You spend hours training your body and mind to be in peak condition, so you can be and play your best.
In our spiritual life, we endure training that strengthens our spiritual muscles – our mind, body and spirit – to live in light of the Gospel and share in the Kingdom that is coming. When we participate in Bible reading, community and prayer, we are being prepared and sharpened in our inner being and character to be fueled by hope. These require consistent attention and leaning on God to guide us.
How do we train ourselves for Kingdom living through these methods?
Bible Reading
Meditate, or focus on, who God is and who He says He is in His Word. Staying connected to God through Scripture and memorizing His Word equips us to rely on His truth and guidance in life’s challenges.
“Your word is a lamp for my feet
and a light on my path.” -Psalm 119:105
Community
Being with others is important. Surrounding ourselves with other believers who are living and working out their faith is something God designed for us. If we are scared, discouraged or hurting, we have friends who will come alongside us, encourage us and call us forward in hope through God’s promises and character.
“And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” -Hebrews 10:24-25
PRAYER
Prayer points us closer to the heart of God. By being still with the Lord and listening for Him, we can learn what His voice sounds like. And when we learn His voice, we learn what He cares for, and how He whispers to us and wants to share things with us. And He wants to hear what is on our hearts too, because He cares and longs for relationship.
“Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving.” -Colossians 4:2
We are being sharpened to look more like Jesus. It’s character building, preparing us for a glory that lasts when we look like Jesus and offer praise and glory to God through how we live, what we think and say and how we compete. Though training is hard, it’s worth it in the long run as we are strengthened and perseverance is proven out in Him.
“Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.” –2 Corinthians 4:16-17
The lasting glory Jesus came to give will get us through our challenges; He has already won and made a way for us to have victory. Keep going; God has abundant life for you right now, and eternal life in Heaven with Him later. It’s a win-win, and we get to reflect His glory to a world looking for what truly lasts.
-FCA-