Under Construction: Tips to Help Enhance Your Walk With Christ

Whether you are just learning about God for the first time, have recently accepted Christ into your life, or if you have always known about the goodness of God’s grace, we ALL may struggle at one point or another along our walk with the Lord. Where do I begin? How do I know what is right? What am I supposed to be doing? Will my life ever change? The list of questions and thoughts goes on, and can seem endless at times. Being under construction builds the foundation for us to confidently serve God. So while you are in the process of building, or expanding your foundation, these are some tips that may help you along the way, keep you focused, and to help guide your walk with Christ.

ACKNOWLEDGE BUT VERIFY. (Is that really true?) When people find out that you are a Christian, or find out that you are interested in learning about God and Christ, they will tell you all kinds of things. Did you know God said this, did you know Jesus did that, and did you know it says in the bible that you can’t do this or that. Talk about information overload! This can seem overwhelming, and when you hear contradictory statements or teachings, it can be so confusing. Jot down some notes and scripture references. Acknowledge them and thank them for the information, and then go to work yourself! Research the topics and study information in the bible and get the truth for yourself.  John 1:1 says “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God” 

DUMB IT DOWN. (The bible scared me!)  To be honest, the first time you read the King James Version, it can seem like you are reading a foreign language. Not to downplay KJV at all, but just like doctors have to put things into laymen’s terms for medical language, you might need that for God’s word. You just might not be there yet, and that’s okay. Life application bible, or a teen/workbook type bible can help even the beginner adult to learn and understand concepts in a way they might be able to better relate. Once you start to get the basis down, then  graduate yourself. Challenge your self to more in depth teaching, and go from there.

ASK QUESTIONS & CONNECT WITH OTHERS. (Why?) It is absolutely okay to question something that you hear, read, or are unclear about. Once you get to a point where you are starting to comprehend Gods word and meaning, it helps to connect with others who are doing the same. Openly engaging in a conversation about Christ with others can bring up topics or questions you never thought of before. On the contrary, if someone asks you a question, it challenges you to see how far you have come and if you truly know the meaning behind God’s principles that you practice in every day life. And if you don’t, it’s okay to say, “You know what, I’m still learning that. Lets find out together.”

KEEP A JOURNAL OF GODS BLESSINGS AND DELIVERANCE. After God brought Israel out of Egypt you often see them rebelling or cursing God when ever hardships come there way. So much so, that at one point, the Lord was ready to wipe them out and start over. God was grieved because every time hardship fell on the Israelites, they’d seemed to forget all He had done for them. Instead of trusting God to deliver them as He had done so many times before, they turned away from Him. If we are being honest, we can relate to Israel. During hardship, it is easy to lose site of God’s sovereignty and begin to doubt Him. Keeping a journal of the times God has saved you, blessed you, delivered you, healed you or anything else you can think of can be the difference in trusting in him through your hardship, or turning away from Him like the people of Israel.

MEDITATE ON GOD. As Christians, when we hear the word meditate, red flags begin to go up, and rightfully so. The word Meditate means to think deeply or focus one’s mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting. Biblically, this presents an issue for the Christian because Christ tells us not to babble empty words like unbelievers do in Matthew 6. So biblical meditation means to think deeply or focus ones mind on God for a period of time (Ps. 1:2; 63:6; 77:12; 119:14, 23, 97; 143:5). Here are some reasons for biblical meditation:

1. That our inner most thoughts will be acceptable to God (Ps. 19:14)
2. That we will have a biblical perspective and be wise (Ps. 49:3)
3. That  our lifestyle will be a reflection of God’s mind (Jos. 1:8)
4. That we will grow in our relationship with God (Ps. 77:12)

YOU MUST CHOOSE DAILY.  As new believers, we sometimes feel as though we have to walk in this perfect like or on this perfect line. We want to receive God’s gift of salvation and become totally new to the point that we do not have to endure the trials we once endured. I am hear to inform you that this Christian walk is a daily process. Daily we MUST wake up and choose to surrender, DAILY we must wake up and choose to serve God, and DAILY we must choose to walk this Christian walk. In Joshua 24:15 KJV (part A), the scripture states “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, CHOOSE YOU this DAY whom you will serve” You must make a conscious decision daily, that regardless of what you may encounter, you will choose God and surrender your all to Him. Every day, you have a new opportunity to make this choice, so please choose God. 

KNOW THAT YOU HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN GOD’S BODY. You may have been in a place where you are asking God, “What am I supposed to be doing?” I believe this is an important question that we all encounter throughout our journey. The way you find that answer is in the scripture. Matthew 6:33 tell us to “Seek the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and ALL things shall be added unto you.” In order for you to know what you were created to do, you must first seek the Creator of all things…God. Once you seek God and his righteousness, he will reveal your role in his story. Also, remember there are NO insignificant roles in God’s story. We were not all created to do the same things, but the very things we were created to do is important to usher God’s glory onto the earth. In 1 Corinthians 12: 14-18 the scripture explain to us how important each of our parts in God’s body, 14″For the body is not ONE member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?16  And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 BUT NOW HATH GOD SET THE MEMBERS EVERY ONE OF THEM IN THE BODY, AS IT HATH PLEASED HIM. Therefore, do not allow yourself, anyone, or anything make you feel as though you are not important to the body of Christ. There are some people in this world who are waiting on you. People will know about Christ because of your gift, calling, and role in the body of Christ. Remember that it is so much bigger than you and it’s not just about us, BUT our ultimate role is to make God and Christ known throughout the world.

SEEK COMMUNITY.  If we look at God Himself, we see that He is a being of community (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).  With that thought, it should raise a flag that maybe community is essential.  This journey of discipleship is a tough path that will leave you broken and discouraged if any of us try to do it alone.  That’s why community among believers is stressed over and over in the Bible.  In a matter of fact, we are called not to neglect community/assembly in Hebrews 10:25, so it goes to show you how important it is.  We as believers, especially new believers, need community among each other and it serves many great benefits:

1) Community offers encouragement (Hebrew 10:24-25, Luke 22:31-32)

2) Community offers growth (Proverbs 27:17)

3) Community offers accountability (Galatians 6:1)

4) Community offers support (Galatians 6:2, James 5:16, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)