Faith Growth Happens

Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection and love.

 – 2 Peter 1:5-7

A few months ago, I met with my doctor for my annual checkup.  Everything was routine until we got to the topic of exercise.  Reviewing old notes, she asked if I was still running or hiking four to five times a week.  I answered “yes” (hoping that she wouldn’t make me prove it).  She paused a moment then asked in a somewhat disappointed tone, why I hadn’t changed up my exercise routine in all these years.

Days went by but my mind kept flashing back to sitting in that breezy hospital gown on the thin white doctor’s office paper hearing “So you haven’t changed?” over and over.  She was right. Nothing had changed except that I was older, more wrinkled, more flabby, less flexible, and less strong.  

There is no better time of the year to ask ourselves this critical question, “How is God nudging you to change in 2017?”  It could be a physical habit, a relational focus, a career move, a spiritual discipline, or a financial makeover.  

Think for a moment.  What hasn’t changed in a long time? What needs a new rhythm, a different direction, or a greater emphasis?

2 Peter 1:5-7 (above) gives us a formula of how God often works in our lives to add more of Himself to our faith.  He works in creative ways to add these important attributes to our faith: good character, greater knowledge of Him, more self-control to combat temptations, non-stop perseverance, godliness to become more like Jesus, peace to nurture relationships, and abundant love to overflow from our hearts.

If we look at each godly attribute, one is certainly going to pop off the page and prompt us to change in 2017.  For me, I choose self-control.  What about you?  

The enemy cannot read our minds, but He watches what distracts us, trips us up, and tears us down?  We’re not hard to figure out.  But we do have a secret weapon that the enemy can’t see.  It’s the power of Jesus living inside of us.  His power is greater than any power on earth.  His power can guide us to transform into His likeness and can spur us on in faith growth.   So, what area of your life needs a wake up call, a make over, or a change up?  

Pray about it, ask for guidance, then write it down, share it with someone you trust, and press on in Jesus’ power, knowing that change does happen and you can fight the good fight of faith.  Let’s grow in our faith and know Jesus more intimately in 2017!  We can do it!

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

Thank You for Being a part of the 3 O’Clock Wake Up Movement