It's Up to Us

It’s easy to tell a Believers level of maturity by the way they handle things. Newborns and babies cry all the time—that is what they do. Toddlers whine and have tantrums a lot. Tweens begin to handle some responsibility. Teenagers are much more responsible then Tweens and start trying to negotiate for more responsibility even if they are not yet ready. Young adults think they are grown when it comes to doing what they want, but they can easily revert back to leaning on mommy or daddy when they have bitten off more than they can chew. And adults “aka” grown folks, handle their business, because that is what grownups do. It seems to be the same in the spiritual realm for Believers. Only difference is…some stay babies way too long.

I often hear, “See, Sister Ponnie, you don’t understand. You’ve been a Christian for a long time.” Let me stop you right there….yes, I’ve been a Christian for a minute, but I was a devil for a longer minute! I’m not where I am today spiritual by Osmosis—It has taken, faith, work, determination, faith, hope, studying, persistence, faith, forgiveness, love, hope, trials and tribulations, faith, consequences, obedience, tears, fear, uncertainty, discouragement, hope, chastisement and more faith and hope! If you noticed, “faith” and “hope” are key for me.

To grow in the things of God (His Kingdom and MO) takes time and work. We do not get saved one day and wake up to be spiritual giants the next. No, it is up to us to decide, what our spiritual walk it going to look like. We make the choice to continue drinking milk forever as a newborn or strive to be able eat meat. It is by choice we develop spiritual muscle to stand during the battles.

It was several years after accepting the Messiah as my savior before I got serious about having a real relationship with Him. It took time for me to understand what it really means for Him to be Lord of my life. In fact—I am still learning every day. I know what it is to be a baby, a toddler and then an adult in the Kingdom. I was blessed to have a great mentor and teacher of God’s Word in my life to help me. I was part of a church where the pastor taught the Bible, not by his own understanding but by that of the Holy Spirit. It helped me to become hungry for the things of God and the only way to get them was to study and start applying what I learned to my everyday life situations.

You may not have the mentor or pastor I did, but that shouldn’t stop you. After church on Sunday evenings, I would watch Charles Stanley on TV. I love him to this day because his teaching is very practical and down to earth so anyone can understand. After a year or so, I started watching Believer’s Voice of Victory, (Kenneth and Gloria Copeland). Being part of their ministry has helped me to build up my faith. I moved on to reading several of Joyce Myers books which helped me immensely on my journey of forgiveness. And there are many more I have learned from. But I always judge what they say by what the Bible says. And how do I do that? I read and study the Bible for myself, and that way I can divide the truth with the instruction of the Holy Spirit.

Sisters, we all have to work out how our walk with Christ is going to be, but if you are living a life that causes you to complain all the time or there is very little joy in your life, it’s time for a change. In fact none of us should feel so complete that we do not strive continually to look more like Christ to others every day.

There’s no formula, or 10 steps you need to follow…just dig your heals in and make the decision you want better. If you are someone who does not read your Bible on a daily bases, then start doing it 15 minutes a day until you are disciplined and begin to enjoy spending time in the Word. If you know what the Bible says but are afraid to believe or stand on it with confidence—start meditating daily until you believe with all your heart and something changes in your life.

You can easily improve your prayer life, by praying more during the day. Your boss hands you an assignment, immediately ask God for wisdom. Someone comes to mind while you are washing dishes…pray for them. Prayer is not just something we do in the morning or at night before we go to bed…it is an all day affair. The more we see God in a personal light the more we can believe Him. The more we understand what Christ did for us on the Cross, the more we should want to serve Him. And the more we follow the lead of the Holy Spirit, the more successful we will be.

Hebrews 5:12-14 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Question of the day…Where are you in your spiritual growth and where do you want it to be?

Until next week….be blessed!!

Love & Hugs
Ponnie