Often times, we desire from the Lord what we desire from our marriages: spontaneous romance and intimacy. "Romance shouldn't have to be planned," we often argue, as if a lack of forethought somehow equals greater love.
I once heard a pastor say that with the Christian faith, feeling doesn't lead to doing, doing leads to feeling. We have to be careful with that--the Christian faith is fundamentally about God saving work in Jesus Christ on behalf of sinners. But when it comes to our growth, God has called us to His means of grace for nourishment: the preaching and reading of the Word, the sacraments, and prayer. He calls us to exercise a responsibility through His strength alone. So here is my basic spiritual plan:
Main Goal: To more fully depend upon the Lord and not on my extraversion.
Secondary Goal: To memorize the book of Philippians and hide it in my heart.
Secondary Goal: To spend substantial time in daily prayer.
Secondary Goal: To attend worship services as well as lead them.
What do you feel to be a weakness in your walk with the Lord? Resolve to attack it. Not in our strength, but in the Lord's mighty power (Eph. 6). And remember, as C.S. Lewis wisely put it, that you can't attain joy by pursuing it. You must pursue the One who gives joy. So whatever you seek to address, make God's means of grace your means of grace and pursue He who never leaves you nor forsakes you.
And trust Him to grow you, even when you don't feel it, for it is God "who works in you to will and work according to His good pleasure" (Ph. 2).
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