resolutions. I love how every one of us can begin a new chapter with our lives. We can end bad habits and begin new ones.
We can change. God can modify who we are.
I once thought God left this sanctifying work up to me. Like a fool, I behaved like I could alter my core spiritual DNA.
So I analyzed and scrutinized myself, and set out trying to fix what was broken.
If I came up short on love, I played the girl who loves like an actor. And during those years I smiled, a lot. But one day I realized this faux love wasn’t the agape I thought it was.
So I asked the God who defines himself as love to show me what loving people really looked like. He did.
I learned that I can’t accomplish anything apart from God. The spiritual growth we try and drum up in the flesh ends up looking like a Play-Doh “Gumby,” when God wants to create in us something akin to Michelangelo’s David.
If you’re New Year’s resolution is spiritual growth—Bible reading or prayer, don’t try to accomplish it on your own.
- Start with God, and commit this goal to him only. Don’t make it about you. Make it about worship, not work.
- Know that God can do in a year what it could take us 30 decades to do on our own. He’s that kind of Person, and he loves to do miracles for those who believe.
- Just ask. “You don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it” (James 4:2 NLT).
- And keep asking. If you’re hoping for spiritual growth, it’s the will of God. Let’s take Jesus’ advice this year:
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8 NLT).
I would love to hear from you. What are you in the process of becoming?
I’m in the process of becoming a worshipper and not a worrier. I’m also learning the daily habit of writing. Life tastes sweeter when I string words together on a page.
What about you?
Thanks so much for the “follow.” I relate very much to your words here…about getting myself out of the way so God can work. Your post here is what I very much needed to read today. Thanks for writing!
Thanks for reading Bill. I love the way God orchestrates posts and blogs for us at just the right time. I look forward to following you.
Just recently I heard a great message on being community minded. Meaning, being a unified church (the body of believers of Jesus Christ). The speaker talked about how we need to get beyond the walls of the church building and do the real work of Christ. In other words, be a disciple. Be who Jesus made us to be and minister the gospel to people inside and outside the church. Last year the Lord told me to leave the church I attended because of the ungodliness they taught. Since then I confined myself to studying at home on the grace of God (and it’s been great). I loved being in the arms of my Father like a newborn baby. But I’m not a baby no longer. He said it’s time to go further. It’s time to share with others what I learned. So I’m in the process of being more like my Lord and do the work He said to do. So many in the church body need the truth of God’s goodness and His awesome grace. So many within the body think they have it based on what they do and not what Jesus already did. We are spiritual being that live in a body.
I think you’re right. I was in church my whole life before I truly understood how much of the gospel message I had misunderstood. I knew about grace, sure as a theological concept, but I didn’t see how I needed grace every day. I didn’t realize just how far original sin had taken us from the father. I didn’t see it at the time, but I was trying to earn love and earn God’s favor. I missed it.
I’m happy to hear the journey you’re on is leading you to God’s grace. May you help others who are caught in a trap of works. May you refresh them and bring light to those who don’t know Christ. The way you’re talking about following Jesus inspires me.
Last night I was making out my New Year’s resolutions list. It happens that on this list was daily bible study & prayer. Along with usual goals of losing weight, getting out of the house & attending writing club & Church. You know the usual things you put on your resolutions list then by March you have slacked off of doing. So my big prayer is that I will get out of the house and do those things. It seems once I miss one thing it is so easy to miss the next one & just hide out at my house.
I’m in the process of learning about His kingdom- His way of doing things, of living. I’m in the process of Galatians 2:20- dying so He can live. And, yes, you’re right, its His will for me to grow spiritually, and its about relationship not work. Enjoying reading your posts today!!?