The Mark of a Mature Christian

By: Fr. Greg

What does it take to become “mature” as a Christian ?

If you were to ask a number of people that question, you might get a number of different answers. Personally, I would say that someone begins to become mature as a Christian when he or she realizes that the ultimate purpose of life, for a Christian is not to find one’s destiny in personal fulfillment, but to find one’s destiny to serve God. That realization, and that decision to live for God and not for one’s self, is the dividing point. All spiritual growth find both its beginning and its end in the commitment to live for God and not for one’s self.

Someone may not know all that there is to know about the fine point of theology, or have a studied grasp of the Scriptures to come to this decision. In fact, one may have learned o lot of verses from the Bible, but if little or no effort is made learning how to serve God instead of one’s self, that knowledge of Scripture will be of little of practical use. Scriptural knowledge alone cannot free someone from a little of self-centeredness and spiritual immaturity. Someone can attended church for years and still be far more committed to serving themselves rather than God.

Strength For The Journey (4)

The things about life that I’ve learned is that you’re going to get hurt. You're going to have emotional nights and cry yourself to sleep for hours. You're going to suffer some kind of heartbreak, some kind of painful loss and failure. You are going to have a hard times, like your whole life is falling apart. But you will also have those moments where the glory of the Lord fall upon you and you receive a new fresh anointing. Those moments are the best. You feel like you smile for the first time again. You feel like you're alive again and become a new whole person. Life just kinda restarts. So smile, laugh, forgive, believe, hope and love, all over again.

The more pain you confront and overcome, the STRONGER you will become.

God is able to bring you out of the life of pain and misery to the life of joy and victory.

Strength For The Journey (3)

You can only be afraid when you spend too much time thinking about the past or projecting into the future. When you focus on whatever life has placed right in front of you in this moment, you will be okay. With the right focus and belief, everything will be alright. 

Often when we reach the point of desperation, it is right before something new becomes possible in our lives. If you are in this kind of situation, please do not give into the despair. God always provides a way through even in the most difficult circumstances. 

The moment you are ready to quit is usually the moment right before the miracle happens. Don't quit !!! Keep fighting, this is just the battle before the breakthrough. 

Strength For The Journey (2)

When you are facing with a number of temptations or distractions that are intended to cause you to give up, you must stay faithful in full submission to God’s will. God has a reason for allowing hard times in your life. He is preparing you to go to the next level and in this next level there will be an even greater release of the Glory of God in a mighty outpouring of His love, mercy, blessing, favor and anointing in you and through you. 

The journey is more important than the destination. I always knew it on some level but now I am actually beginning to understand why that is. The whole purpose of having a goal is the things that you learn on your way towards it. It is not the end result that matters but how much you have grown along the way is what really counts.

Instead of always focusing on how far you want to go, learn to enjoy every moment of the journey, and appreciate where you are at this moment. 

Strength For The Journey (1)

In the very beginning of our journey toward intimacy with God, it is certainly not easy. But when we have made progress in this journey, we no longer feel the pain, or we feel little pain. But as soon as our mortal mind is consumed, and our soul is detached from the world, we can enjoy our lives with all joy and eagerness, with love and with divine fire.

   

The Lord is bringing a new anointing upon His people. Just lift up your hands, cause there's a healing power of Jesus, right now. Just reach out and receive that anointing right now. God wants to fill you with His fresh anointing and new strength, transforming your sadness into joy. Come to be refreshed and renewed in the realms of the Holy Spirit. No matter what the bondage or problems are, God's anointing is stronger and it will break every yoke.

We are all hurt as we journey through this life. When we suffer and hurt deeply, when life seems unfair and brutal, in order to survive we must believe that God loves us and He has a beautiful ending for us.

   

If you ask Him, God is willing to lead and guide you into paths of peace, joy and abundance. May you find a peaceful journey on your path in life. A peaceful journey that includes an abundance of unconditional love and joy.