It’s natural to have questions about what it takes to be a Christian, regardless of whether you’re looking to learn about Christianity for the very first time or if you converted to Christianity years ago. Trying to figure out how to be a good Christian in a reality where several things are at odds with God’s original plan can be very difficult. The Christian life is one of trust and commitment to God, and we’ll examine several approaches to living this way.
Devote Quality, Unrushed Time to God
This statement won’t be unfamiliar to most Christians because folks will have raised them in the church. We used to believe that devoting time to God meant spending the first 15 minutes of our day studying the Bible, making notes on what we learned, and then spending the next five minutes praying to him.
However, God has reinforced upon us the necessity of spending time with Him that is unhurried and undistracted. This requires additional time, above and beyond the daily allotment of twenty minutes, to spend in His company, engage in conversation with Him, and participate in activities with Him. Sharing time with God is not a pointless exercise; rather, it is the key to effectively utilizing the remainder of the hours in our day.
Various people may respond differently to this. It may mean spending the evening with God instead of the morning, hanging out at a café as if we were on a date, or even journaling and informing God about our day while eating ice cream.
When we spend time with God as though He is physically there with us, how we connect with Him shifts, and as a result, our comprehension of who He is deepens. We shall not only acknowledge that He is our God, but we will also acknowledge that He is our father, partner, and friend.
Relax and Recharge
Our culture has become so fast-paced that people have forgotten how to relax. It’s easy to forget that God himself instituted the notion of rest in Genesis 2:2-3.
As stated in Isaiah 40:28, God did not rest on the seventh day after creating the world because He was exhausted, but rather to bless and set apart the day as holy for human beings. God dedicated a whole day to sleep to show how highly He regarded it.
When was the last time you took a break from your everyday activities and relaxed? Examples include something as simple as going for a walk in the park in the middle of the day or investing a whole day in prayer. What helps us feel renewed and refreshed can also aid our spiritual growth and bring us closer to God.
Be Grateful
Some of us have a hard time remembering to thank God. There were moments when we could not comprehend His goodness or find anything to give thanks for.
When this happens, it’s recommended that we keep a gratitude journal. Each day for the next 90 days, we can record three blessings from God’s hand. One can find no repetitions among those 270 reasons for gratitude. Surprisingly, you may ask God for the little things we often take for granted, such as clear, sunny weather, great health, and the ability to use our bodies to carry out His will.
Psalm 118:24 asserts, “The Lord has done it this very day: let us rejoice today and be glad.” Every day, God gives us the ability to breathe and live; we owe Him everything. Daily thankfulness practice helps us see God’s handiwork and experience more happiness and fulfillment.
Keep Your Focus On God
Put a Bible at arm’s length and draw it in closer. Your focus will ultimately be entirely on the Bible, and nothing else will matter. It’s only a matter of shifting your focus and gaining a new outlook, not that all else has disappeared. Now is the time to turn your attention to God.
When you fix your gaze upon Jesus, earthly things will become mysteriously pale in the light of His glory and grace, as the old hymn puts it. Keeping our attention on Jesus makes us more resilient to the temptations and pressures of the world.
Waiting on God regularly allows us to draw on His strength and peace (Isaiah 40:31). Realizing our frailty and reliance on God is the first step toward a fruitful Christian life. He, rather than we, ends up being the source of our daily fortitude.
Take Charge, And Get Your Life Together
According to Colossians 3:23, “whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…” Every task, no matter how great or little, should be done to the best of one’s ability to please one’s Master, as commanded in this verse.
The practical application of this is improved time and life management. Regular monitoring of our daily commitments and tasks and setting aside time to relax, get enough sleep, and prepare nutritious meals all to contribute to our ability to live the fruitful lives God has for us. This helps us get things done and make time for God and others a higher priority in our lives.
We can be more diligent by using a daily planner. To keep records of where and how our time and effort are being spent, we can write down our ideas and to-dos daily. As a result, we can live a life of significance and worth rather than wasting our time on trivial matters.
Contribute to God and Humanity
As Christians, we know that whatever sacrifice we make for God’s kingdom and the poor will be rewarded somehow.
Christians who engage in charitable action soon discover that their lives are enriched just as much as those they help. We will develop newfound compassion for our siblings in Christs, learning to view them as God does and regaining a sense of wonder and wonderment in life.
Paul says, “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” in Acts 20:35. It is right that we contribute financially to God’s cause and labor toward establishing His kingdom. The more resources (financial, human, and otherwise), time, effort, and knowledge we can provide to a cause, the more impact it will have and the more satisfaction and joy we will have.
Consider Others in Your Prayers
It is a sin not to pray for other people. Samuel 12:23 asserts, “And as for me, I would never stop praying for you. If I stopped praying for you, I would be sinning against the Lord. I will continue to teach you the right way to live a good life.”
Maintain an optimistic outlook at all times. However depressing this may be, keeping this perspective is one way Christians can lead a decent life without sin. Furthermore, prayer is the primary means of talking to God.
Final Thoughts
We, not God, will pay the price if we overlook any of these seven elements of the Christian life. Now that you’re aware of what you can’t budge on, take some time to reflect on how you’re already taking care of your spiritual health and ask God to illuminate the places where you fall short. The next step is to find a trustworthy friend or accountability partner to discuss the areas in your life where you may use some guidance and prayer. As time passes, you’ll see yourself becoming more emotionally, cognitively, and spiritually fulfilled.
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