Growing in Jesus is one of the most important things we can do. It keeps us out of religious-pharisee territory, and helps us remain our authentic selves. Once we stop growing, and get lazy (present company included), we have to start “faking it.” That is, until the inevitable burn-out and breaking-point ensues in our faith.
I get it. Life got busy for me. My pursuits of Jesus got replaced with just trying to survive and pay the bills during the infamous economy crash of ’08. I was just trying not to lose my home!
But one of the greatest mistakes I ever made was to STOP growing. God was there, and I still talked to him, and I still prayed when I needed something. But intentionally growing? I can’t say I put a lot of effort behind it.
Eventually, my weary soul had to make up for the lack somewhere. That’s where religion sets in. That’s where we tell people, “I’ll pray for you,” and put it off and forget about it, because we’re not even sure if God wants to hear from us anymore, anyway. That’s where we tell people we’re Christians, but we wonder quietly within where has the passion and excitement for God has gone? And we secretly wonder why we feel so weary… so… worthless and so…. empty? And why sin is so hard to resist!
The pursuit of Jesus keeps us fresh, and authentic. It keeps in a place where we’re constantly reminded WHO WE ARE.
And that is the core of what we need to survive this crazy world. To know who we are. To know that we’re loved, seen, heard. By our Creator.
Yes, going to church is a part of our faith. It’s about meeting with the body of Christ, and uplifting and encouraging each other face-to-face, and worshipping God together in one heart and spirit. The Bible reminds us not to neglect that, and studies show us how vital that face-to-face connection is to our successes in life.
But growth happens in the day-in, and day-out with Jesus. It happens in the pressing in, and pursuit of hearing what God wants to say to you. It happens in the hard choices, and in the accountability. It happens in the “no,” to sin, and “yes” to righteousness. It happens in choosing love over a bad attitude (again, present company included here). Growth happens in the trenches of life.
And it never happens without intentionality.
Author Anne Day 