What an amazing thing it is to know the Lord and have an intimate relationship with Him! I want to talk about growing in your relationship with Christ and standing firm in your faith. Let me begin with saying I’m a sinner; a sinner who needs the love and grace of our Savior Jesus Christ each and every day in my life. I’m here to share my thoughts on growing closer to the Lord.
Everyone’s walk with the Lord isn’t going to look the same. Some people grow up knowing Christ from an early age, some when they’re late teens and adults (that’s where I fit in), some when they’re grown and have children of their own, and sadly, some may never know our Savior. Coming to Christ is the first step; accepting Jesus into your heart and acknowledging that you are a sinner in need of a savior–because it’s true: man is wicked and deceitful. We will never be worthy in the site of God without coming to Him through His son Jesus Christ. That’s why God sent Jesus: to save us from condemnation in hell, and instead be alive in Christ and have eternal life with Him in heaven (John 3:16). Our salvation is a wonderful thing.
Once you’re saved you just get to go on and live this life how you’ve been, right? Wrong. Growing in Christ is a magnificent thing when you realize that in order to grow in your faith you must take up your cross daily and be obedient to the Lord. If you truly have a desire to follow Jesus and the Holy Spirit is living inside of you, then you should feel convictions in your life to do or not to do something. When you walk with Jesus daily, then prayer is your communication to Him to help you with any and all things in this life. Praying to God to help you is something our Heavenly Father wants from His children. You have to have consistent prayer to grow in your faith.
Let’s go back to how we should live our life as followers of Christ. I’m not going to use the term “Christian” because it seems like many Christians these days are not true followers of Christ. They don’t read the Word, they might not go to church, and it is evident in their actions and speech that they follow the world over following Jesus. A follower of Christ is going to have a heart change. You’re going to put off your former conduct, the old man, and put on the new man which is in Christ Jesus, as referenced in Ephesians chapter 4. Do not keep walking the same walk you were prior to accepting Christ in your heart. It should be evident that you have set your mind on things above and not on things of this earth, like Colossians chapter 3 mentions. Both of those chapters are rich with wisdom. Let’s not forget about James chapter 3, too–which is about taming our tongue. We are not to have blessing and curse come out of the same mouth. Whether that’s slandering a neighbor, gossiping with a coworker, using profane language, etc. Galatians chapter 5 also speaks on walking in the spirit versus walking in our flesh. If you are not familiar with this, then I encourage you to read that chapter as well. All of this I write to share that when you are seeking God and yearning to grow in Christ, then things in your life should (and will) start pruning. In the book of John chapter 15, Jesus is speaking to abide in Him. He says it is not possible for a branch to bear fruit if it does not abide in its vine, as Jesus is the vine and we are the branches, so we are to abide in Him. Following Jesus and growing in an intimate relationship with Him will happen if you stay in the Word of God and keep seeking after Him. So do not be dismayed if you don’t feel close to God while you’re dabbling in the pleasures of this world–His Word warns us to not be conformed to this world (Romans 12:2).
Vanessa, what if my actions start changing and I am genuinely after the heart of God, but then I slip up and …fill in the blank with works of the flesh? Well dear friend, that is where forgiveness comes in. Like I started this blog–I am a sinner. I fall short of the glory of God every day. But does that mean I’m living in constant sin? No. But can I get jealous, have an outburst of wrath, or laugh at a lewd joke on the occasion? Yes, I will be one to admit that has happened. But I know after it happens that I am in the wrong. It does not sit well with my conscience because the Holy Spirit is convicting me of my sin. So I repent and ask God to forgive me for what I did or what I thought. The Lord will forgive you. You must humble yourself enough to turn your face up to Him and ask for it. And that’s another way you will grow closer in your relationship with Christ.
Let’s wrap this blog up with some final thoughts. Growing in Christ will be a gradual process of gaining wisdom from the Lord, pruning away things from your former life, and seeking a Christ-centered way of living. It should be evident in your outward being that you have ‘changed’ to others (at least that’s how it was for me when I got closer to the Lord!) One more thing I just remembered: surround yourself with wise counsel. Seek the Lord first and foremost, but then be in fellowship with like-minded women who are after the heart of God, too. Don’t take advice from every Sally and Jane you’re friends with because their advice might be rooted in the world’s way and not in Christ. I joined a Bible study through our church that ended up being primarily older women than what I initially thought the age group was going to be like. Well, let me just say this–thank you Lord for blessing me with that group of women. They were truly wise counsel in my life when He knew I needed it.
I hope this blog has helped you in some way, and this testimony of growing in faith leads you to dig deeper in your own faith and relationship with Our Heavenly Father. Be blessed mamas, sisters, and friends!
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