Welcome to Facets, friend. Spring has sprung, right? I’m sorry. That’s a lie in some parts of my country. Forgive me? The truth is, spring will come, but I’d like to have a little sit-down with a rodent named Phil. (Is it just me?) If you’re just catching up, March is all about springing forward and growing in our faith with God. Tracy shared thoughts here. Look for the upcoming posts from Kim and our special guest, Lavonna Garner. Don’t miss out—great things are coming!
Growing in God
True to my Enneagram Five-ness tension, I thought long and hard: God, how can I grow in my faith and authentically walk through everyday life with You? True to my other tendencies, I asked, Could this be simple and easy, too? A landslide of thoughts tumbled and ended with If walking with God in faith were simple and easy, would it still be faith? Likely not. So this won’t be a “3 Easy Steps to Super-Christian Status” post. Not hardly.
The Word and a Calling
Once upon a time (25 years ago), I had one of those aha moments. I hadn’t landed in crystal clarity, but I definitely had to have a define the relationship talk with God. This really was the simple part: when I read enough Bible pages, one right after the other, I found a consistent call drawing my heart, mind, and spirit to Him. That happened, and then I took huge strides to study Him, His heart, and His will on those pages.
In 1994 I read. A lot. Friends told me that would ‘wear off,’ that I’d eventually ‘settle down’ at a certain point. Does the amazing intimacy with the One I worship fade out for everyone once the questions get answered? I found it can and does—when the quiet, undistracted moments evaporate; when the desire to know Him more intimately is traded for dusty memories of past study; when the heart slowly turns to acknowledge stuff, interests, devices, and virtual relationships before the God of the universe—the intensity most definitely fades. Slowly at first.
You must worship no other gods, for the LORD, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you. Exodus 34:14 (NLT)
The Lord won’t tolerate rivals. So we choose today and every day how we will use our mental energy, strength, and breath. We were made to worship, and we will. But who or what will we worship? That is the foundation of our walk in faith with Him.
No one walks in faith with Him and splits time with the three-ring circus life lays out in front of her. That’s part of the insane difficulty of the opposition we face. The sacred and secular are not compartmentalized. If all of life is lived in the presence of God (acknowledged or not), which parts are set aside because He cannot see, permeate, or influence them? When I answer that question honestly, everything changes.
My mind is forced to reconcile reality.
Will I walk with God daily in everything—or will I pick and choose? Will I live like He is with me, so near that I take Him everywhere I go in this little 5’ 4” body (in my three-inch heels)? Will I live expecting His truth, love, and power to break through in this life? Will I live with Him?
Friend, walking with God is the only way we grow up. We grow in intimacy when we spend time with Him in quiet, undistracted moments. We grow in maturity when we desire to know Him—His brilliant mind, unchanging truth, loving heart, and magnificent power. And because He is eternal (boundless and limitless), there is no end to that study! We become more like Him when we know His heart and mind, love Him more than anything else, and love others the way He would. That’s walking the walk, rather than talking the talk.
The Father’s Plan
All God’s plans have the mark of the cross on them and all His plans have death to self in them.—E.M. Bounds (1835-1913)
Knowing how precious the Son was to the Father, how powerful His death was on the cross, could I be so concerned with the “stuff” of this world? Are my eyes so easily lured away from that moment to something else? Can I set aside distractions and devices long enough to speak to Him, listen to His voice, and read His expressed will on the page? Will I ask Him to help me love Him and others deeply and completely? Dare I ask Him to help me love the ways He has given for living with Him in faith and loving others in my life?
If there is a way to spring forward, it could only be in step with Him.
Thanks for reading along. I’d love to hear your thoughts on growing in faith. Do you have something that encourages you as you grow with God? Comment below or at the Facebook page. And if you like what you read—sharing is caring. *wink*
