KEEP GROWING, DRAW CLOSER

February 4, 2026

Once we’ve started the journey to walk with God, He calls us to continue to grow in that walk.  To draw ever-closer to Christ-like attitudes and behavior with each passing day.  A tall order, to be sure.  So, how do we accomplish such a challenging task?

There are some methods you’ve probably already heard about:  spend time in prayerful interaction with Gd; become familiar with His Word; get involved in a small group or Bible study group; and surround yourself with other believers.  Regular church attendance helps with your quest.

All of those are really good tips, and will help us achieve our goal.  However, there are times when we want some practical, day-to-day ideas for how to grow in our faith.  I know that I rely heavily on suggestions for how to apply Biblical principles and lessons to my everyday life. 

So, let’s look at a few . . . Talk to the believers with whom you have surrounded yourself.  Listen to how they keep growing.  Ask them questions designed to help you grow in your walk.  One simple one sprang to my mind as I was recalling a recent radio program.

The message was one given by the late Paul Shepherd.  In a re-broadcast I caught a couple of weeks ago, Pastor Shepherd suggested this:  “Invite a trusted friend to answer the following question.  ‘Tell me something about me that people find irksome or irritating.’”

Yes, it may be difficult to hear the answers to such questions, but it may, very well, be worth it.  Think about it:  what might I learn from the answer to such a question?  Quite simply, I just might learn something about myself that I have been ignoring . . . or denying . . . or that I didn’t even know.

Inversely, You could also ask what that trusted friend sees as your strengths, gifts, or talents.  Their answer just may open your eyes to a new way you can use who you are to serve God’s Kingdom more effectively.  It may lead you to a way to use your talents that you hadn’t thought of before.

Another good thing to do is to take genuine ownership of a particular weakness you have.  This one hit me right in the face when we first started this Ministry.  I had to confront one of my biggest, lifelong shortcomings . . . I LOVE the spotlight!  LOVE being the center of attention --- I always have.  When Jan and I started All That I Am Today, God placed it on my heart that this old pattern of behavior could become a huge stumbling block.

This fascination with the spotlight COULD come in handy, if we’re called upon to speak to a group.  But, it could also become a source of extreme vanity --- very quickly.  Many Bible verses caution us against such behaviors . . . Among them:  Philippians 2:3; James 4:6; and Galatians 1:10, just to name a few.

When we launched this Ministry, I knew I was in danger of calling attention to it for all of the wrong reasons.  For the first time in my life, I did NOT want ME to be the center of attention.  I wanted our work to glorify God . . . but I knew that my weaknesses could corrupt and destroy that goal --- if I allowed it to.

Knowing I wasn’t strong enough --- or humble enough --- to change things on my own, I confessed my weakness to our co-founder, Jan.  I asked her to let me know immediately if she saw me drifting into self-centered behaviors.  She has promised to hold me accountable to God’s Word if I drift off-course . . . to make sure I am bringing glory to God and not myself.  As we added other Team members, they joined Jan in that pledge --- to always hold me accountable to God’s teachings.

You see, my friends, we always have a choice.  Once we have been made aware of a weakness that saddens or offends God, we get to choose whether we continue in that behavior . . . or we ask God to help us change.  And, my choice doesn’t stop there . . .

When I have been confronted about a misstep, I must also choose what to do with my regrets over my mistake.  Do I allow them to fill me with human guilt, shame, and condemnation?  Or, do I graciously, thankfully accept God’s conviction and the peace it can bring?

It has taken a long time, but I have learned to lean heavily on God’s promises, to help me conquer feelings of guilt and self-loathing.  Rather than rely on my own human efforts, I can look to the Bible.  Within the pages of His Holy Word, God made over 7,400 promises to mankind.  One of them --- which helps with condemnation --- can be found in Romans 8:1. 

Want to learn what other promises are in there?  There have been many books written on this subject.  Each one I have seen gives us lists of God’s promises; some of them, sorted by topical category. 

If --- like me --- you desire to learn more about obeying God, I urge you to dig deeper.  Don’t stop at learning, “What does the Bible tell me to do --- or not to do?”  Dig into the vast storehouse of promises God made . . . they offer hope, comfort, peace, and encouragement . . . to all of us.

Armed with that information, you can rest assured that you will, indeed, continue to grow closer to God . . . enriching your relationship with Him along the way.

To His Glory . . . BJ