Keys to spiritual maturity: Courage (Part 4)
OBSTACLES TO COURAGE There are many obstacles to our courage and to a courageous way of life. I want to identify just three. FEAR – Fear is a debilitating condition that robs us of our strength, resolve and courage and keeps us from possessing what God has for us. DOUBT – Doubt is another little…
Keys to spiritual maturity: Courage (Part 3)
COURAGE FAILURE There are times in our lives when courage fails us. These are times when we lose courage and get weak. Courage gives us strength. Courage failure makes us weak. 2 Samuel 4:1 When Saul’s son, heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his courage failed, and all the Israelites were troubled and dismayed….
Keys to spiritual maturity: Courage (Part 2)
CALLED TO BE COURAGEOUS! We are called to be strong and courageous. Each one of us has a specific purpose and destiny in God. This destiny will not be achieved without courage and loads of it. When God told Joshua to take the nation of Israel into the promised land, He constantly had to remind…
Keys to spiritual maturity: Courage (Part 1)
Courage is a vital part of our lives. Without courage we cannot move forward. I have also discovered that we need courage at every stage in life. When my young daughter started school, it was a daunting time for her and called for great courage and bravery. When I changed jobs after 17 years in…
Keys to spiritual maturity: Be flexible (Part 8)
LIFE – A SERIES OF SEASONS Life is a series of seasons. Winter gives way to spring, and spring gives way to summer. Summer gives way to autumn and autumn gives way to winter. Each season calls for a different approach. If we do not approach winter with a different strategy we may be ill…
Keys to spiritual maturity: Be flexible (Part 7)
BE READY We need to be ready for whatever changes life may demand from us. We do not know what will happen next and this is why we need to be flexible and ready to change. This readiness is primarily an attitude. If we have the attitude: ‘This is how it has always been and…
Keys to spiritual maturity: Be flexible (Part 6)
As a teenager I used to windsurf. I grew to love the sport and learned some valuable skills. At the same time I learnt many life lessons. I learnt that if you do not adjust your sails you will not have much joy. You have to constantly adjust your sails to take best advantage of…
Keys to spiritual maturity: Be flexible (Part 5)
DESIGNED TO CHANGE! You and I were designed with the innate ability to change. We may be creatures of habit, but we have the ability to make decisions and change. Matthew 3:2 Repent (think differently; change your mind, regretting your sins and changing your conduct), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Preconceived ideas…
Keys to spiritual maturity: Be flexible (Part 4)
THE ONE CONSTANT In all this change that so surrounds every aspect of our lives, we often long for something constant. I was speaking to a lady the other day. Her life had been on a bit of a roller-coaster ride. She said how she longed for her life just to plateau out. Although we…
Keys to spiritual maturity: Be flexible (Part 3)
BLESSED ARE THE FLEXIBLE! I once heard someone say the following: Blessed are the flexible for they will not be broken. It sounds like it comes from the Bible but it doesn’t! It does however contain an element of truth. There is special grace for those who are flexible. When we are flexible God can…