September 28, 2020
By Gina Padilla
As I put on a pair of reading glasses the other day, I noticed the computer screen wasn’t as clear as usual. I cleaned my glasses, moved the monitors and sat back in my chair trying to get the words to focus, but soon realized I’d have to venture out and buy stronger reader prescription glasses.
I grumbled as it was just another reminder along with wrinkles (laugh lines), gray hair (wisdom streaks) and creaky joints (old sports injuries), that time was marching on. I don’t mind time marching on, I just wish it didn’t have to march right across my face.
As I continued my futile grumbling, I realized that things are always changing, and we can choose to grow and embrace these changes or remain stagnant. If we remain stagnant, things won’t just stay the same they will eventually atrophy and wither away. The same is true of our spiritual walk with Christ. We can’t just stay where we are spiritually when we first become a believer and think we have everything we need. We need to press into His Word, pray and get to know Him.
As we get to know Him, He reveals more truths to us through His Word and we mature spiritually. As we mature spiritually, we can be better servants of His Kingdom. We will grow in wisdom and knowledge (Proverbs 2:6) and bear the fruit of the spirit – love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness and faithfulness (Galatians 5:22). We can be the light in the darkness.
We can’t do this if our only time with God is one hour on Sunday. We can’t begin to have any type of relationship with Christ if we don’t spend time pursuing that relationship. I grew up going to church, but never once opened my bible or really sought Jesus outside of church unless I needed help on a test.
Reading our bibles and spending time with Jesus must to be a priority every day or we will never grow spiritually in Christ. We were made for relationship and our Heavenly Father longs to spend time with us. We can cultivate our relationship with Christ through prayer, bible study and reading the Word.
One way to further spiritual growth is to find people who are further in their walk with Christ and be mentored by them. Seek out small groups at your church and find people to grow with. The world pushes and pulls us in all directions and we need to actively fix our eyes on Christ to follow His path.
When my view of the world gets a little fuzzy, I know the only prescription is more Jesus. Once I focus on Him and His word, I begin to see things much more clearly.
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3 NIV).
