INCREASING SPIRITUALLY
if jesus grew spiritually, with he & His father being one, we absolutely must be intentional with our spiritual well being!
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year?
For many of us, the holiday season commonly presents a wide range of emotions. We become reflective of precious memories with our loved ones who have passed away. The transition of an oldest child going off to college and being unable to return home for Christmas weighs heavy. A divorce becomes final and beloved traditions are forced to look differently. Tying together the personal circumstances we face during this time of year with our ministerial responsibilities and experiences, our deep need for soul care in Christ becomes increasingly evident.
How Did Jesus Increase with His Father?
Looking at the life of Jesus, the ways that He increased spirituality are commonly noted in His spending alone time with the Father. Luke 5:16 tells us that Jesus often withdrew to secluded locations and prayed. We also know that Jesus combated the daunting lies of Satan in the wilderness by proclaiming Scripture without hesitation (Matthew 4:1-11). Christ’s time with the Father was not an occasional experience. Though proven difficult at times, especially due to the large crowds following Christ, He remained intentional about secluding Himself to private locations to worship God and pray honestly before Him. As we seek to minister to students and parents during this season, the needs for counseling and heavier conversations may increase. Those we care for may begin to request our time and listening ear a bit more than usual. Youth leader, your time with the Lord is essential and priceless in value both now and always. If Christ Himself understood that His strength came from God the Father and His holy Word, how much more so for us?
“The perfect Son of God lived a blameless and guiltless life. Yet, throughout the pages of Scripture, we see Jesus modeling the very thing we must practice daily. ”
In recent weeks, I made the slightly difficult decision to “skip out” on a Wednesday night, “MDWK” with our students. I was experiencing physical soreness and my heart was desperate for uninterrupted time with the Lord. My knuckles had grown consistently white due to the control I was tightly holding on to. I needed to relinquish all that I thought I could carry to the only One who can. Putting on my Christmas PJ’s at 7:00 PM, I turned the worship music on and prayed through my favorite passages of Scripture aloud. I became overwhelmed by the nearness of God and my utter depravity before Him. The truth is, we are nothing without Christ. Too often, I allow myself to believe the “I’ve got this” lie, only to find myself broken before the God who beautifully sustains and completely provides. The perfect Son of God lived a blameless and guiltless life. Yet, throughout the pages of Scripture, we see Jesus modeling the very thing we must practice daily. In the midst of His ministry, Christ withdrew from the crowd to desolate places and spent time with His Father in heaven - the very One who sent Him with a desperate promise to fulfill.
Moving Ahead
As you “push” to the refreshing moments of January, make the decision to journey through these busy weeks with a daily refueled spirit. Psalm 23 is the promise I am remembering in recent days. The Lord is our Shepherd, and we have no lack in Him. He leads us beside still waters and restores our soul. For His name’s sake, He leads us in paths of righteousness. Youth leaders, even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we do not fear evil because His rod and His staff will comfort us.
Just as Christ came to earth with a mission to fulfill, YOU are written into His plan. Your ministry and calling are beautifully significant, and I pray that as you spend time with the Lord this week, you will be encouraged to not grow weary in doing good because at the right time, there WILL be a harvest.
Be Encouraged,
-AB
