Three Practices To Grow In Jesus Christ

Thee Practices To Grow In Jesus Christ

 

God’s will is that we grow in Jesus, become more like Him (Romans 8:29), and live a life that pleases Him. For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:9-10 )

This is an ongoing work of the Spirit of God in our lives; however, we co-labor with God and or not idle bystanders in the growth process. We have a responsibility as Christian to put into practice some things that help us grow in Jesus. God has given us instruction in His word what we are to practice to contribute to our growth in Him.

Three Practices God’s Word Instructs Us To Do To Grow In Jesus Christ

1. Pray and ask God for His help to grow in Jesus Christ

We are instructed to pray without ceasing (2 Thessalonians 5:17). Praying helps us not to faint but to keep doing good and that is a part of growing in Jesus Christ. Growing in Christ is work of the Holy Spirit working in us to will and do His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). He began the good work in us and will complete it until Christ comes (Philippians 1:6). We cannot grow in Jesus in our own strength. Trying to do so with mere human strength and will is sure to cause discouragement and frustrate God’s grace within us. God can do far more in us by the working of His power in us in a minute than we can try doing ourselves in a lifetime. Praying to God for help, about our feelings, desires, and struggles is necessary. Life can be difficult at times. We experience ups and downs, along with temptations. We will always need guidance, stumble at times, feel confused sometimes, and go through things. This is a part of life. The devil is our enemy and will try to use whatever He can to trip us up in any way BUT GOD is greater and is always with us, lives within us, and is able and willing to help us. Going to God with all our needs, faults, struggle, pain, concerns, temptations, setbacks is the only way to avoid stumbling and staying down when we do stumble or to avoid stumbling in the same areas repeatedly. We can go to Him, repent, get instruction, get healing and help to get up when we mess up, keep going, and growing.  We can get better and do better. With God we do get better and do better. Praying helps us grow in Jesus.

 

2. Read the Bible

How else will we know the truth about God, His ways, and how He wants us to live, and His promises to us if we do not learn? We can’t rely on other’s beliefs and opinions about God. We must learn for ourselves with the Holy Spirit leading and guiding us into all truth. We don’t want to be misled and there is a lot of error out in the world that will stunt our growth in Christ. The word of God is able to instruct us in who God (Father/Jesus/The Holy Spirit) is, God’s ways, thoughts, how we are to live, and God’s promises to us – All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). We can read the bible to learn the truth and ask God to help us grow accordingly and apply His word in our daily lives.
 3. Fellowship/Assemble with other Believers In Christ.

Who we hang out with on a constant basis will influence us whether for good or bad. No one is exempt. Healthy Christian fellowship and worshiping together is encouraged in scripture –  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25). Fellowship and times of worship with fellow believers in Christ contributes to our growth, encourages us, and helps with us being accountable. The devil likes when we are isolated, alone, and/or constantly around unbelievers alone so he can lie to us and get us caught up in worldly ways. When we are attending worship services with each other and have Christian friends to talk and fellowship with we are often refreshed and sharpen each other. We can also go to each other for prayer and get Godly counsel when we need it. This in turn helps us to grow in the Lord.

These three points are not exhaustive but general. Personally God may have you to do some other things regarding relationships, practices, and pursuits to contribute to your growth in Jesus. This means we all have to go to Him to learn what it is He is asking of us to grow in Him. I pray this information helps you.

 

Thanks for Reading, God Bless You,

Samantha

 

 

Trusting God With Not Trusting Him

It Seems Like an Oxymoron

Written By Samantha Ann Waring-Jolicoeur

     I’m learning from God that there are different levels of maturity in trusting Him. I admit I don’t always trust God the way that I think I do and hope that I will when situations occur. Some situations I do and then there are times I find that it can be difficult. It is not until I am faced with those extremely trying situations, that I see where my trusting God is wanting and needs to be developed. That is when I hear His Holy Spirit reminding me of the verse Lord I believe help thou my unbelief (Mark 9:24). This gives me some comfort and relief from the sadness I feel at the sight of my heart’s failure to trust Him like I should. Then comes my repentance “Sorry Lord, I don’t trust you with this (whatever the situation may be)”. Thank God that He knows, He already knew before I did that my heart would waver, and He readily forgives me. I am also reminded that He transforms us from glory to glory and that means there is always room for growth in the area of trusting Him. He is invested in developing trust in Him in various areas, thus the good work He began continues.

     I use to be so quick to feel ashamed and horrible when I didn’t trust God and take Him at His word when disappointment, hardship, and/or adverse situations transpired. To me it was a very grave offense because I know that God can do anything, is perfect, and with Him all things are possible. I’ve experience some ups and downs in the trusting God department and know I will in the future. I think it is all a part of growth and understanding that my heart and flesh will fail, but God is the strength of my heart and life. Now my perspective is quite different. I know I will mature in trusting Him and there is no need to feel hopeless or despair over falling short when it comes to trusting Him.  This leads me to these questions. What if I told you, that uttering Lord I believe help thou my unbelief demonstrates some level of trust? What if I told you that confessing to God that you don’t fully trust Him shows a measure of trust in Him? I say it seems like an oxymoron. I believe this confession shows trust and in and of itself is a part of pouring out one’s heart to Him. Psalm 62:8 states:

Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.

The Contemporary English Version reads:

Trust God, my friends, and always tell him each of your concerns. God is our place of safety.

     Here we read the psalmist admonishing the people to trust God at all times, to pour out their hearts to God (share the concerns of their heart) and encouraging them that God is a place of safety. This gives me great comfort knowing I can tell God anything, even my deep concern that I am failing Him at the aforementioned admonishment before pour out your heart before Him, which is to Trust in Him at All Times. In other words, my prayer may sound something like this “God I am sorry I am not trusting you right now. I have trust issues and I have trust issues with you. Please help me. Lord I believe. Remove from me unbelief.” Yes, it takes some measure of trust to admit such an offense to God. Why would I not trust Him? Is He not worthy of trusting? Yes, He is and therefore I should be trusting Him, but my heart has failed Him. Oh! but my friend, He indeed understands why. He knows the past trust issues, previous disappointments, pain, suffering, feelings of fear, and distress associated with the situation, that causes my heart to go awry and not trust Him in that moment. Still His loving hand keeps it, towards trusting Him, and heals the hidden wounds that causes mistrust to emerge in grievous moments.

     God is a safe place for us to pour out our confessions and concerns whatever they may be, even the ones of unbelief and mistrust and indeed, all trust is not lost. If you are experiencing trust issues with God, don’t despair. He understands and you can repent of the mistrust and talk with him about it. He does not despise your affliction of the heart. He is near to the broken hearted and save those contrite of spirit (Psalm 34:18). Deeper trust is being developed when feeling of mistrust is confessed. God and you can get to and deal with the underlying causes of mistrust. He is the one that teaches us to trust Him and births sustaining trust in Him deep within our hearts (part of growing in a relationship – learning to trust Him). Also keep it mind, this is a life long journey of growing and getting to know God. We never arrive on this side of glory. There will always be room for growth in the area of trusting God. God is not caught of God by your shortcomings and your inability to trust Him and in and of yourself. He is invested in teaching you and I how to always trust Him because He indeed is trust worthy.  

Be Encouraged In Christ,

Samantha Ann Waring-Jolicoeur