Like our hair grows from its roots, so our faith grows from its roots. Faith develops from being rooted, built up, and established in a deep relationship with Jesus. But how do we get a deeply rooted faith in Jesus in our busy lives? I have a really cool idea. I hope you’ll join me.
True Story Ahead
As some of you may know, a big change happened to me at the end of September. My employment of 10 years was eliminated. I’m embracing lots of change in my life right now, including losing 10 pounds that like to hang out with me. I’ve told them before they can’t keep hanging out with me, but they don’t seem to listen. Seriously, for the last four years, I lose them and then some how they find their way back to me. I know I’m likeable, but these pounds need to go hang out with someone else.
Once again, I’m actively, and I mean actively, being stern about it. I began the Whole30® Program again. I’m presently on Day 12. So far, so good.
I’ve also started a six-day per week workout plan. Even though I’ve tried to ease into it, apparently, I overdid it. My lower back told me a thing or two the last couple of days. Let’s just say he did not use nice words. Yesterday was the worst. I’m telling you, he was screaming obscenities at me all while stabbing me with strikes of lightning-like pain. Today my back seems to have calmed down a little. Praise God! And I’m very thankful for friends like Advil, Tylenol, the heating pad, and my chiropractor. I think my back and I will have to compromise on the workout regimen going forward. I can compromise, but I will not give up.
I’m also growing my hair longer, at the request of my oldest daughter who says I haven’t changed my hairstyle in 100 years. This growth thing is slow. My hair is getting to that length now where it’s starting to annoy me. It’s begun poking me in the eyes. It’s winging out sometimes. And other times, it just decides it’s not going to cooperate at all.
I started to notice that my personal faith growth has been a lot like losing weight, getting into shape, and growing my hair out. Things I know I’m supposed to let go because they weigh me down, I tend to pick back up. I’ve been a pain in the back to others (including God) at times. I resist. I can be slow to adjust. I also “wing out” and don’t cooperate with God. And let’s face it, my eyes have been blinded by more than hair. I’ve also realized that my faith growth has been slow, but like my hair it’s growing in a steady fashion.
In October, I was concentrating on writing my first book. This process has included re-reading many journals over the years. I noticed how much growth has happened in the last 17 years.
One day, after reading part of one of my journals, I sat overwhelmed by the proof of my own personal faith journey and the obvious evidence of my growth. I realized just like it takes our hair awhile to reach a certain length where we can perceive its presence, so it is with our faith.
One of my passions is to help others develop, especially in their faith. I actually get excited when I see growth. Yet, I understand growth takes time.
This morning as I was seeking God for next steps, a really cool idea popped into my head. Yes, I get those every once in a while. I was pondering how to encourage others to concentrate on their own faith growth journey, but in a doable way with the crazy busy lives we tend to lead.
30 Seconds for 30 Days
If our hair averages a half-inch growth in one month or 30 days, then our faith can grow in 30 days too. How we measure faith growth is different than how we measure hair growth, but it’s still measureable, by both ourselves and others.
The Bible says others will know how deep our faith is by our fruit (Matthew 7:16). The fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). I think this is a good place to start measuring our faith growth this month.
During Lent 2017, I did 40 Days of Intentional Living, where each morning I rose, sought out God for what He wanted me to write and encourage us to live that day. Each day I did not know what I was going to write about. I did not plan ahead. I put my trust in God that He was going to instruct me each morning. He is faithful. He did. I wrote and published a blog post daily for 40 days.
I’m going to take the same approach for this challenge. The difference is, it will be a 30-second video each day. Whatever God encourages me with each day for my growth, I will then create a 30-second video for you to watch. I then want you to take 30-seconds to pray about that same thing. I have no idea what kinds of things God will direct us to grow our faith roots a little deeper this month, but I am committed to growing deeper in Him in every season of my life. Every season is made up of individual days.
I know we are all busy, but everyone can take 30 seconds out of their life to devote to some growth work. I mean, come on, even my Sonic toothbrush makes me brush my teeth for two minutes. Maybe you don’t use a Sonic toothbrush, but I bet you brush your teeth every day. If we can devote time to brushing our teeth, we can devote 30 seconds to our faith every day.
I’m starting today, November 2, which means the last video will air on December 1. I’m excited to see what God grows in us this month. I’ll be publishing Day 1 video today as well.
My Prayer for this 30-Second, 30-Day Faith Growth Challenge
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen us with power through his Spirit in our inner being, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. And I pray that we, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that we may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. ~ Ephesians 3:16-21
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