21 Days To A New and Improved You - Day 18

SPIRITUAL HEALTH

SPIRITUAL GROWTH

But the fruits of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,

long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith

meekness, temperance...

-

Galatians 5:22-23

FOCUS FOR TODAY

Wherever you are in your spiritual journey,

it's always the right time

to take another step  toward God.

Are you as "spiritually fit" as you're ever going to be? When it comes to your faith ( and by the way, when it comes to your fitness), God is not done with you yet.
The journey toward spiritual maturity lasts a lifetime. As Christians, we can and should continue to grow in the love and knowledge of our Savior as long as we live. But, if we cease to grow, either emotionally or spiritually, we do ourselves and our families a profound disservice.
If we study God's Word, if we obey His commandments, if we live in the center of His will, we will not be "stagnant" believers; we will, instead, be growing Christians...and that is exactly what God wants for our lives.
In those quiet moments when we open our hearts to God, the Creator who made us keeps remaking us. He gives us direction, perspective, wisdom, and courage. He encourages us to become more fit in a variety of ways: more spiritually fit, and more physically fit, and more emotionally fit.
God is willing to do His part to ensure that you remain fit. Are you will to do yours?

Ask the God who made you

to keep remaking you.

-

Norman V. Peal

I want their hearts to be encouraged

and join together in love,

so that they may have all the riches of assured

understanding, and have the knowledge

of God's mystery - Christ.

-

Colossians 2:2

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

IT TAKES TIME

Spiritual growth is not instantaneous...and neither, for that matter, is the attainment of a physically fit body. So be patient. You should expect a few ups and downs along the way, but you should also expect to see progress over time.

MORE FROM GOD'S WORD

Colossians 1:9

New International Version (NIV)

 ⁹ 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,

Hebrews 6

 ¹ Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,^[a] and of faith in God,

Psalm 66:10

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ For you, God, tested us;
   you refined us like silver.

2 Peter 3:18

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁸ But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

MORE THOUGHTS ABOUT

SPIRITUAL GROWTH

If all struggles and sufferings are eliminated, the spirit would no more reach maturity than would a child. - Elisabeth Elliot

When you and I hurt deeply, what we really need is not an explanation from God but a revelation of God. We need to see how great God is; we need to recover our lost perspective on life.  Things get out of proportion when we are suffering, and it takes a vision of something bigger than ourselves to get life's dimensions adjusted again. - Warren Wiersbe

We set our eyes on the finish line, forgetting the past and straining toward the mark of spirtual maturity and fruitfulness. - Vonette Bright

You are either becoming more like Christ every day of you are becoming less like Him. There is no neutral position in the Lord. - Stormie Omartian

A Christian is never

in a state of completion

but always in the process

of becoming. 

- 

Martin Luther

PERFECTION? FORGET ABOUT IT

As you begin to work toward improved physical and emotional health, don't expect perfection. Of course you should work hard; of course you should be disciplined; of course you should do your best. But then, when you've given it your best effort, you should be accepting of yourself, imperfect though you may be.

In heaven, we will know perfection. Here on earth, we have a few short years to wrestle with the challenges of imperfection. Let us accept these lives that God has given us - and these bodies which are ours for a brief time here on earth - with open, loving arms.

WORKING IT OUT

OBEDIENCE TO GOD IS ESSENTIAL

It's simple: When you are treating your body like a temple, you are obeying God; when you are abusing your body, you are disobeying Him.

ALWAYS GROWING IN YOUR FAITH

When it comes to your faith, God doesn't intend for you to stand still. He wants you to keep moving and growing. In fact, God's plan for you includes a lifetime of prayer, praise, and spiritual growth.

MORE FROM GOD'S WORD ABOUT

TRUSTING GOD

Psalm 25

 ¹ To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
 ² O my God, I trust in You;
         Let me not be ashamed;
         Let not my enemies triumph over me.

1 Chronicles 5:20

New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁰ And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them, for they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in Him.

Proverbs 16:20

New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁰ He who heeds the word wisely will find good,
      And whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he. 

Proverbs 29:25

New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁵ The fear of man brings a snare,
      But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe. 

 

Psalm 125:1

New King James Version (NKJV)

 ¹ Those who trust in the LORD
         Are like Mount Zion,
         Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

 

 

NOTES TO YOURSELF

Write down at least three things you can do this week to improve the state of your spiritual health.