Are You Still Sucking Your Thumb?

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. 1 Peter 2:2

Do you ever see a toddler still sucking their thumb or even a young elementary school child? This habit started as an infant and was allowed to continue until, the child is growing up still sticking his or her thumb in their mouth for security. Unless this gets under control the child remains a child in many ways.

Many adults who are Christians may be still 'sticking their spiritual thumbs' in their mouths. In other words maybe you know the "now I lay me down to sleep prayer", hear Psalm 23 routinely read at funerals, know John 3:16 but that is about the extent of it. To grow up in Christ and become mature and not keep sucking your thumb you have to dig deeper and go beyond the basics. It is not the rabbi, priest, or pastors job to spoon feed you but when you leave church you have to do your part to get off the pacifier.

First make sure you have asked Jesus to be Lord and savior. When I became born again in 1975 I craved reading the word. It became my life blood so to speak. Prior to this I had gone to church and done all the right things but was not excited about Jesus. So how about it? Time to mature in Christ? Start reading the book of John in New Testament and see how your life changes. 

PRAYER: I choose to go beyond just the basic Bible knowledge of my childhood years. I love your word Lord and I want to feed myself and not need a baby bottle or my thumb anymore. I will not allow Satan to make me complacent about things of the Spirit. In Jesus' name. Amen.

ROOTED OR WILTED?

Are your "roots" deep in the soil of God's word or when the first storm comes into your life do you wilt and blow away with the wind? Think about plants in a garden. The ones that get proper care in the form of water and fertilizer will usually have deep roots and grow healthy and strong. Those that get neglected will cease to become thriving plants and may even die before producing fruit.

In your spiritual life do you neglect reading the word of God? Do you feel Sunday is enough to suffice and get you through the week ahead? Has being called a Christian become mundane and more of a "title" more than something you really are?

As I sit writing this devotion I am in a coffee shop that plays Christian praise and worship music. It is lifting my spirit just being in here. I want to raise my hands and sing.

Do you seek more of God or have you become satisfied and are wilting on the vine of life? It is necessary to feed on the word of God on a regular basis to stay strong.

Psalm119:11(NIV) says 'I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.' How can you be armed for the battles coming your way without the word of God to make you strong? Start today and grow in grace and truth by feeding daily on His word.

PRAYER: Lord I do thank you for giving us your Holy word as our guidebook for life. Without it I am weak and become fearful. I choose to stay strong and grow strong by feeding on it daily. In Jesus' name.Amen.

Click link for a powerful song of worship.

http://youtu.be/6Jo3y_XoHHQ

SPOON FED?

Are you a spiritual baby? By this I mean do you show up at church on Sunday without even your heavenly "instruction" manual , the Bible, and expect the preacher, priest, or rabbi to "spoon feed" you or are you capable of doing it yourself? Do you require a bottle and baby food or can you eat meat? Something to ponder. If we expect to grow up and become mature we learn to feed ourselves. Why should it be any different with "spiritual food"? Do you want to remain in a high chair or booster seat all your life? Of course not.

In 1 Corinthians 3:2(NIV) we are told the following 'I gave you milk not solid food for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed you are still not ready.' Are you spiritually mature or still sucking a baby bottle? We have to grow up beyond John 3:16 and Psalm 23 which almost all people exposed to church are familiar with. The enemy does his very best to try to get you to stay spiritual babes as then you do not grow into spiritual maturity and have no power to really defeat the onslaught of things that will come your way. If Satan can make you think you really do not need to read a Bible or study it then he has done his job. Remember it says in John 10:10 that he comes to "kill, steal, and destroy." Take a moment and read John Chapter 10.

To be mature you need training and food to grow to stay healthy. In our spiritual walk that training is not just church once a week but it is taking time to study the Bible on your own and also in a small group. Do you desire to grow more Christlike or do you just want to stay ignorant of what God has in store for you in the word of God? It is called the truth and is the way to Eternal Life.

Today I urge you to make an effort to become mature in Christ. Do you desire to be spiritually mature and have the "meat" of His word or are you satisfied being mediocre and being a babe in Christ? My prayer is all of those who read this grow up strengthened by the power that is in the word.

PRAYER: Dear Lord thank you that I have access to a Bible. I often do not give it the priority I should. I know Lord I need more of you in my life. I am aware the enemy tries to throw me off course and wants me to be spiritually starved. I choose to grow up in Christ. In Jesus' name.Amen.

Click on link and worship in song.

http://youtu.be/y3GmSupatEs

Note:If you missed yesterdays' devotion and would like to read it you can access any past devotions at www.godslemonadestand.blogspot.com.