Category: Level: Intermediate

solitude prayer

Solitude Opens Up Our Friendship With God

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Authentic relationship with God grows in community but it also requires solitude. We need time to shut everything else off and just be with God in Christ. In solitude we can focus on giving to God and receiving from him. In solitude we can meditate on Jesus and on scripture which produces deep change in us. In our meditation we should frequently remember all that God has given us. In meditation we also open up to the sins and weaknesses God wants to purify. It is hard to find time for prayer and meditation but if you cut out trivial conversations and activities then you will find enough time. Then you must determine a way to find solitude, just as Jesus did early in the morning. Find a time and place where you can escape. It is in solitude that our relationship with God grows deep and strong. Just as Continue Reading →

reflection, meditaiton

Habits For Growth: Encouragement, Commitment, & Self-examination

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Our inner virtues should match our outward appearance. This is not just for the benefit of others but also because God knows our hearts and judges our lives accordingly. Thus, we need to take care to walk pure in His presence just as the angels do. Daily spiritual habits will protect our growth. Each day we ought to encourage our hearts to be zealous for God and not lose our first love. Pray “God help me to keep my commitments and serve You faithfully today. Give me grace to love you well today. Change my inner self into the image of Christ.” Our progress will depend on how well we fulfill our responsibilities before the Lord. God keeps His responsibility; we only falter when we fail to keep ours. Thus our hearts must be fully committed each day. Even those who wholeheartedly commit themselves to God fall short sometimes; how Continue Reading →

teamwork harmony people

How To Live In Harmony With Our Brothers And Sisters

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If we want to live in full harmony with our brothers and sisters in the Lord then it is essential that we learn to die to self in every way. It is not easy to live in oneness with others and to steer away from complaining and grudges. We will be blessed if we learn to live in peace until we die, for Jesus said “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matt. 5:8 (ESV) Even when we have to work through a disagreement we can learn to do it peacefully and “speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15). In order to be faithful in this area we should think of ourselves as pilgrims on this earth. We are just traveling through this place so we don’t have to grasp for coming out on top. Honors and status in this life are not important; instead, Continue Reading →

patience patient

Accepting The Faults Of Others

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We should be patient with the faults of others as well as our own faults. We can pray that God will give us strength to be patient and kind. We can remind ourselves that others have to bear with our faults. We can remember that we usually cannot correct our own faults without great effort; why should we be impatient with the habitual faults of others? Besides, human faults are an opportunity for us to allow our character to be refined. If it is our place to say something about someone’s fault, and we have mentioned it more than once then we should not nag someone so that we get into a dispute over it. We can just fulfill our proper role without becoming angry or aggressive. We should not take the situation out of God’s hands and into our own, but rather seek to honor God with our meekness Continue Reading →

talking

The Benefits of Unjust Treatment – Imitation Of Christ Chapter 12

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Sorrows and adversities help us realize that we are just pilgrims in this world. We should not become attached to this life. We can not trust in this world. Slander and false accusations against us help us to be humble. When our good deeds are judged as bad we have the opportunity to imitate Christ. When these things come we see our pride rising up and then we can let go of pride, and respond calmly only if it is appropriate. Then we learn look to God’s approval and find satisfaction in that. When we rely completely on God then we aren’t crushed by wrongful words against us. When we lack human encouragement we take comfort in God’s pleasure with us. Thus, whether evil comes from without or within us we learn that God is more necessary than we knew before. Our heart may be heavy and groaning and crying out Continue Reading →