As we pray and plan for re-location, we must not neglect other, perhaps even more important matters: our personal spiritual growth. The Lord’s desire for every child of God and the church as a whole is to grow spiritually “so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Eph 4:12-13).
Spiritual maturity or godliness holds critical benefits for your life: “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Tim 4:8). Godliness strengthens and directs you to walk in paths that are safe and blessed that lead to favour with God now and in eternity. I urge you to be faithful in several spiritual exercises.
First, you must be faithful in attending worship service. When you come into God’s presence, you should have prepared yourself spiritually. Get up early in the morning to read a Bible passage and pray. Just as you could not hear your favourite radio channel if the frequency is wrong, similarly, you could not possibly hear God speaking to you if your heart is not at the right spiritual frequency. You should prepare yourself physically too. Sleep early. Then you would be mentally alert and sharp to hear the still soft voice of God speaking to you. If you truly honour and love your Lord, worship the Lord with a right heart. Do not be like the ancient Israelites whom the Lord says, “these people come near to me with their mouth and honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Isa 29:13). As you hear the sermon preached, you should (1) seek to understand the Bible passage a bit more (2) be praying in your heart: “Lord, what do you want me to do?”
Second, do your Quiet Time daily: allocate 15 minutes or more a day to read the Bible and pray. Choose a place and time where there is least distraction. Do not hurry through, do not hurry through, DO NOT hurry through your Quiet Time. This is God speaking to you. How could you not listen to His words with great joy and with great attentiveness?! If you truly believe that your Saviour loves you and gives you great wisdom and strength to live life, you would cherish your Quiet Time. Read a Bible passage daily. After that ask yourself: “Is there anything that I must change?” “Is there anything that I must do?” Do that daily. Before long, your life will change as the Bible promises you: “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word” (Psalm 119:9). Do this: “I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands” (Psalm 119:10).
Life is full of busy schedules. But some things are more critical than others: Sunday Worship Service and Quiet Time. Do not let anyone or anything stop you from receiving these life-giving nutrients.