Growing and being renewed day by day is part of our physical, emotional, and spiritual life. God has provided help for us in the Bible, including principles we can learn that will strengthen us to move forward, and give us hope for the future.
Do all you can to add to your life these things: to your faith add goodness; to your goodness add knowledge; to your knowledge add self-control; to your self-control add patience; to your patience add devotion to God; to your devotion add kindness toward your brothers and sisters in Christ, and to this kindness add love. (2 Peter 1:5-8 ERV)
The old saying, “Rome wasn’t built in a day” is a principle that correctly applies to us in our recovery. One wound at a time, we are healed. We learn the lessons we need to learn one day at a time and, while we wish we could run miles ahead we may be plodding along on any given day. When it comes to the above list of ways we are meant to grow, there is a lifetime of lessons to be learned. God encourages us to add to what we practiced yesterday and invites us to focus on the part of the journey we are learning about today. We should not give up if we fail to practice everything we have learned, and we should not slow down and be lazy because we’ve already learnt some things.
It’s encouraging that God tells us to, ”Do all you can…” God knows us and knows what we are capable of doing in a day. His expectations are not unrealistic. We may feel stretched, but God will never expect more of us than what we can handle. God will always be near to us and will strengthen us as we grow in our love for Him and for others.
We must keep wanting what God wants even while we struggle to learn and grow in God’s ways. God knows how to get us to the finish line.
God began a good work in you. And I am sure that he will carry it on until it is completed. That will be on the day Christ Jesus returns. (Philippians 1:6 NIRV)
Prayer: Loving God, Thank You for guiding me each day on my path to new life and for strengthening me to add qualities of life that are pleasing to You. Amen
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