Keep Growing

When we give our heart to God and accept Jesus as our Savior, it’s absolutely the best and most exciting decision we will ever make! God gives us everything we need in Christ to grow and become who He made us to be. He’s given us His Word and He wants to speak to our hearts through prayer. It’s the beginning of a lifelong journey of continual spiritual growth. And our goal should be to actively press on each day to become more and more like Christ.

The apostle Paul said it like this: Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own (Philippians 3:12 AMP).

In order to “press on” and grow spiritually, it’s important for us to spend time with God, study His Word, and learn how to be led by the Holy Spirit. Just like we need natural disciplines in our lives, such as the discipline to work, to eat right, to handle our finances wisely, and so on, we also need to make spiritual practices a priority. Adding them to our life will help us keep God at the center of all we do.

God gave us His Word as an “instruction manual” for life. The Bible is filled with wisdom, encouragement, comfort, and life-changing power. It’s filled with everything we need to be the person He created us to be. And when we spend time in God’s Word, we are spending time with Him.  John 1:1 says, In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself (AMP).

Studying the Bible and spending time with God in His Word can seem a little intimidating, but it’s actually easier than you might think. Here are a few practical steps to help get you started:

• Begin with prayer—prepare your heart by asking the Holy Spirit to be your Teacher and help you understand what you’re reading.

• Use a Bible translation that you can understand. Many people use The New King James Version and the New International Version because they are simple and straightforward.

• Try not to get caught up in how much time you are spending. Just start somewhere, even if it’s just fifteen minutes a day.

• Keep a notebook or journal handy—write down your thoughts and things that stand out to you.

• Consider how you will apply what you learn—think about the steps you will take to do what God’s Word has shown you to do.

No matter where you are in your relationship with God, during this season of Lent, start spending time in His Word and be determined to stick with it. When you stay connected to God through meaningful Bible study, you will stay rooted and grounded in His love.