Category Archives: Spiritual Growth
A Place To Belong
‘Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other’ Rom.12:4-5
‘We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other’. Being planted in Church, gives us a place to belong. It is impossible to believe without belonging. If you think you can believe without belonging, then you will not believe for long. Believe it. If you say you believe and you do not belong over time what you believe will be corrupted. Why, because iron sharpens iron. If you Read the rest of this entry
Builds Your Beliefs
‘Father to the fatherless, Defender of widows—this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families; He sets the prisoners free and gives them joy…’ Ps.68:5-6
We know by now that God created us for connectedness and it His desire for us to be planted in a Church family. ‘God places the lonely in families’. There are a lot of benefits of being planted in a Church family. Five of such benefits will be treated over the next few devotionals. The very first benefit of being planted is that when you are planted it builds your beliefs. Your faith grows as Read the rest of this entry
Planted
‘But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong… For they are transplanted to the LORD’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green’ Ps.92:12-14
Incidentally the word planted also means to be established. God’s Word for us this year is establishment. One key to establishment is being planted in the Lord’s own house. Everyone is planted somewhere. When God wants us to flourish, He transplants us. Your location will determine whether you will flourish or you will wither. Like the story of Naomi and Ruth, they Read the rest of this entry
You Matter
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope’ Jer.29:11
God knows the plans that He has for us. In actual fact, you only plan for the things that are important to you. If you plan for your family, it means your family is important to you. If you plan for your finances, it means your finances are important to you. If you plan for your spiritual walk, it means that your walk with God is important to you. Of course the converse is also the case for all of the examples above. For instance, if you do not plan for your spiritual growth, it means at least for the moment it is not important Read the rest of this entry
Free From Fear
‘The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?’ Psalm 118:6 [KJV]
If God be for us, we will be free from fear; totally free from the fear of men. A lot of people are trying really hard to please people. As such, they end up living a life of discontentment and disappointment. This is an expression of approval addiction. This is not the way God wants you to live. The only One you need to be concerned about His approval is God. You have to play to the audience of the One. When you Read the rest of this entry
Who Dares?
‘What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?’ Rom.8:31
‘If God be for us’ implies that there are forces that are against us. Not everyone will like you, no matter how nice you are or how much you mind your business. People will wish that you fall down and die just because God is blessing you. However, before you even get to the people that hate you, Read the rest of this entry
Battle Ready
‘A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil’ Eph.6:10-11
God has a desired level for His children, even for the battles that we engage in. There are different kinds of issues and they can be graded into the various dimensions of spiritual wickedness. It is important to be aware of the different dimensions so that you can be on the defense. ‘For we wrestle not against flesh Read the rest of this entry
You Are Worth More
‘It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God’ 1 Peter.1:19
The value of something is determined by what people are willing to pay for it. What are you worth? You are worth more than you can imagine or understand but God gives you a clue of what you are worth. ‘For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. Read the rest of this entry
Spiritual Growth in Community
‘As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend’ Prov. 27:17.
‘You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another’ Prov. 27:17 [MSG]. It is easy to identify this plan in everything that God created. For instance, He created plant with seed in itself. The same way He has given you experiences for the benefit and growth of others. Spiritual growth happens in Read the rest of this entry
Meaning and Healing in Community
‘Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results’ James 5:16
There is a huge difference between living a full life and living a meaningful life. A life can be full of activity and still be empty. This is why you find people who seem to be materially wealthy but emotionally starved. God wants our lives to move from being full to being meaningful even as you are planted in a life Read the rest of this entry
