Hmm, what has kept me in the faith after my school.
This is actually a simple but difficult question.
Actually, several things have helped to keep me growing in the faith after campus but I will love to keep it as simple as possible. Presently I can think of five major, they could be more than that but these are the ones I obviously employ for my personal spiritual growth.
1.Desire, Diligence and Hunger to Grow: I understood from scriptures that, at new birth I receive the nature of God that has the ability to love God. This nature of God which is the Holy Spirit create a void for God on the inside and help me to want to know God more. However, the Holy Spirit is a perfect gentleman who will not force me to respond to this promptings, but without due diligence to keep this fire of this desire burning, it may go off with time, that's why the Bible warned me in Romans not to quench the fire of the Spirit.
More so, I realized that, for every growth, there must be feeding and the extent to which I can eat is the extent to which I am hungry (Desire the food). One of the most dangerous spiritual sickness I know is to lose appetite for spiritual food. So, if a Christian must grow, he/she must strive to keep the hunger on. So I do.
2. Eating
As a food scientist, I've learnt that every other activity takes energy from me, the only one that supply energy is Eating. Food does not only provide energy for day to day activities but it also provides the essential nutrients my body need to growth, this also applies to Spiritual growth. If I came to realise that if I must build spiritual stamina and grow, constant feeding on the word of God is not negotiable.
I’m feeding myself through reading/studying the scriptures constantly and effectively, listening to edifying messages and songs and reading powerful Christian literature. God has helped me to never to joke with my quiet time.
Let me quickly add, that the primary aim of my Bible study is for spiritual growth - helping myself to become like Christ. It's good to read Bible to gather sermon notes but if it does not first of all translate into transforming me first, I am just cheating Myself.
2. Prayer
Somebody said if a Christian must stand firm as admonished by God through Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 16:13, he must stand on two legs - Bible Study and Prayer.
Prayers is more than asking God for something, it's a communion. It's about spending time with God in a wonderful relationship. As I invest quality time with Him in prayers, I am not only understanding what he wants and expect of me, I am also will receiving the power to do his will.
The Bible said he who pray in an unknown tongue, edify (build) himself. Praying in tongues as much as I can build me up, it aligns me with God's thought and will, it creates an atmosphere of God around me, sometimes it keeps I away from sins and temptation, I speak from experience.
Going by the word of Matthew Ashimolowo, " I Pray when I feel like praying, and pray when I don't feel like praying until I feel like praying"
4. Lighten up
They are somethings that are not sin, they may not even be wrong, but they could hinder my spiritual growth. The Bible calls them Weights. They weigh one down, they take chunks of one’s quality time, but does not in any way contribute to one’s spiritual growth, sometimes not even physical growths.
At times, the devil strategies in not to make one do bad things but to keep one in doing good things and ignore the right things. Since I must grow, I need to recognise what those weights are - it could be relationship, social media, fashion, sport, even church activities.
I recognise them and do what the book of Hebrews instructs - throw off, lay aside, strip off and throw aside. It's going to be done by one person and it’s me. Holy Spirit can only help me, He won't do it for me.
5. Companionship
Rick Warren in his book purpose driven life said "Christianity is personal race not a private race”.
I need people of like minds to grow or let me put it this way, I can't grow in isolation. I get committed to my local church, join a small group, associate with people that encourages me to grow.
The local church is not just a place where I come to listen to pastor preach and say amen and go, it's also a place where the life of members inspires and motivate me to know God the more.
Permit me to say, no matter the word based on the pastor, if it does not translate into the life of the members, then the environment is dangerous.
What I mean is, if I go to a church and I can rarely find members whose lifestyle inspire, challenge and motivate me to press into God the more rather, lowers my standard, then I am in a dangerous zone as far as my spiritual growth is concern.
6. Mentorship
And the things I have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 2nd Timothy 2:2
For every Joshua there's a Moses, for Elisha there's Elijah, Samuel there's Eli, for Timothy there's a Paul.
Mentorship or discipleship hasten spiritual growths, it prevents me from repeating mistakes, give me a platform for quick stability and help I to be accountable. The scriptures say in the multitude of counsel, there's safety.
carefully.
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