Heart Posture in Growth
Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. - 1 Peter 2:1-3
This week marked the start of Lent. It is a season of preparation in which many Christians participate. Lent starts 40 days before Easter and is intended to purposefully prepare the Church to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. As a part of lent people will fast from certain foods or activities, they will give to missions and the hungry, and pray.
Purposeful actions such as these can be powerful in the development of believers. With the right heart posture, periods of intentional fasting and prayer can be transformative for believers. As Peter says we need to “grow up” in our salvation. When we fast, pray, and give we surrender to the Spirit and “grow up” in our salvation.
Heart posture seems to be significantly impacted by obligation. When I “have to” do something, I do it because it is required. Personally, I will complete the task, do what is necessary, and do a good job. When the task at hand is something I want to do, passion changes everything. It shifts from a “have to” to a “get to”. My heart posture changes. In that shift, I think there is movement of the Holy Spirit. We release the illusion that we are in control and allow the Spirit to work in us. When we do that, real change and transformation happen.
Growing up in a liturgical tradition that required Lent, I admit there were many years I did it out of obligation. My heart wasn’t into it. I didn’t eat meat on Fridays because I wanted to abstain. Instead it was because I wasn’t allowed to eat meat on Fridays. It wasn’t an act of fasting and prayer that brought me closer to Jesus. It wasn’t because I wanted to grow as a follower of Jesus. It was a simple obligation because the church mandated it.
Some of you may have chosen to fast or pray or celebrate Lent in some other way. If that is you, I want you to know I think it is awesome. I encourage you to do so with a passionate heart focused on the love God has for you. Celebrate Lent with a heart posture focused on being transformed by the Spirit.
As Peter so clearly says, “rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.” This can only happen with our surrender and commitment to allowing the Spirit to control of our lives. When we approach this transformative process with a heart posture filled with the joy only found in Jesus, we are in for an amazing experience.
Be blessed and be a blessing,
Matt
This week marked the start of Lent. It is a season of preparation in which many Christians participate. Lent starts 40 days before Easter and is intended to purposefully prepare the Church to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. As a part of lent people will fast from certain foods or activities, they will give to missions and the hungry, and pray.
Purposeful actions such as these can be powerful in the development of believers. With the right heart posture, periods of intentional fasting and prayer can be transformative for believers. As Peter says we need to “grow up” in our salvation. When we fast, pray, and give we surrender to the Spirit and “grow up” in our salvation.
Heart posture seems to be significantly impacted by obligation. When I “have to” do something, I do it because it is required. Personally, I will complete the task, do what is necessary, and do a good job. When the task at hand is something I want to do, passion changes everything. It shifts from a “have to” to a “get to”. My heart posture changes. In that shift, I think there is movement of the Holy Spirit. We release the illusion that we are in control and allow the Spirit to work in us. When we do that, real change and transformation happen.
Growing up in a liturgical tradition that required Lent, I admit there were many years I did it out of obligation. My heart wasn’t into it. I didn’t eat meat on Fridays because I wanted to abstain. Instead it was because I wasn’t allowed to eat meat on Fridays. It wasn’t an act of fasting and prayer that brought me closer to Jesus. It wasn’t because I wanted to grow as a follower of Jesus. It was a simple obligation because the church mandated it.
Some of you may have chosen to fast or pray or celebrate Lent in some other way. If that is you, I want you to know I think it is awesome. I encourage you to do so with a passionate heart focused on the love God has for you. Celebrate Lent with a heart posture focused on being transformed by the Spirit.
As Peter so clearly says, “rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.” This can only happen with our surrender and commitment to allowing the Spirit to control of our lives. When we approach this transformative process with a heart posture filled with the joy only found in Jesus, we are in for an amazing experience.
Be blessed and be a blessing,
Matt
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