Part 2
If life feels overwhelming right now, seven spiritual disciplines can help you rely on God’s strength. Last week, we discussed the first four:
- Be a Person Who Talks with God
- Be a Bible Reader
- Be a Worshiper
- Be a Church Member
5. Be a Person Who Serves Others
Life’s not about you. It’s about serving others for God’s glory. Jesus modeled this because He “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
He set the ultimate example of serving and even told us that serving others is a sign of greatness. He said, “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” (Matthew 20:26)
If you want to be great and rely on God’s strength, you must get out of your bubble and start serving others. You might not realize it, but God has uniquely gifted you with a special ability to serve others.
The Bible says, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.” (1 Peter 4:10-11)
Serving makes you stronger.
6. Be a Generous Person
Taking comes naturally to everyone. But sadly, generosity doesn’t. That’s why we need to make generosity a lifelong practice.
The universal law of sowing and reaping teaches us that when we give, we get stronger.
The Bible uses the analogy of a farmer to help us understand the principle. It says, “Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)
It goes like this: the more generous I am in life, the more abundance I produce, which opens up more opportunities for me to be generous.
People often think that if they are generous, they won’t have enough. When, in God’s kingdom, the exact opposite is true. The more generous you are, the more you rely on God’s strength and His provision.
Giving makes you stronger.
These are the first six essential spiritual disciplines to help you rely on God’s strength. In Part 3, we’ll explore the remaining discipline and how it can change your life.
Until then, reflect on and evaluate your life. Where are you serving, and how are you being generous? If you need to make a change, do it. You’ll be relying on God’s strength and not yours.
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