“We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
Hebrews 5:11-14
Yesterday we focused on our childhood and boundaries. While the way we were raised does, in fact, affect us as adults, it isn’t an excuse to act any way we want. As Christians, we are called to let God examine our heart and reveal our intent. How is that accomplished? We must allow ourselves to be vulnerable to God in prayer and ask Him to show us the gross parts of our heart that we may be blind to- selfish motives, unclean thoughts, laziness, etc. Though this isn’t always fun, the lightness and freedom you feel after repenting and receiving forgiveness is worth it!
Just like our faith, we need to grow up and begin to crave better for ourselves. We can’t sit in our past or use it as permission to act out. Faith requires growth or it becomes stagnant and ineffective in transforming us. Let’s evaluate our current situations and see where God wants to shape us into the mature version of ourselves!
Let’s Pray:
1.) Start by praying for all the things on your heart right now, to give your brain some space. Anything that is distracting you should be given to God in prayer.
2.) Look back over your journaling from yesterday. Pick ONE of the biggest struggles you faced with boundaries/lack of, and ask God to reveal a deeper truth. How did these childhood structures affect the way you view God? Your Christian faith/walk?
3.) Imagine you are in a playground with a fence surrounding the area in which you can play. Would your play be carefree and silly, or scared and withdrawn? Once we know the boundaries, we usually enjoy ourselves, right? God has created a fence around your faith to keep you safe and allow you to enjoy life. Ask God where you have recently jumped the fence and gone off on your own. Write it down, repent, and ask Him to redeem that area of your faith.
Good question:I remember when I stepped away from the Lord thinking, I needed to put my family first and put God in the back burner so to speak. Everything was ok for awhile and I really didn’t notice when it really it hit me how miserable I was. Lonely heartbroken, crying all the time for no reason or for big mistake I made. Then the Holy Spirit came to me when I was cooking pots on the stove and I had a pot of boiling water on the back burner and that’s when I heard the Holy Spirit say that’s how you have the me. I’m boiling waiting for you, to come back to me. I was so shocked I repented right then and there for my pride my disobedience and rebelliousness. I’ve not turned back since then. My walk with Jesus has been an adventure never a dull moment.
That’s a powerful testimony! Thanks for sharing!