Don't let your past cripple you from moving forward towards spiritual growth. For a long time I was asked to sing at churches and wouldn't do it because I knew i wasn't "where I needed to be spiritually". I wanted to stop the sins i was doing but didn't really know how. But the things i didn't "get" then was that we will NEVER be where we "need" to be. We will never be "good enough" to get to Heaven,and that's ok because He died for that....Quit fighting a fight that has already been won. And Let Him mold you. I have repented from the sins He has revealed to me and will have to repent from others as well, but now i help lead worship at my church, I help with church functions, I've made goldy friends, have an outstanding goldy boyfriend(who is away serving our country at this time), and I am closer to God than I have ever been.
Staying Focussed:
"Praying to God at the start of your day isn't putting God first, putting Him the center of EVERYTHING is putting Him first" - Joyce Meyer
To be completely honest ,I really have a hard time staying focussed throughout my day on centering everything in Christ, (I have Christian ADD :)) So I make a routine throughout my day and week so i don't let unnecessary things get me sidetracked.
Examples:
Quiet time in the car: I despise driving! I think it wastes so much time, and i'm not good at it so i get stressed out. I decided a few months ago to fill my driving time in the morning with prayer time as well. I'm by myself, i'm on my way to work to start my day why not use that time for prayer instead of jamming to the radio?
Praise music at work: I work in an office and music makes my day go by faster and helps me be in a chirpy mood, I listen to positive music. Pandora is my best friend!! my fave christian artists are :needtobreathe, steven cuis chapman, 4Him, Kari Jobe, Casting Crowns,& Ben Rector. Occasionally i'll listen to 80's and country, depends on my mood. like to keep it fresh.
Quiet time at Lunch: at lunch time weather i have anything to eat or not I always try to go outside the office. and either have quiet time to fellowship with someone on my break.
Making time after work: After work usually i just want to take a cat nap bc even though i don't do anything strenuous i hate staring at the computer all day and it makes me tired. But i really try to fight that by trying to whip up something healthy for supper as soon as i get home.
Your body is a temple: After i eat I have my time to relax and let my food digest, which is usually when i get to talk to ryan on the phone. After that I get ready to do my workout that day.
Quiet time: When i get back home it's time to read my bible and pray.
I would be lying if I said I don't ever feel obligated to put Christ first, i feel like it's a chore at times. But more often I love to spend time with Him!!
My church has church sunday morning,College small group, and wednesday night service.
I try my best to make it to all 3 because we really need fellowship with our brothers and sisters, and others helping us stay focused on why we are here.
Put Him in the center of everything!!!
Your workout and diet goal should be to be healthy so you can live longer to spread His word.
Your relationship with people should be there to glorify Christ.
Your music and movies you watch to be monitored so that you don't pollute your heart and mind.
Your attitude towards strangers, rude people, nice people, common friends should always reflect the love of Christ.
Your wardrobe shouldn't be so revealing that you can see everything that you have.
You should be sensitive and sincere to others' feelings
Disciple and not judge.
Talk to Him every hour, thank Him, ask Him,worship Him.
Read the word.
Get involved with your church and use your gifts that He gave you for Him!
Spiritual Growth:
In order to grow you must:
Read His word+ Pray+fellowship+focus=spiritual growth.
We can't grow unless we are focussed.
"If you are not running into the devil you are running with him" Josh Swindle.
Philippians 3:12-14
New International Version (NIV)
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
