Weekly Magazine | Spiritual Growth - Roots That Grow Deep
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Dear Friends,
Faith is not one of those one and done type of things. We keep growing closer to God as we deepen our faith throughout our lives, but there are times when the faith we have seems weak. Maybe we’ve got questions. We go through hard times and we feel like our faith isn’t where it should be. That’s often exactly the place God helps us grow.
If you’re unsure of where to begin to deepen your faith, you’ll enjoy this issue. Our writers share their personal insights on developing and maintaining a strong faith. Sandy Mayle says:
“Be patient and purposeful, then, as you carry out His plan. Although breakthroughs will occur, many advances will be incremental and easily overlooked. Over time, though, you’ll be encouraged as you look back and see real progress.”
We’re walking this with you. We’d love to pray for you. Send your prayer requests to us at: jbu@justbetweenus.org.
Encouraging you in God’s truth,
God's Plan for Spiritual Growth | T. Windahl
What if spiritual disciplines felt less like a checklist and more like a garden? T. Windahl walks us through five beautiful practices; from engaging with God’s Word, prayer, encouraging others, worship, and evangelism. She shows us how each one becomes a grace-filled avenue for growth when we lean into it.
Change Your Mind | Sandy Mayle
Science says our brains can form new pathways. God says we can be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Sandy Mayle weaves these two truths together into a hopeful, practical framework for trading harmful thought-ruts for the freedom of Christ.
Following God's Voice, Not the Footprints of Others | Serena Menken
A trail with no trail. A maze of towering rock. And a husband who trusted his gut over a crowd's footprints. Serena Menken finds in the wild sandstone of Utah a vivid picture of what it looks like to follow God's countercultural voice, even when others question the path.
Also:
God’s Plan for Spiritual Growth
Five Disciplines That Deepen Your Walk with God.
By T. Windahl
Spiritual practices are an important part of the Christian life. As we incorporate them into our lives, rather than being a burden, these practices become beautiful facets of God’s grace as He uses them to grow us spiritually—both in our relationship with Him and in godliness.
The number of spiritual practices available to us on our Christian journey makes a long list, but I’m reminded of some of the practices I have incorporated into my own life. I’ll share them below using a gardening metaphor to give us a memorable picture of each one of them.
Engaging with God’s Word (Growing Deep Roots)
“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Pet. 2:2).
Of the many spiritual practices available to us, engaging with God’s Word has transformed my life the most. We can engage with it by hearing it, reading it, meditating on it, studying it, memorizing it, and obeying it. It also became my delight when I engaged with it amidst four cancer diagnoses within ten years (1991–2001). Like the psalmist wrote in Ps. 119:92, I, too, would have perished in my affliction if God’s Word had not been my delight—perished from a lack of the hope, joy, comfort, peace, and more that God gave me through its pages.
