I arrived early to meet a team for an assignment. When I reached the agreed-upon location, I realized I was an hour and a half early. As I waited outside the office building for their arrival, the growing noise from the street interrupted my reading and drew my eyes away from my phone to the sunny scene outside. It was a lively mix of activities: people walking in both directions, food vendors selling their goods, and cars passing by.
However, one scene captivated my attention for quite some time. I saw a young man skillfully juggling a tennis ball with his legs, determined not to let it touch the ground. He managed to keep it in the air for a couple of minutes, and whenever it dropped, he would quickly pick it up and continue playing, moving freely on the busy pedestrian walkway as people passed by.
Desire inspires engagement, consistency, commitment, fervor, and devotion. This applies not only to physical exercise but also to spiritual exercise. God desires that we know the truth, which sets us free and allows us to experience the liberty of being His children. We must cultivate a similar desire, as this requires a complete transformation and a renewal of our whole nature. We need to yield ourselves wholly to Him.
The regenerating power, which the optical eyes cannot see, births a new life in the soul; it creates a new being in the image of Christ. While the work of the Spirit is silent and imperceptible, its effects are manifest. While we cannot do anything to change our hearts or to bring ourselves into harmony with God; while we must not trust at all ourselves or our good works, our lives will reveal whether the grace of God is dwelling with us. A change will be seen in the character, the habits, and the pursuits.
By consistently engaging in reading the scriptures, observing the early morning quiet time, and prayerfully meditating on the Word, we essentially train our minds to become skilled in righteousness and holiness. It’s akin to a blacksmith forging a blade; with each strike, the blade becomes sharper and stronger. In the same way, each day dedicated to these spiritual disciplines refines our ability to handle the gospel of truth and deepens our knowledge of the Lord.
Our consistency in these spiritual disciplines will help us develop good habits. This practice becomes a secret source for forming good habits and virtues and establishing routines. These habits and routines form the foundation of our daily lives and enhance our overall fruitfulness.
