BrendaHubbard

It is no longer I who live But Christ who lives in me. Galatians 2:20. 

I slowly open my eyes as the sun’s rays warm my beat-up and bruised body. As I Struggle to keep my eyes open, they close back up, and at that moment, I hear a still quiet voice, “Get up.” I open my eyes, thinking who said that. I close my eyes again and hear, “Get up.” I open my eyes and move my head to the side to see where the voice is coming from, and I soon realize there is no one in sight. The voice is clear, warm, and comforting, yet I do not see a physical body. I roll my body over to the right, tightening my eyes shut as I breathe, profoundly thinking, how am I still here? I felt the pain on my face as I began to move around. 

As an army of soldiers pick up the bodies of their wounded peers as they are headed for cover, In the same way, my legs, arms, chest, and head are all working together to lift this body. I had no idea I would ever get up from here. Just leave me here. I wanted to yell but couldn’t even articulate a complete sentence. Before I knew it, I was up and walking towards the clear glass shower doors. Turning the knob to the right and watching the droplets of water rush out as if they were restrained behind the shower head for years. I hear the water pipes making a distinctive, rough, struggling sound as if it had been a while since water had run through the pipes. Then I quickly thought, how long has it been? I felt my brain go in circles as if looking for that file to tell me, but It couldn’t find it. 

Really? I want to remember the last time I used this shower. My heart sank. What Day is it? I immediately ask myself again. I can’t remember that either. What is happening to me? Am I even here? How did I end up in this situation? Why do I feel so hurt? What did I even do to deserve this? Then a rush of why, why, why, why bombarded my brain! Very quickly, before I could stop them, a scream and loud cry came out from the depth of my being. Ahhhhhhhhh!!! 

My heart aches; this pain is too much! I didn’t sign up for this!? 

Hi, reader. On the other side of this screen. If you’ve been walking this earth for at least 20+ years, you’ve experienced what was described above at least once. If not, to God be the glory, I pray that when that time comes, you have a solid foundation with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and that going through something like what I mentioned above will look very different. You might think when I? Wow! Way to be encouraging. I would love to sit here and tell you that a rock bottom like the one described will not happen to you, but that is not reality. The scene might look better or worse, but the heartache will be similar, if not the same. I wish and pray for no one to go through a hard season in their life, but scripture says: 

But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9. 

When we become desperate for answers and healing, we search for comfort. In our desperation, unfortunately, we tend to look into the last resort: God, only by discovering that nothing else can fulfill and help the longing in our soul, like what God offers. In our weakness, we can allow God to fill us with his power, and then we will be more vital than ever. Life is full of obstacles, hurdles, and setbacks. But even on our worst days with God, we are still better than walking this journey without Him.

Here are Five Tips that helped me as a believer in Jesus Christ:

-Made a decision/commitment 

-Hunger to learn 

-Consistency in the word of God

-Community involvement (Bible Study/Church/Fellow Believers)

-Growth/different levels 

Now let’s break these down:

1. Made a Decision/Commitment: 

Then, we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Ephesians 4:14,15.

Once I got baptized and publicly declared that I had decided to follow Jesus. That was a conscious, heartfelt decision, and with that began my commitment that I would no longer do the same sinful behaviors I was engaging in before I started my walk. This decision helped remind me of my decision when I wanted to engage in things out of alignment with my commitment. 

2. Hunger to Learn:

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid. Proverbs 12:1. The journey with God has no limit on how much you can learn, but the key is to remain as a child. 

Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3. Becoming humble with sincere hearts and always willing to learn, being open to hearing from God, and discovering His way of teaching or doing things in your life. Our God is not in a box or subject to our ways. His ways are beyond human understanding, which is why people can be challenged to believe in a God we don’t fully understand. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8.  

3. Consistency in the word of God: 

If you have been walking this earth for at least 25 years, you’ve understood a crucial principle: Nothing will happen by chance, not a good habit, at least. Without the effort of scheduled, disciplined effort, and if you haven’t discovered this yet, give it a few more years to learn this. 

Our Savior practiced a strategic tactic that we have access to model today: waking up early to pray. Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35. Prayer is the oxygen to our faith. Without it, we are spiritually dead, literally.

4. Community involvement:

Day after Day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. Acts 5:42. As a new or seasoned believer, there is always room for growth in the faith, and spending time with others is vital to continuing to grow in the knowledge of God. Do not isolate yourself, and pray that our God blesses you with a strong family of believers. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25.

We must gather to share our faith and strengthen one another in the Lord. We will face many trials on this journey, but let it never be an excuse not to gather with fellow brothers and sisters in the faith. 

5. Growth/Different Levels:

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors, and teachers to equip his people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-13.
God has given us all unique gifts to build up the church, and we must ask him to show us what they are so that we can walk in the fullness He has called us to live in to build and edify others while making disciples.

Growing in faith is essential since there are different levels to this journey. As growth and understanding occur, God’s word takes on a deeper meaning. Invest time in understanding the Bible. Purchase books on Prayer, faith, deliverance, and anything else that will add value to your walk with the Lord. Remain a student and be willing to learn. 

Keep these the main focus:

-Commit and decide daily to walk this journey no matter what.

-Maintain a Hunger to learn and evolve and be open-minded to God 

-Consistent in reading, listening to God’s word, and committing to Prayer. 

-Community involvement: do not walk this journey alone. 

-Growth/different levels on this journey. 

Let me pray for you, Heavenly Father. Thank you to my brother or sister on the other side of this screen, who took the time to read and grasp what you are telling them through these lines. I pray that they grow and develop in the knowledge that only you give. Father, allow these tips to grow deep roots in their being so that, in due time, they will produce an overflowing harvest that will undoubtedly remind them of what the Lord has done. Father, I pray that you keep them, cover them, and bless them wherever they go and that they find hope in you through this blog. In Jesus’s name, I pray, amen.