In this final week of our study, we want to be the biggest cheerleaders of your faith. We started this six-week study being reminded that we can change. It’s possible. God is working through you—and because you were created in his image and have the Holy Spirit, you can absolutely be more like him. We’ve walked through practical ways to grow in our relationship with Jesus and turn away from our sin, and this week we want to remind you of something important:
Keep going.
Think back to the beginning of your relationship with God. Do you remember the feeling of freedom? Love? Surrender? That relationship changed everything. So how do we so often go from excited and free to then believing a lie that being more like Jesus isn’t possible for us? What got us to that point?
Following Jesus is a lifelong journey, and while we have every reason to have hope, we can quickly find ourselves doubting, second-guessing, wondering if it’s all true. But here’s what the Bible reminds us about this marathon:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1–2)
Your circumstances are going to change. Your emotions will ride a mental rollercoaster. Your friends and family will let you down. When everything changes, God doesn’t. He will not leave. He will not fumble. He will not stop loving you.
If you look up and see someone else “doing a better job at being a Christian,” and you think it’s not worth it:
Keep chasing God.
If you get hurt by another follower of Jesus and decide you don’t want anything to do with Jesus:
Go back to your Bible and rediscover who he is in Scripture. We’re all broken people. Don’t let someone else’s mistake define your relationship with God.
If you find yourself making the same mistake over and over to the point that it has affected you and everyone around you:
Remember that God sacrificed his Son to save you from yourself. Humble yourself in front of him, repent, and then get back up and try again.
If every part of your life crumbles around you, and you feel like you don’t know how to take your next step:
Ask God how to follow him and ask him to give you the next step.
We can keep going because of who God is. He is steadfast. He is our provider. He is our protector. He created us. He saved us. He is a good God, and he is worth it. Keep going.
Unfortunately I do compare myself with Christians that seem to be doing a better job than me or I even become judgemental and feel superior to another. Both limit my effectiveness in doing Gods will. The more time I spend with Him in prayer and in His Word and focused on Him the less I worry about what and how other people are living.
Oh yes, that’s Too true of me too! I do have a horrible thing of judging others thinking I’m better! But yes I agree the more I’m in God’s Word, praying, and focusing on HIM the better off I am Spiritualy. I NEED TO TRY TO HEAR HIS VOICE by the power of the Holy Spirit working in my life! Then I don’t get so proud as HE teaches me sooo much and often rebukes me when I get proud!