The Believer’s life is a journey to becoming more like Jesus. It’s a walk of faith where we daily align our thoughts, actions, motives, and words to reflect and conform to the image of Jesus. The disciplines of a believer are things you engage in, in order to be conformed to the image of Christ. Romans 8:29 (ESV) rightly puts it:
For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Giving your life to Jesus is only the start of a journey to appropriate all that has been accomplished in Jesus. It is not an arrival state. So many believers give their lives to Jesus and begin functioning with the arrival mentality; they become laid-back with no expectations, just regular churchgoers. There is no flavor, no pursuit for more extraordinary things in Christ. They are happy hearing God from other people instead of hearing God for themselves. They are happy asking other people to pray for them instead of growing themselves in the place of prayer. That ought not to be so.
Many believers give their lives to Christ and stay baby Christians until they go to heaven. They remain at the level where they continue to be fed with milk. Baby Christians cannot handle solid food. They cannot move to greater and deeper dimensions in the things of the spirit. They love to hang out at the basic level of understanding the principles of God’s word.
Please examine your life as you read this blog. Does this describe your spiritual state? Do you yearn for more profound and greater things in Christ? Are you part of the people who go to church, live a good life, and that’s about it? I want to stir your hunger for greater things and deeper dimensions in Christ. The truth is that even if you don’t have any expectations for yourself spiritually, God expects you to go deeper! God has called you to do so much more in Christ.
Jesus did not die so you will settle for baby Christianity. There are amazing experiences and encounters reserved for you in Christ. There are heights and depths that God wants you to attain. Ephesians 4:11-16 talks about that expectation, how God has given gifts to the body, including apostles, prophets, etc., to build and equip the body(That is you and I) unto mature manhood. Amplified Classic Version describes it as the completeness of personality, which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection. God wants you to take hold of everything he has made available in Christ.
God’s expectation over you is that you do not remain a babe in the things of the spirit. He wants you to grow into maturity. However, growing into maturity will only happen with your active engagement rather than by chance. It cannot happen by being a spectator and being complacent. It will only happen through your pursuit of daily practices called disciplines. These disciplines are things you do, not special graces. Apostle Paul said in 1 Cor 9:27, “I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should (NLT). So these disciplines are practices and things you train your body to become a slave to. They may not feel good, you may not want to do it, it may not be convenient for you, but you must do them to grow in Christ.
Disciplines of the believer:
Bible reading and meditation:
Growth will never happen without proper nutrition. As a believer, you will never grow without studying and meditating on God’s word (1 Peter 2:2). God’s word is our nutrient for growth. It is our treasure; it contains everything we need for life and godliness. No wonder Jeremiah said in Jer 15:16, I found your words, ate them, and it became my heart’s joy and rejoicing! Oh boy! I love the word of God! It’s sweeter than honey! Studying and meditating on the word is not a suggestion; it is not an option. It is a necessity. You learn to hear God for yourself by studying his word; you begin to discern His voice amid voices. Through his word, you get to know him intimately.
This study and meditation must be done daily, and it must be consistent! You don’t get to choose when to study God’s word. No matter how busy you are, you can do it. Train yourself to study and meditate on God’s word day and night (Joshua 1:8). You only need to meditate on a verse, fix your mind on it, mutter it to yourself, visualize and confess it. The study of God’s word brings transformation. It changes your perspective and how you think, talk, walk, and do things. It imparts to you the wisdom of God and the culture of the spirit.
Prayer and fellowship:
Jude 20 says: building up yourself on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. Prayer is not just uttering words; prayer is fellowship. For lack of better words, prayer is “rubbing mind with God.” It is deep calling unto deep. Prayer is communion and communication. It is a process of beholding God; as we behold him, we are transformed into the same image. Prayer is a method of alignment. Every time we pray, something happens to us and in us.
Although, physically it may not look like there is any change, but spiritually, something has shifted in our lives. Prayer is a tool for fine-tuning our lives; it’s a form of spiritual synchronization. In prayer, we build stature and capacity in the spirit. Prayer is a discipline that must be developed daily. Prayer does not happen to you; you go to it! You must pray at all times, whether you are happy or sad. We don’t feel like praying; we ought to pray. Men ought always to pray and not to faint. Remember, something happens and changes in you every time you pray!
Fasting (and prayer):
I added prayer to the fasting because both must be done together. Fasting alone is starvation. It brings no result. Fasting denies our flesh that which it desires; it empowers the believer to make significant spiritual progress. Every believer must train his/herself to fast at least once a week. You can start easily from 6 am to 12 pm. Fasting amplifies your spiritual growth and sensitivity. You can hear God clearly because your spirit is attuned to heavenly things. Fasting silences the voice of the flesh and boosts prayer power. Fasting is a key in the kingdom; Some doors will only open by prayer and fasting (Matt 17:21). There are dimensions you will only get to with fasting and prayer. This is not an option. It must be done intentionally, not religiously.
I encourage you to commit yourself to the daily practice of these disciplines and watch your life change for good!
If you are reading this blog and have not given your life to Jesus, God loves you and wants you to be saved. Please believe in your heart and boldly make this confession with your mouth, and you will be saved:
I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe that Jesus died for my sins on the cross and He was raised from the dead for my justification. Today, I declare that Jesus is my Lord and Saviour. From today, Jesus is my Lord. Thank you, Jesus!
Congratulations, you are saved! Please email me at theschooloftheword1@gmail.com, and I will follow up with you.
Also, it is important that you get a bible and start reading it. Finally, prayerfully join a bible believing church to grow in Christ.
I love you! Jesus loves you more!
To learn more on how to study God’s word, click here: https://theschooloftheword.com/5-ways-to-make-gods-word-your-reality/
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