How do you grow in the Christian life? A theological word for growing in your faith is sanctification. Question 35 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism asks what is sanctification? The answer is:
“Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.”
To grow in the Christian life, first of all, you should be a regular attender of a gospel believing and preaching church and consider being a member. You should get involved in a Bible study, discipleship group or small group at your church if they are offered. We learn a lot from our fellow believers, both biblical knowledge and wisdom in applying it – iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17). But how do you grow between Sundays? I’ve developed a rhythm that I follow. As I share it, remember that I am retired. You can scale what you do to the time that you have available.
Prayer – 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to pray without ceasing. That doesn’t mean we never stop praying. We couldn’t function in life if that were the case. Instead, I agree with the note on this verse from the ESV Study Bible, which reads that praying without ceasing:
“Suggests a mental attitude of prayerfulness, continual personal fellowship with God, and consciousness of being in his presence throughout each day.”
Some may have a specific time set aside for prayer. I tend to have a focused time of prayer over coffee early in the morning, while I walk in the afternoon, and as I lay my head on my pillow each evening. But what is important is that you spend time in prayer. So that my prayers do not always focus on my requests of God, I organize my prayers with the acronym ACTS.
A – Adoration or praise
C – Confession of sin
T – Thanksgiving for all God has provided
S – Supplication or requests from God
Scotty Smith Prayers – Each morning, as I have for several years, I also read Scotty Smith’s Heavenward prayer. You can subscribe to these prayers here.
Devotional Reading – I also use the early morning time to do some devotional reading. For years, I have used the daily readings in Ligonier’s Tabletalk magazine as well as other devotional books. For example, I recently used Paul Tripp’s Sunday Matters: 52 Devotionals to Prepare Your Heart for Church, and am currently again using Tim and Kathy Keller’s The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms. My wife Tammy and I will also occasionally use specialized seasonal – Lent or Advent – devotionals. For example, this Advent season we plan to use Alistair Begg’s new Let Earth Receive Her King: Daily Readings for Advent.
Podcasts – I enjoy a number of podcasts that I would commend to you. I usually listen to these podcasts while walking our dog Clara. Albert Mohler hosts The Briefing each weekday. I’ve been listening to this program for several years. It lasts about 25 minutes, and is a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview. Other podcasts that I would recommend to you would be Ligonier’s Renewing Your Mind with R.C. Sproul and other teachers, which runs seven days a week, Sinclair Ferguson’s Things Unseen, which comes out each weekday, Alistair Begg’s daily program Truth for Life, and Ask Pastor John, with John Piper and Tony Reinke, which comes out each Monday and Thursday.
Bible Reading – Reading the Bible is an essential spiritual discipline to help you grow. Tammy and I read from Genesis to Revelation and then back to Genesis. We use the English Standard Version of the Bible, and are currently in the Psalms. Charles Spurgeon said, “visit many good books, but live in the Bible.” My wife likes to read a Bible passage, and then mull it over, asking others about it, looking up things she is troubled by, has questions about or doesn’t understand. The Holy Spirit then does His work of illumination. “These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:10-11).
Book Reading – I consider myself a lifelong learner, and I love to read. My rhythm for reading is to have two books going – one related to faith and work or leadership and one of another genre, such as biography.
Each day I also enjoy blogs from writers such as Tim Challies, who six days a week puts together a list of six articles for his readers to enjoy, along with Kindle book deals his readers might be interested in.
You might think this is a lot, but remember I am retired and have more time than you might. However, if you are working, you can use your commute time to grow by praying, listening to podcasts, listening to the Bible being read on the ESV Bible App, or listening to audiobooks.
The above represents the rhythm that I have fallen into to grow in my faith. What are you doing to grow in the Christian life? Please share.
