Even If i Walk Alone

Instructing and encouraging you to live your life as a disciple of Jesus

Discipline

Training in Godliness

by

We’ve spent several days discussing how to prepare for persecution (see the “Persecution” page under the “Resources” menu to catch up on what you may have missed). The primary way you can prepare for persecution is to be constantly training in godliness (1 Timothy 4:7-8). Every believer in Christ should endeavor to do this, whether we are facing persecution or not.

training in godliness,commitment,discipleship,discipline,maturity,prayer,Bible study,persecution

As followers of Jesus, we must always be building the spiritual muscles we require to keep us spiritually fit and healthy. We know if we don’t eat right and neglect exercise, we will become fat, sick, and miserable. If it is true for our physical bodies, it’s even more true for our spiritual souls.

[Read more…] about Training in Godliness

Resist the Devil

by

Continuing in our series of how we can prepare for persecution, today we want to look at how we can resist the Devil and stand firm in the faith. As we discovered in “Prepare for Persecution,” the way to prepare for the physical and mental persecution awaiting each of us is to first prepare spiritually.

resist the devil,commitment,discipline,persecution,discipleship

We can never stand up to the trials of this world unless we see beyond the physical world into what is happening in the spiritual realm. If you are spiritually weak, you will never stand up to physical abuse. Without the proper spiritual foundation, you will crack under the mental manipulation you will face.

[Read more…] about Resist the Devil

Grow Closer to God

by

Often, Christians younger in the faith than I am, have asked me how they can grow closer to God. I’ve discipled several believers over the course of my life, and I can tell you I’ve never found a concrete answer as to the right way for someone to grow closer to Christ. Yes, you need to read your Bible. Yes, you need to pray. You can’t have a relationship with someone you don’t know.

grow closer to God,Christian growth,commitment,discipleship,discipline,priorities

The Bible alone is the greatest tool for spiritual growth. Unfortunately, few of us will ever have the luxury of doing nothing other than studying our Bible all day. I’m not even sure that would be healthy, but I’d be up for trying it! The reality is responsibilities and commitments jockey for position in our lives and impede our growth.

[Read more…] about Grow Closer to God

Getting Lazy

by

Yet we all know we can get lazy in our eating, exercise, and work habits. More devastating than any of those areas, though, is when we find ourselves getting lazy spiritually. It does us no good to be disciplined in physical matters if we’re not going to apply the same or greater discipline to eternal things.

getting lazy,God's Kingdom,commitment,discipleship,discipline,humility,integrity,mission,promises,integrity,Kingdom of God

I’m not only referring to the well-known spiritual disciplines of prayer and Bible study, but also the less obvious areas, like our relationships with family and friends, personal integrity, and service to others. It doesn’t take much to knock us off our game in these areas, which hinders our witness to the world, and disrupts our relationship with the Lord.

[Read more…] about Getting Lazy

Draw Closer to Jesus

by

It’s been fifty years since I accepted the gift of salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. You would think I’d have the Christian walk figured out by now. Sadly, you would be wrong. I’m still learning, failing, and growing. Our finite minds will never comprehend all there is to know about God, and our fallen humanity can never walk in perfection with Him.

draw closer to Jesus,God's Kingdom,surrender,salvation,discipleship,priorities,commitment,discipline

But we must never cease striving to live our lives in obedience and surrender to Him. His Word compels us to do so, and our love for Him keeps us ever-yearning to serve Him better and please Him more. Until that glorious day when He calls us home to be with Him, the best we can do is to draw closer to Jesus every day we live.

[Read more…] about Draw Closer to Jesus