7 Principles and Practices to help you grow in your relationship with God and as a Christian!

My life and relationship with God before 2009.

In and out of Church.

Short stints or faithfulness.

Proper Priorities

Matthew 6:33 HCSB

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

Consistent Daily Prayer

Luke 18:1 HCSB

1 He then told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not become discouraged:

Luke 5:15–16 HCSB

15 But the news about Him spread even more, and large crowds would come together to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 Yet He often withdrew to deserted places and prayed.

Mark 1:35 HCSB

35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place. And He was praying there.

Consistent Daily Bible Reading/Listening/Recitation

Joshua 1:8 NKJV

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 HCSB

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

What prayer does for Bible reading, and what Bible reading should do for prayer.

Prayer gives Jesus Christ the opportunity to step in and help you understand His Word, Supernaturally.

Luke 24:45 HCSB

45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

Staying connected to your Pastor/Mentor

Hebrews 13:7 HCSB

7 Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.

Hebrews 13:17 HCSB

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Lesson on the significance of a Pastor

They lead, guide, protect, help to heal, help keep you focused, help you to grow, help you feed and hydrate your soul.

Stay connected to your Church

Hebrews 10:23–25 HCSB

23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, 25 not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Learning from those who are focused.

Getting encouragement from your brothers and sisters.

Helping your brothers and sisters.

Worshipping and connecting with God together.

As things get worse before Jesus’ return, you are going to need His support group.

Be at The Church God wants you at, not at what’s convenient or familiar per se.

Present and Active Praise of God

Hebrews 13:15 HCSB

15 Therefore, through Him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that confess His name.

It may feel awkward at first for many like it did for me.

But praise and worship are outward expressions of what we have learned and experienced with God.

Praise comes from seeing WHAT He has done.

Worship comes from WHO you have learned He Is as a Person and Being.

Praise and worship come from our appreciation and adoration of God, in spite of what we’re going through.

Why? He’s been through it, treated horribly by His own creation, the people that should love Him the most!

Fasting

Matthew 9:14–15 HCSB

14 Then John’s disciples came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?” 15 Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests be sad while the groom is with them? The time will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Matthew 6:16–21 HCSB

16 “Whenever you fast, don’t be sad-faced like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so their fasting is obvious to people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward! 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head, and wash your face, 18 so that you don’t show your fasting to people but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 19 “Don’t collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Be Consistent, NOT Perfect

Integrate these one by one if need be.

Don’t get overwhelmed.

Write them down and put them in the place that you spend time with The Lord in prayer, or somewhere you will see it to remind you often, especially when you’re going through a rough moment/season in life.

Make sure you’ve been Reborn into God’s Family

It all starts here!

This gives God greater place to help us

John 3:1–8 HCSB

1 There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher, for no one could perform these signs You do unless God were with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “I assure you: Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 “But how can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked Him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “I assure you: Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again. 8 The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

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Resource to the original audio by Evangelist Brian Norman will be in the description.