Growth
I have been trying to grow in my faith and I sometimes find it difficult. I think sometimes I put pressure on myself to do it all on my own. I try and spend some time with just God, but most of the time it is very short. I am trying to not only read books that I feel will add to my faith, but also read HIS word. I find it easier to read books than to read the Bible and I know I need to spend more time in the word.
I have been thinking about the Bible a lot lately for some reason and I can feel God pushing me to get into his word on a daily basis. HE is asking me to spend time in the morning and I already get up between 4:30 and 5:00 every morning for work, at least that is the excuse I'm trying to sell HIM. It isn't working and I find myself trying to make deals with God. But like any good father he just simply asks the same question with a "why wouldn't you sacrifice a small part of your morning for me"?
It always pierces my heart and I know it would benefit me far more than the extra 15 minutes of sleep. This brings me to my title of Growth.
The parable that God is telling me over and over is the parable of the Sower in Matthew 13. This is a great teaching moment by Jesus and it basically says anyone who hears the word and understands it, it is like seed that fell on good soil. It then produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
It speaks directly to me because I can't grow my faith. I can throw seeds, I can even water the seeds by my reading and prayer and alone time. But I can't grow the seed, not even with the water. It is only God who can grow the seed. It is only when I seek God during my reading, prayer and time with HIM that my faith can grow. It must be about HIM and not about me. Not about me trying to learn more or trying to become spiritual.
God doesn't ask us to become more spiritual per say. HE does ask us to pick up our cross and follow HIM. HE asks us to draw near, trust, love, etc... It is when we do these things that we learn more about God's character and become more spiritual.
God help me seek you first before I read, spend time with you and pray. God help me follow your promptings and not make excuses. Thanks for pursuing me. Amen.
I have been thinking about the Bible a lot lately for some reason and I can feel God pushing me to get into his word on a daily basis. HE is asking me to spend time in the morning and I already get up between 4:30 and 5:00 every morning for work, at least that is the excuse I'm trying to sell HIM. It isn't working and I find myself trying to make deals with God. But like any good father he just simply asks the same question with a "why wouldn't you sacrifice a small part of your morning for me"?
It always pierces my heart and I know it would benefit me far more than the extra 15 minutes of sleep. This brings me to my title of Growth.
The parable that God is telling me over and over is the parable of the Sower in Matthew 13. This is a great teaching moment by Jesus and it basically says anyone who hears the word and understands it, it is like seed that fell on good soil. It then produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
It speaks directly to me because I can't grow my faith. I can throw seeds, I can even water the seeds by my reading and prayer and alone time. But I can't grow the seed, not even with the water. It is only God who can grow the seed. It is only when I seek God during my reading, prayer and time with HIM that my faith can grow. It must be about HIM and not about me. Not about me trying to learn more or trying to become spiritual.
God doesn't ask us to become more spiritual per say. HE does ask us to pick up our cross and follow HIM. HE asks us to draw near, trust, love, etc... It is when we do these things that we learn more about God's character and become more spiritual.
God help me seek you first before I read, spend time with you and pray. God help me follow your promptings and not make excuses. Thanks for pursuing me. Amen.
posted by Andy Rainey at Monday, August 29, 2005
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