My beloved children, recognise where you have been conditioned and minimised by the world in your role, your job, and your current circumstances. You have looked for and relied on approval and affirmation from others. You have sought guidance, plans for your future from Christians online, even living your life vicariously through leaders whom you admire. As a result, you can at times lack confidence, hope, and expectation in me because you are not looking directly at me, but at others.
Draw yourself aside; take off striving, hear me, and know the value I place on you. Allow me to be your God, your lover, and your joy for I am perfect kindness. There is an understandable emphasis on planning, strategy, growth and change in my church, yet this is my plan for all of you. Allow me to take you from where you are now, with no resistance, and grow you up into Christ.
Prayer:
Lord take my life again, show me your wisdom, and give me courage to stop a while with you so that I hear you speaking clearly. Where I need to be a grown-up Christian and still like being a baby, fed by others, show me, for I choose to grow with you into maturity. I love and trust you Lord. Amen.
Hebrews 12: 2-3 (NIV)
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Ephesians 4:14-16 (MSG)
No prolonged infancies among us, please. We’ll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love-like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.
1 Corinthians 14:20 (ESV)
Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking, be mature.