Summer Growth

I remember the delicious days of summer as a kid playing with friends, visiting with family and exploring new adventures. We anticipate summer like no other season! But it can be a time when Christians put their faith on a ‘shelf’ and pick it up again in the fall…only to wonder why they feel so spiritually dry inside. There are so many ways to drink in the joys of summer and continue to grow in our relationship with the Lord. 

Here are some ways to try this:

Pray—prayer is the #1 way we grow in our relationship with the Lord! Experiment with this, be intentional. Pray in different rooms of your home; it may alter what you pray about. Slow down, find a quiet place, turn off your phone and spend time Adoring God, Confessing your sins, Thanking Him for his gifts, bring your Supplications (requests) to the Lord. Or try praying the Psalms as your own prayer.

Read—No surprise here, but read your Bible! “They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live…” (Deut.32:47). Do you have a plan to read your Bible? Why not change up your rhythms and try reading the Bible outside, or on a hammock or early in the morning. Take advantage of the time to study one book—perhaps Hebrews or Acts or even Isaiah? Use a good study Bible (ESV) or visit our library and pick up some resources to help you under-stand one of these incredible books!

Go outside—Go for a walk, swim in a lake, sit by a fire, watch the stars and northern lights. In short, go be in nature—Jesus said to look at the birds of the air and the flowers of the field

(Mat.6:26-27) as a remedy for anxiety. Elijah went into the wilderness after a very intense season, Jesus often went into the wilderness to pray.

Fast—We usually feed our appetites in summer, but why not practice fasting? Take a day or a meal (or two) a week to fast. Its an intentional time to seek out the Lord to pray, confess, and pour out your heart to the Lord.

Turn off your phone—We’re all discovering that having instant access to information via our devices is not helping our mental health or relationships. Take a break from this stuff over the summer. Experiment with taking one day a week and one week a month off, could you survive? What would be the consequence (honestly)? What might you discover and enjoy that you had no time for when your phone was nearby? Try it.

Read a good biography—Our library is full of stories of people who sought the Lord in their lifetime—those pages are just waiting to be read!

Sit with a friend—The more relaxed pace of summer allows for spontaneous visits! Make a list of 3 people you would like to get to know, go visit them, pray with them and listen to their story…who knows what adventure the Lord may bring your way.

Gather with God’s people—Where else can you sing, pray and hear the word of God preached but when we gather together? Don’t neglect it over the summer!

Try these and let these disciplines cultivate a tender heart to the Lord.

'One day in His presence is better than a thousand elsewhere.’

Psalm 84:10 

-Pastor Ken Stoesz