For example, we can believe what God says about giving, generosity and tithing, but until we practice it our faith is still small.
What do you trust God for? What do you still hold on to? I trust God completely, but I still worry some about things like my kids, grandkids, and the economy, so I clearly have more room to grow. (And I’m so grateful for God’s grace.)
Trusting God is a lifelong spiritual growth endeavor. What risks are you pursuing for God today?
2. Talk With God
Trust is built by intimacy in a relationship, and we need to know the person we wish to trust. We can’t trust people we don’t know.
The same is true with God.
Our faith is strengthened by talking with God, especially when we listen. The more we know, love and obey him, the greater our faith becomes.
We study and pray through scripture to learn more about who God is, his attributes, his nature and purpose for our lives.
There is great freedom in how we talk with God, we call it prayer, but it is natural conversation. We can do it anywhere, anytime, and fully trust that we can express our thoughts and emotion to God who loves us and is for us.
God isn’t nearly as concerned about the number of minutes we talk with him as he is with the condition of our hearts and our ability to be honest before him. With that said, there is no condemnation for brevity, but there is limitation. Just like with any deeply personal relationship, time is required to sustain and grow it.
Talk with God about what He wants for you, how he wants you to grow and who he wants you to become. Ask God to reveal more of himself to you. He leads us to certain passages of Scripture, in certain seasons. For example, it might be the fruit of the Spirit, to gain more of his character in our lives.
3. Tend to the Purposes of God
Our faith matures by serving God, based on his agenda not ours. It is in the obedience of taking action that we grow and mature.
We are created on purpose for a purpose. We are given spiritual gifts for a reason, and we have the great honor to partner with God in his eternal purpose.
- What are your spiritual gifts?
- What are your great passions?
- How can you see yourself helping others for a lifetime?
As leaders, our purpose and calling is clear, and it’s our responsibility to help new and growing believers discover their contribution to others according to God’s plan.
The process is clear, we trust God, talk with God and follow his lead.
Here’s a pathway to tend to the purposes of God:
- As we trust and pray, we look for opportunities to reflect God’s love and character and meet the needs of those around us. There will be far too many needs for any one of us to handle on our own, so we ask God what He wants us to do.
- It’s important that we’re in community with other believers and connected to leaders in the church who help guide the way. Far more is accomplished when we are part of a larger group in the body of Christ.
- We need be intentional about Kingdom oriented results from what we do. “Fruit” as Jesus described it—changed lives as we often say.
This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (John 15:8)
Enjoy the process, it’s the most meaningful life we can live.
This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.
