How to grow in the stretch
Often, the way God builds our faith is like a muscle that grows after it is stretched.
Nobody likes to be stretched because there is a tug-of-war of what we should do and what we should not do. We do not like to be stretched because it forces us to make a decision.
We have to understand that if God is stretching a portion of our life, it is best to cooperate with Him because God is up to something important and God knows exactly what He is doing.
God is going to stretch our trust at times because He knows the challenge that is coming around the corner. Paul talks about a stretching that was like a tug-of-war inside of him.
“For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members” (Romans 7:19-23).
There will be a tug-of-war because God is transforming us. He is moving us forward into the likeness of Christ. How is He doing that? It happens in the stretch. If we stop stretching, we stop growing.
As we get older as Christians, we don’t necessarily mature as Christians. Growing old is not the same as growing up. God is going to stretch us a little bit, and we must constantly keep making decisions to be stretched. There is a purpose to being stretched.
How do we cooperate with God and grow in the stretch?
1. Identify with God early on
We will be stretched out in the world. There will be temptations and opportunities that will stretch us. Remember, not every opportunity is from God.
Early on, when we’re tempted and pulled, identify with God. We will see that throughout the scriptures, the men of God who survived and were victorious were those who identified with God before they faced the challenge and were forced to.
It will be our choice when God gives us opportunities to identify with Him.
2. Make it known
Do people at your workplace know you’re a Christian? How long have they known? As the body of Christ, we need to make it known. This is important. “I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels” (Luke 12:8).
If we understand this, we will cooperate with God rather than fight against Him. Make it known. I want you to cooperate and hear what God is doing, rather than pull away when you are being stretched.
3. Always pull in the direction of God
We know which way God is, so pull. Intentionally pull in His direction with all of your might. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).
How does God restore us to His image? He stretches us. We start stretching, and we need to cooperate with Him. It is not always easy.
When God stretches us, He is not making us somebody we do not want to be. He is actually stretching us to be the person He created us to be. He desires we become whole, our self, the complete person … our complete person in Christ.
Photo source: istock
More on Spiritual Growth and Soul Care
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- Words of advice to a young minister (by Richard Blackaby)
