Important Steps To Increased Spiritual Growth

In this day of great stress and struggle, we who
are God's need to be strongly established in our
spirituality. In my last blog I tried to encourage
you to read and memorize as much of the Bible
as you can in an effort to fortify you with the
"words of life" that could sustain you in times of
spiritual challenges.
THERE'S MORE! That's just the beginning, but
an important part of what you need to do to be
not only victorious in your own situations, but to
be a "spiritual practitioner" when others, both
Christian and unsaved, need "someone to lean on".
HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS:
l. Read the Bible, preferably the New
Testament, aloud. There's something
powerful about hearing the Scripture
and reading it together - it captures
your undivided attention! It helps to
shut out the noisy world around you, and
will also captivate your thoughts!
2. Secure a set of CDs or tapes with
someone reading for you, especially
if you have trouble reading. (This is
also a great gift for elderly or blind
or illiterate persons!
3. Try to set aside a short (15 minute?)
period to pray for the needs of those
you know. A regular time of day will
be best, if your schedule permits.
4. Listen to "good" Christian/Gospel
music often during your day. We have
Direct TV, which has spiritual music
over the Sirius/XM channels - great
to listen to while doing housework or
resting, or just listening for an uplift!
5. Limit the number of teachers and
preachers that you watch or listen to.
Your mind can only contain so much
input at one time, and you'll lose or
"waste" much of what you hear if it
is just a part of too much listening,
no matter how "good" it is.
6. Talk on the phone or in person with
those who are also "pilgrims" on this
path to Heaven! Try to cut down or
out the "idle talk" that God warns us
about. Use your conversations with the
unsaved as witnessing efforts, at least
try to create a hunger and thirst for
righteousness. Eliminate gossip.
7. READ good Christian books! Don't be in
a hurry to complete them, just a chapter
or two a day, especially if they're about
doctrine or Biblical principles. TEST
yourself at the end of each chapter!
If the book is helpful, consider rereading
it for continued affirmation!
8. TEST yourself, too, after reading a
portion of the Bible. Ask things like
who is speaking, what is the subject,
how does this passage apply to me,
and what action should I take. Here,
too, spending a number of sessions on
one verse or passage may well contribute
to your understanding and growth!
9. Find a church home where the Bible
is taught and preached and read. Take
your Bible or New Testament with you
to follow along, make marginal notes, and
to verify what is being taught.
10. Get a personal Bible study course that
you can work on in your own time and
at your own pace. Your Bible bookstore
or Pastor or Christian friend can make
a recommendation. Your friend may
even want to join you in study!
TIME IS GETTING SHORT! You and I must
do all that we can to get ourselves and others
ready for ETERNITY and HEAVEN!!
As much as the temptation may be to get more
involved in politics, world affairs, our nation's
woes, the healthcare dilemma and other temporal
matters, IT IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAT
WE BE "HEAVENLY-MINDED" and prepared for
the life to come with our Saviour, Jesus Christ!!!

P.S. Feel free to email me at heyrichey@yahoo.com
with questions or help with your spiritual walk. It
would be my pleasure to try to help, with God's help.