One thing I
became passionate about in my own life starting in college is the concept of
self-feeding & my personal growth in my relationship with God.
I think so many
times we fall into the dangerous trap of thinking that our growth in our knowledge
of God comes primarily through other people.
God certainly
uses other people to grow us – I’m well aware and well acquainted with that –
but ultimately, people will disappoint you. Your friends and disciplers and
Bible study leaders and [gasp!] even Cru staff members will all let you down
you at some point. It’s just true.
But guess what!?
Your walk with Jesus isn’t dependent on
other people.
Don’t get me
wrong – community is SO valuable, and I’ll be the first in line to tell you to
invest & plug in & ask for wisdom from older women & share your
struggles & pray for your friends & get involved in a church & go
on summer missions & pretty much
anything else along those lines involving Biblical community, but community with others doesn’t come
before community with God on your own. It just doesn’t compare.
A turning point
in my life was learning that God created
a relationship with me and it wasn’t on my own doing. Sure, he used
other people to bring me to himself, but ultimately, He knows me, and He died for me,
and He’s a personal God, and it’s good for me to know Him.
It’s always my
hope and my dream for college women to embrace the same things. Because as a
staff member wisely told me [in the
context of discipleship & community, after all that!], the habits you make now – meaning in college, or whenever now is for you – will be habits you
continue to hold to after college, and for decades to come.
So, in order to
take a step towards equipping you
women & challenging you to walk
intimately with Jesus in your own
personal lives, here’s five
things to inspire you to begin, or grow in depth, in that journey – in no particular order:
Know God more by reading His Word.This
one seems of utmost importance to me.If
you’re not sure how to do that in depth, read Jen Wilkin’s book Women of the Word.I think sermons are awesome and I do love a
good Christian book but there’s something unique & imperative about
spending time primarily in God’s Word
that is invaluable. Yes, you can learn from others, but God gave us His
Word to know Him more (let that sink in)… and so do it. Passionately.
Start a prayer journal.I love the basic Moleskine or Target journal where I can fill up my
pages with prayers to God.But, I also
love a structured direction with my prayer life. Consider Brooke’s prayerjournal guide she shared with us on this blog.Also, consider investing in
one of these or these.And pray.
Be willing to be sanctified {which means being made more pure, more like God}.One
of the most convicting prayers in Scripture, in my mind, is the prayer in Psalm
139 – Search me, Oh God, and know my
heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.{Insert shocked face emoji here.} But yeah, ask the Holy Spirit to show
you your grievous ways, and then be willing to pray and ask Him to grow you in
that… And, eek, bigger gulp – if you are having a hard time seeing the Holy
Spirit’s conviction for you there, consider
asking a friend who knows you well to help you to see areas you are doing
well in and an area you can grow in.And
then ask them to help you walk more like Jesus in that.
Learn from others, too, but as a supplement to – and not more
valuable than – God’s Word.God uses
others to teach us about Himself, which is beautiful. Don’t let that time
overpower your time knowing about Him and discovering truths in scripture on
your own.But, learn from others,
too.Podcasts, books, sermons, online
articles… soak their wisdom in in.Take
advantage of all that is literally at our fingertips & let other believers
sharpen you, too.
Be willing to be alone with God, and connect with Him in ways that are
personally meaningful for you. Going on a walk, being in nature, creating art,
singing, writing, cooking, running. Fill in the blank.You do
you, but do it with God.He speaks
often loudest when we’re most quiet.Make yourself available to Him in ways that bring you life.Be willing to be alone with Him.
Will you take one step towards this this weekend? I am going to. This afternoon. I’m going to take a stab towards walking
with God in a way I’ve been abandoning on my own the past few months.Join me.I promise – God will use it.
