Articles
7 Things That Will Help You Grow Spiritually
7 THINGS THAT WILL HELP YOU GROW SPIRITUALLY
Grover Stevens
1. LIVE AND WORK to reach others each day as if you knew the world was going to come to an end next Sunday night. Think of that urgency and priority (2 Peter 3:1-12)!
2. BE AS ENTHUSIASTIC about the church and its services as you would be if there were overflowing crowds each time. Think of the interest, anticipation and excitement of an overflow crowd!
3. COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS. Make a list of the things you are thankful to God for and thank Him for them one by one, as you pray in your closet. This will help you to be grateful (Philippians 4:6). It will also help you to realize your dependence upon God (Acts 17:24-28; John 15:5).
4. MAKE AND MAINTAIN A LIST OF YOUR FAULTS. In addition, pray for forgiveness and help to overcome faults as you truly strive to overcome them. This will help us see that we are really not as good as we think we are, and how very much we really need Christ our Savior. It will also help you to sympathize with the faults of others (James 5:16; Galatians 6:1).
5. KEEP A QUIET TIME. Set aside thirty minutes every day to spend with God in prayer, Bible study, and meditation. If you really love someone or a game, you want to spend some time with them. Just so, if you truly love God, you want to spend some time alone with Him (Psalms 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Luke 18:1). First century Christians kept an “hour of prayer” (Acts 3:1).
6. VISIT SOMEONE FOR CHRIST EACH WEEK. Visit some member you do not know very well; or a sick person; or a visitor to our services; or a weak member who needs encouragement; or someone who needs to become a Christian.
7. REACH ANOTHER PERSON. Conduct a Bible class in your home once a month and invite your relatives, friends, and neighbors to attend. The preacher or elders will assist you if you want them to (Matthew 5:12-15; James 5:20; Daniel 12:3). Before we think all of these suggestions are overwhelming, or impossible to obtain, remember that there are 168 hours in a week. If you were to attend Bible study, morning worship, and evening worship on Sunday, and Bible study on Wednesday, and 30 minutes of Bible reading, prayers and meditation, six days a week, and conduct an hour-long Bible study once a month, you would be giving God less than10 hours a week.
