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Joy in the Journey:
Growing Deeper with God
Read: Philippians 1:1-11
Have you ever wanted to start over? To begin again with a fresh start and a clean slate? To be freed of past guilt and shame? God extends to you this opportunity. God’s grace covers our sins and the Bible says in Psalm 103 that when we accept Him as our Savior He separates us from our sins as far as the east is from the west. Our God is a God of second chances; He forgives and remembers our sins no more. We are forgiven, renewed, redeemed. Paul goes on to say that he who began this good work in us will be faithful to complete it until the day we meet Jesus face to face (Phil 1:6).
Once one becomes a Christian, it doesn’t stop there. It’s not an “arrival” at your final destination. The journey is just beginning. From the day you first believed God’s power has been at work supernaturally in you. It’s not our own power that changes us, but God’s power that transforms us. Phil 2:13 states, “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose”. As you grow in your faith the fruit of righteousness will flourish in you- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23). We were created to serve God. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph 2:10). Paul also prays that the believers would be able to discern what’s best in order to learn to live the godly lives they’re called to.
The journey of the Christian life is walking each day hand in hand with God, your creator and sustainer. He loves and adores you. He longs and waits to spend time with you. He knows the number of hairs on your head, your thoughts before you speak, and is familiar with all of your ways. He knows you better than you know yourself and longs for a deep connection with you. But a relationship takes effort from both sides. Like an earthly relationship takes effort and time, so does developing a relationship with God. It is through time spent communing with God that we grow to know him better and deepen our faith.
Never give up pressing on. Continue to seek God and ways in which you can serve others. When you become disheartened about your spiritual growth or shortcomings, remember that you are a work in progress and God’s grace is sufficient. When you are discouraged, remember that God is your strength and your help. When you feel inadequate, remember that God is enough. Never let your circumstances rob you of finding joy in the journey.
Reflect: Read the above passage again and reflect on the following questions:
- Do you view salvation as a destination or a journey?
- God has forgiven you of your past wrongdoings and offers you a new beginning. What steps do you need to take to forgive yourself and live the life of joy and freedom he designed for you to live?
- God loves you and desires to have a deep, intimate relationship with you. Are you meeting Him half way? How can you do your part in pursuing a deeper relationship with Him?
Remember: Weekly memory verse
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. (Phil 1:9-11, NIV)
This week set aside some quiet time every day with God to pray and read his Word. Begin to make a daily habit of spending time to deepen your relationship with your Heavenly Father.
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