I often teach on a variety of subjects, but I believe my primary calling is to help Christians grow up and mature in Christ and really begin to enjoy the great life He has in store for them.
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I often teach on a variety of subjects, but I believe my primary calling is to help Christians grow up and mature in Christ and really begin to enjoy the great life He has in store for them.
As a young woman, I went to church for years, but I really didn’t know much about spiritual maturity. I loved God with all of my heart, but I wasn’t changing — I was still as critical, judgmental and rebellious as ever. And even though I knew my life should be getting better, I was still miserable from dealing with all of the same problems.
I believe this is one of Satan’s greatest strategies. If he can’t keep people from hearing the Gospel and accepting Christ, he will do everything he can to make sure they never grow spiritually and experience the peace and joy that’s promised to them in the Bible.
You see, when we’re born again, the Holy Spirit comes to live in our heart — God plants a seed of everything He is in our spirit. He instantaneously deposits inside of us everything we need to live a great life.
For instance, Galatians 5:22-23 (AMPC) says, “The fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control....”
Did you know all of these things already exist on the inside of you? You may wonder, Well, if that’s the case, then why aren’t I experiencing any of it in my life?
Well, when it comes to the maturity process, we have a part to play. Our part is to cooperate with God to cultivate and develop His character in our lives so we can grow and become more like Him. How do we do that?