…for bodily discipline is only of little
profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for
the present life and also for the life to come.
1 Timothy 4:8
God wants a personal relationship with all of us and,
through that relationship with Him, He changes us. In order to have a relationship with anyone,
we must spend time with them. In order
to have a relationship with God, we must spend time with Him and follow His
leading. If we commit to having a
relationship with God and follow through, our lives will be transformed. For
most of us, making the commitment is not an issue, it’s the follow through.
Personal Discipleship
creates a growing relationship with God that transforms us into what He made us
and wants us to be in relation to Him and His world while strengthening and
empowering our daily life. This cannot
be found sitting in a Bible study. This
cannot be found volunteering for hours and hours. This cannot be found by teaching a Sunday
School class. These are all physical
manifestations of our personal commitment to God but they do not perpetuate
personal growth in Christ unless partnered with personal time with God every
day, reading the Bible and praying. God
wants us to be HIS more than GOOD. He
wants our undivided attention. He is
jealous for us. He desires our heart
more than He wants us to “do” many things.
In Matthew 6:6 Jesus said enter into your closet and pray.
That simply means find a place where you can shut out the world and open your
heart and mind to Him and what He wants to tell you. I recently walked into the supply closet at
work to get something and on that particular day I wanted to just stay there. It was quiet, dark, and away from
everything. I confess, I did sit down
for just a minute on top of the stacked cases of water. I thought how nice it would be to just stay
for a while, to close the door and just soak up God’s presence. I so needed it at that moment. I immediately thought of this verse and
realized for the first time I realized how what it really meant. When we want to feel God or talk to God,
there are a few things to consider:
- Find a place that is quiet
and comfortable, your own private sanctuary.
- Find a place where you can
focus on God without distractions.
- Find a place where you can
commune with god.
- Find a place that gives
you release, enables you to reflect, and to be refreshed.
- Make this a relentless
habit in your life
Proper Use of God’s Word
We don’t read the Bible only to learn facts but to expose
ourselves to God, with a willingness to be changed.
- Study God’s word to
develop the mind with understanding.
Seek to really understand the Bible and apply it to your life.
- Memorize the Word of God
to develop your soul with precepts.
Precepts are principles or foundational truth. They are commandments or rules for
personal conduct. They help us see
things by rule of order and not emotional desire.
- Meditate on the Word of
God, developing the spirit with relationship. Remember the aim of Bible study is not
primarily to build up a reservoir of knowledge but to conform the reader
to the image of God’s son.
God desires to create something very special out of each of
us. He longs to change us into the image
of His Son that we might know the abundant life Jesus promised. That abundant life only comes when we have a
personal relationship with Him, involving being in the Word and communicating
with Him on a daily basis. Don’t put it
off any longer. Don’t let the
distractions win. Give Him the place in
your life that He deserves and live the abundant life He came for all to
have.
Scripture to Claim:
I came that they may have life, and have it
abundantly. John 10:10
