As Paul wrote Timothy, he gave several nuggets of advice, and one is staying true to the faith. We need to be continually alert for spiritual erosion that can occur in our lives. 1 Timothy 4:16 Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you. [1]
Spiritual erosion occurs gradually, like soil erosion, so you are not always aware of its seriousness. The Christian life is difficult and requires ongoing refreshment in God’s word, worship, and prayer. A person who works outside in warm weather can quickly become dehydrated, and in the same way, if we don’t feed our spiritual body, we can become spiritually dehydrated.
Feeding Yourself
When a child is small, they need to be fed by another person, but as they grow older, they can soon feed themselves. As believers in Jesus, we can continue to develop as Christians when we feed ourselves. So how should we feed ourselves spiritually?
- Worship regularly – Commit to worship where the Lord’s word is proclaimed.
- Read the Bible – As we read the Bible, God speaks to us through it, convicting, encouraging, and guiding us.
- Pray – The Lord speaks to us through His word but loves when we communicate with Him through prayer. Through prayer, we can pray for ourselves and intercede for others. Spiritual breakthrough often occurs through prayer.
- Be part of a small group study – Small groups can help us be accountable, learn, be a time of fellowship, and be a spiritual support group.
The best part about feeding myself is getting to know Jesus better. Relationships take time, and spending time with Jesus begins to mold and shape us in ways we are unaware of. I begin to read my Bible and pray not out of duty but because I hear Jesus speaking to me better. When I am better able to hear God’s voice and experience the Lord answering prayers, my time with the Lord becomes enjoyable. Each day, we make time for the Lord and sit at His feet listening to His word we are exposing ourselves to the Light of the World. When Jesus lights our path, He shows us where to walk along our spiritual journey.
Growing in Faith Helps Those Around Me
As we stay true to God’s word, the Lord will use us to be Kingdom Builders. As believers, we can share the good news of Jesus with those who don’t know the Lord and strengthen the ones who do. Only the Lord knows how our prayers and the Christian life have affected those around us. Each day, we have free will where we spend our time. God desires to spend time with Him so we can pour into others as He has poured into us.
To learn more about staying true to faith, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/lead-yourself
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (1 Ti 4:16). Tyndale House Publishers.