A Prayer for Progress – Your Every day Prayer – July 3

July 3, 2024

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A Prayer for Progress
By Vivian Bricker

“However develop within the grace and information of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory each now and without end! Amen” (2 Peter 3:18).

Attending a marriage a few years in the past, I used to be struck by the concept of development within the coronary heart of the believer. After a brand new buddy of mine had been made enjoyable of by different “Christians” for not coming to know the Lord till highschool, I began fascinated about what it meant to truly have Christian development. My new buddy had solely been a Christian for just a few years, but he confirmed a lot development in that in need of time. The “Christians” who had laughed at him had claimed to be Christians since they have been just a few years previous, but they confirmed no development of their Christian stroll—as evident by their joyous enjoyable at making enjoyable of my buddy.

As I used to be sitting there and listening to their hurtful feedback to my buddy, I began considering of how I used to be a brand new Christian too. I didn’t place religion in Jesus till my first 12 months of faculty. I believed, “Did this imply I used to be an immature Christian too? Would they make enjoyable of me too?” My buddy and I selected to maneuver away from this crowd and began speaking about what it truly meant to be a Christian.

Being a Christian doesn’t imply you have been saved by the age of two, three, or 4. Whereas there is perhaps a choose few who come to know Jesus this younger, it isn’t sensible for many. Youngsters can’t perceive redemption and salvation absolutely at such a younger age. Nonetheless, my buddy and I reminded ourselves that being a Christian meant inserting religion in Jesus. There may be not a “cut-off” date relating to salvation.

The believing thief on the cross was instructed by Jesus that on that very day, he can be with Him in Paradise (Luke 23:43). You don’t need to be a believer from the time of a younger baby as a way to be saved. God calls individuals to Him at numerous ages and no age is superior to a different. You probably have positioned religion in Jesus, you’re a Christian. It doesn’t matter if you’re ten or if you’re ninety.

“So then, simply as you obtained Christ Jesus as Lord, proceed to dwell your lives in him, rooted and constructed up in him, strengthened within the religion as you have been taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:6-7).

What my buddy and I instructed one another that night time, I share with you: An individual generally is a Christian for a few years, but don’t have any development of their stroll with Christ. In the identical method, an individual who has solely been a believer for just a few years can present a lot development of their stroll with the Lord.

The expansion you’ve in your stroll with Jesus can be dependent in your obedience to Him, if you’re going to Him in prayer, and if you’re energetic in Bible studying. All through our lives, we can be rising in our stroll with the Lord. We are able to proceed to domesticate wholesome development by following, obeying, and loving the Lord. Progress will be painful at instances, however it’s price it as a way to know the Lord higher.

As you proceed to develop in your Christian stroll, you’ll begin seeing issues extra like Jesus does. This may trigger you to have a extra tender coronary heart towards others in addition to it’s going to guarantee you might be extending Jesus’ love in your actions. In different phrases, you may be reflecting Jesus to the misplaced world. There may be nothing that makes God happier than to know that His youngsters are extending His love and charm to the world.

When you really feel you might be caught in your stroll with God, know you could flip to Him anytime. As an alternative of attempting to work out development by yourself, flip to the Lord in prayer.

Let’s pray:

Expensive Lord, please assist me to have Christian development in my very own life. At instances, I really feel as if I’m not rising in any respect. Please assist me to begin rising in my stroll with you in the present day. Assist me to be motivated to learn the Bible, go to you in prayer, and obey You on daily basis. I need to assist others to find out about You and to proceed to replicate Your stunning gentle to the world. Progress is difficult, however I do know you may assist me. I belief You Lord and I thanks.
In Jesus’ Title, I pray, Amen.”

Train Us to Pray is a FREE prayer podcast hosted by iBelieve author Christina Patterson. Every week, she provides you sensible, real-life tips about the best way to develop your religion and relationship with God by way of the ability of prayer. To take heed to her episode on What to Pray within the Morning for a Fear-Free Day, click on beneath!