Examine yourselves to see whether you
are in the faith. 2 Corinthians 13:5
One of the most difficult
steps in spiritual growth is making the time to examine one’s own
heart. We live in a time and
place that constantly distracts us from looking within. However, spiritual growth always starts when
we ask the question: “What am I now?”
Today I am reading a
collection of prayers by John Wesley. In
today’s reading Wesley asks: Is
the Sprit of adoption now in your heart? Make the appeal to your own heart: Are you not the temple of the Holy
Spirit? Does He now dwell in you?
As we end this year it is customary
to look ahead to what is next. To set
goals for what we want to happen and who we want to be in the next twelve
months. Before doing this I encourage
you to a make some space to ask the question: What am I now? Take some time to pray and carefully examine
your heart and life to see what is there.
If you are honest you will
no doubly see both the good and bad of your heart. Take some time to examine this. Sit in it and don’t rush past. In many ways this is the human condition. However, it does not have to be the end. Take this time to ask for forgiveness from
God and move forward. A New Year awaits
and His
mercy is new. A fresh start is
only a day away!
Happy New Year.
I have just been thinking of this very thing lately. I've been reading a book about it by Larry Crabby. Thanks for the post'
ReplyDeleteExcellent Post Mike. Might use it tomorrow in my message from Galatians around just "Doing Time" as opposed to "ful-fill-ing time."
ReplyDeleteBlessings this New Year. "11" may have been the most challenging year of my life except I can't remember too many others thank God.