here - New City Church

15 THINGS
YOU CAN
DO TO
HELP
GROW
YOUR
RELATIONSHIP
WITH
JESUS
he reality is, there is no secret formula to growing closer to God.
However, by practicing spiritual disciplines, we can put ourselves in
positions to grow in our relationship with him. What’s a spiritual
discipline? Spiritual disciplines can be described as those behaviors
that expand our spiritual growth and enable us to grow to spiritual
maturity.
T
In his book Conformed to His Image Kenneth Boa writes,
“For many people, the word discipline reeks with negative
connotations. But a closer look at Scripture and the lives of the great saints
in the history of the faith reveals the opposite… The pursuit of wisdom,
discernment, understanding, and the knowledge of God requires not only
an appetite but also a willingness to pay the necessary price.
For years, I have desired the ability to sit before the keyboard of a
piano and make glorious music. But my craving to do so has never been
matched by a willingness to invest the time, energy, and discipline to
make it happen. Only those who pay this price have the freedom to
make the instrument sing…
It is absurd to think that we could excel at any sport such as golf or
tennis without investing the needed time, training, and practice. But when
it comes to living the Christian life, we suppose that we are doing well if
we attend church and open a Bible once or twice a week.”
This is not some sort of guilt trip to make you feel bad, but rather the
honest truth that we must intentionally pursue God. We can’t expect to
grow closer to God while putting no effort in to do so. That’s why I put
together this list, as a place to start for those who want to walk with God
more closely.
And remember, spiritual disciplines do not save us, Christ does.
Doing these things won’t make God love us more or happier with us.
Instead, we do them to draw closer to Him, and to experience a closer
relationship to Him.
I hope you enjoy it!
1.
CONSISTENCY
No matter what disciplines you choose, consistency is key.
Growth does not happen without intentionality and purpose. Just
like the piano example, you can’t play Beethoven if you've never
played the piano before. It takes slow, steady, and elementary
practice before you can get to that point.
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than
pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to
those who have been trained by it. - Hebrews 12:11
2. COMMIT TO A LOCAL CHURCH
All throughout the Bible, we see God’s design is for the
Christian life to be lived in the context of community. Godly
community is the best way to grow in your relationship with God.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and
good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of
some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see
the Day drawing near. –Hebrews 10:24-25
3. SERVE IN A LOCAL CHURCH
One of the best ways to form community is to serve with
others. Not only has God called us to serve each other but also to
our joy, we often end up getting more out of it than we put in.
Serving in the church is a way for us to build up one another.
The Church is God’s plan A for the world, there is no plan B.
Knowing that, serving God’s plan A is one of the best ways to serve
Him.
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as
good stewards of God's varied grace. -1 Peter 4:10
4. READ A CHAPTER OF THE BIBLE, FIVE
DAYS A WEEK
Spending time with God every day is a great goal. But if
consistent Bible reading has been a struggle for you, start small. You
can read a chapter of the Bible in under five minutes, and it’s
amazing how even just a short reading can encourage and grow
you throughout the day.
In Matthew chapter 4 and Luke chapter 4 we see that after
Jesus fasted for 40 days, Satan came to tempt Jesus. Satan
tempted Jesus three times. Yet every time Jesus was tempted, he
responded not with positive thinking about himself, not with doing
whatever would make him happy, not even with some sort of
worship song.
Jesus responded to each of his temptations with scripture! He
read it and he studied it. When we neglect God’s word and simply
rely on sermons, or talking about God with others, or worship music,
or anything else really, we are missing out on the best opportunity to
learn and grow in our faith.
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any
two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of
joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions
of the heart. –Hebrews 4:12
5. PRAY ON THE COMMUTE TO WORK
This has actually come to be a favorite practice of mine. Most
days, it seems to make the drive seem much shorter. This is also one
of the few times during the day (if you drive to work) where you
really can’t do much else. So take advantage of the forced alone
time and talk to God. It’s also a refreshing way to start the day.
And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if
we ask anything according to his will he hears us. -1 John 5:14
6. PRAY SPECIFIC PRAYERS
“The more precise the prayer, the more faith it takes. If you
want specific answers to prayer, you need to make specific
requests. If you offer only general requests, how will you know if they
are answered?” – Dave Earley
How often we pray generalized, half-hearted prayers where
we are kind of only praying about something because we know we
should? Or we really are passionate about something we are
praying about but don’t really think God will answer it?
Praying specific prayers helps us focus and be intentional with
our prayer life. Want a clear answer from God? Pray a specific
prayer.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be
made known to God. – Philippians 4:6
7. JOIN A GROUP OF SOME KIND
(SMALL GROUP, BIBLE STUDY, ETC.)
Along with committing to a local church, groups are a great
way to build friendship within your community. When I am in
intentional community, my relationship with God is always better
than when I am going at it alone. Always.
We need other people to celebrate with, cry with, and to live
life with. Life is much harder alone.
Bear one another’ s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
-Galatians 6:2
8. FAST ONCE A MONTH
Unfortunately, this is a discipline that we rarely do in our
culture today. One year this was one of the spiritual disciplines I
committed to. One day a month every month I would go 24 hours
with eating, and it really served to be a monthly reminder of where
my focus needs to be.
I know many people don’t want to fast from food, so they
choose other things, or maybe just certain types of food they really
like. If you are going to go this route, I encourage you to be sure
that it is something that is a sacrifice for you. If you don't really like
bread, and you decide to fast from bread for a day, I don’t think
this will help grow you much.
The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the
soul of the diligent is richly supplied. –Proverbs 13:4
9. ACCOUNTABILITY WITH ONE OTHER
PERSON
This one really goes great with anything you may choose to
do on this list. Letting people in on what you are doing asking their
help is the best way to not give up.
Whether this is for a spiritual discipline, fighting temptations, or
encouragement. Doing it together is always better than doing it
alone.
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
–Proverbs 27:17
10. FIND A MENTOR
One of the best decisions I have made since college is to
have specific older, godly men whom I learn and grow from.
Through these relationships, I have avoided poor decisions and
learned things that I normally wouldn’t have learned for many,
many years.
And to be clear, this does take initiative on your part! Most
people like the idea of having an older mentor, but most people
aren’t willing to reach out and ask. I guarantee you almost anyone
you ask would be glad to meet with you if you asked them.
Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who
understands obtain guidance. –Proverbs 1:5
11. GET ACCOUNTABILITY SOFTWARE
ON YOUR COMPUTER
This is good advice in general, but specifically for men. So
men, if you are a follower of Christ, there is no good reason why you
should not have some sort of software on your computer that either
blocks certain things or tracks everywhere you go.
I personally use and recommend a program called Covenant
Eyes. It tracks everywhere I go and sends a weekly report to
someone who can hold me accountable. I recommend software
like this over a software that blocks websites/images because you
can easily find ways around blocked sites. There is no getting
around a program like Covenant Eyes.
If $10 a month isn’t worth your integrity, marriage, and
relationship with God, what is?
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for
all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly
passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the
present age. -Titus 2:11-12
12. KEEP THE BIBLE IN FRONT OF YOU
Using things like post its or note cards. Write verses or passages
of Scripture and place them in areas you will regularly see them.
Places like your bathroom mirror or your car dashboard. These daily
reminders can really go a long way.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for
teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in
righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped
for every good work. -2 Timothy 3:16-17
13. GIVE FINANCIALLY
Jesus says that where our treasure is, there our heart will be
also. And you know this, how you spend your money shows what
you value. Invest in God’s kingdom and your heart will follow. I know
we don’t like to talk about money, but the reality is it shows what we
truly care about.
If you decide to give to your local church (for example), I
guarantee you will become more invested in it.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also….
No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and
love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the
other. You cannot serve God and money. -Matthew 6:21, 24
14. MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE
Let’s be totally honest, many of us don’t get excited when we
hear this, largely because we don’t think we can. Of course, we
know this isn’t true, some people can tell you sports statistics from 30
years ago, others can tell you how to make many meals that take
over 20 ingredients and steps no problem.
We just have to make memorizing scripture a priority. Set a
goal and an end date to get you started. Maybe one verse or short
passage a week for the next two months. Or maybe an entire
chapter over the course of the next three months. Start somewhere,
you’ll be amazed how many times you’ll go back to these verses in
the course of your day to day life.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and
admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to
God. – Colossians 3:16
15. KEEP A JOURNAL
I was gifted a journal when I was 16 years old, and have been
writing in one ever since. What a blessing it is to look back at where
I’ve been, and read things I have completely forgot about.
Most importantly, it is a great reminder of God’s faithfulness.
How often do we pray for things, God gives us those things, and
then we forget about them? All the while wondering where God is?
I wouldn’t say I necessarily enjoy this discipline, but the benefit is too
great to neglect it, even if it’s only once every two weeks.
Journaling helps us to not be like the Israelites when they
turned their backs on God, often because they simply forgot all He
had done.
They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in
Egypt, -Psalm 106:21
CLOSING
I hope you find this list helpful. Ultimately, God cares about our
hearts, and if our motivations aren’t pure, you likely won’t find these
spiritual disciplines helpful.
Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, know that God loves
and cares for you, and offers you hope, forgiveness, and relationship with
Him through Jesus. Following Jesus can be hard, but nothing and no one
else can ever satisfy your deepest longings but Him.
Remember, spiritual disciplines are called disciplines because you
won’t always want to do them. However few things in life that are of value
come easy. I pray that you will be able to look back and see that
choosing to make spiritual disciplines a priority in your life was one the best
decisions you ever made.
Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may
see your progress. -1 Timothy 4:15