Five Keys to Personal Growth: Be Intentional
There is no doubt we live in a busy world. Family, jobs, kids’ schedules, concerts, ball games — it is not difficult to fill up one’s day with the activities of life. When the expectations and reality of serving in the ministry are added to this, it is easy to stray from time with God and time in His word. Disciplines are necessary, and intentional, specific activities are required in order to maintain personal growth and remain in communion with God. Here are a few ideas to jumpstart your commitment to spiritual formation.
1) Prayer at home
Matthew 26:41 says, “watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” As a married man, I am responsible for leading the family in matters of prayer. For the last five or six years my wife and I have prayed together every morning. Now, I will admit some mornings the prayer time is longer than others. But those hectic mornings sound a lot like this:
“Honey, I need to leave — let’s pray!”
Sometimes she needs to go quickly, other times I might be in a rush, but we always pray. We have every day for years. But sadly, all this points to one thing — I failed in this area the first 20+ years of our marriage, both for my wife and my children. It’s hard when you are busy. It’s difficult when you feel you’ll be late to work. But you have to intentionally make the effort and do it.
2) Prayer — quiet time at work
I am blessed with an office at work where I can be alone. This allows me time for prayer and time for reading the Bible in solitude. This works best for me early in the day — actually the first thing on my schedule. The effectiveness and reality may be different for others, but for me I’m a morning person. I like to start my day with my door closed — because it will be open the rest of the day!
3) Small group accountability
Small groups are a great way to interact and open up to and with people your age — people with which you are going through similar stages of life. For me this has been a struggle, mostly because I am a bit older than others in the worship ministry where I serve. However, the few times I have been in a group it has built trust and friendship as well as opened windows to share with others as we navigate through life.
4) Bible fellowship
For a few years now, I have taught a Bible Fellowship class for musicians who “doubled up” and played both morning services at church. There is nothing like the pressure of having a lesson ready to keep you reading, praying and teaching! But this pressure, and this opportunity to teach greatly increased by study time, which has led to a greater depth of understanding God’s word. Go teach — you can do it.
5) Reading with my wife at home
The final category involves reading the bible, out loud, at home with my wife. Several years ago my wife and I decided to have a time where we read the Bible together, then discuss and read from corresponding commentaries as we (slowly) make our way through books of the bible. This interaction and discussion, along with historical and Biblical commentary really helped us better understand God’s word. Going slowly is the key — there is no hurry.
I have — and I believe most have — experienced times or seasons where I strayed from these schedules. There have been times where I “dropped the ball” when it comes to all of these disciplines. But discipline and intentionality lead to positive, effective habits that allow us to remain close to the Lord in our busy lives. “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth” Psalm 145:18
