Only you can be you….
God designed you with no other duplicates. Only you can be the person that you were designed to be and make the unique contribution that only you can make… if you don’t make it, it won’t be made.
You were shaped to serve God…
God created every person with a unique “shape” for serving God. There is no one else with your unique design and given your specific gifts. You are special to God, and a gift to the rest of us…
You were put on earth to make a contribution…
Our purpose is not just to take up resources to consume them on ourselves - to eat, breathe and take up space. We are meant to make a contribution with our lives and make a difference. Much of the information we take in today gives us a “consumer” mentality, and it reinforces how to “get” the most of of life, but that is not how God made you. He designed you to add to others and give of yourself. It’s called service.
There are no shortcuts to maturity…
Yes,…it does take time. But.. we tend to want things fast. The faster the better. The truth is that there is no fast way to becoming mature. The development of Christlike character cannot be rushed. Spiritual growth, like physical growth takes time. continue reading » »
There is always a way out…
Sometimes we get hit so hard, and the feelings are so strong that we just don’t see the way out from yielding to an area of temptation, but “remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.” 1 Cor. 10:13
What is the way out you ask? How do I see it and what do I do?
Every temptation is an opportunity to do good.
On the path to spiritual maturity even temptation is a stepping stone instead of a stumbling block when you realize that it’s an opportunity to make a choice to do the right thing instead of the wrong thing.While temptation is Satan’s primary tool to defeat and destroy you, it’s God tool to develop and mature you. Every time you choose to do good instead of sin, you develop the character of Christ. continue reading » »
Oh.. oh… trouble… trials… the things we try and avoid… we all avoid pain and suffering, and even circumstances that are uncomfortable.
but…God has a purpose behind every trouble. God uses circumstances in our lives to develop our character. The very difficult life circumstances that we live in every day are God’s way of maturing us and making us Christlike.
Image via WikipediaThe truth transforms us.
Spiritual growth is the process of replacing lies with truth. Jesus said in John 8:31 ” If you abide in my word you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” Someone once said that if you think you are above deception, you are deceived. True growth comes from having our lives transformed by the truth. The truth is found in God’s Word. continue reading » »
God wants you to grow up!
Our reading on day 23 is a reminder that it is easy to grow older, it’s a different story to grow mature. How many of us know someone (maybe it’s you) that has been a Christian for a long time but has never seemed to reach a point of maturity. We go through the lessons over and over again stuck in perpetual infancy with diapers and booties… king baby syndrome we call it..
You were created to become like Christ…
What actually goes through your mind when you hear those words, “created to become like Christ?” Does it seem like a theory we are just “supposed” to learn about, or some ancient distant truth? Can we see how becoming Christlike is the the third purpose of a purpose driven life…
