6 Enablers of Becoming a Better Christian

23 Feb 6 Enablers of Becoming a Better Christian

This post is sequel to the one I wrote last week on Becoming a Better Christian. A post that was inspired by one of our sons. Please click here to read it.

Today I share on 6 enablers of becoming a better Christian.
Better than any earthly parent, God wants to see His children grow and flourish. And better than any parent, He has made all the provisions needed for us to grow both spiritually and all other wise.

“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.” 2 Peter‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In order to flourish and become better as believers, some fundamental factors must be put in place by us. These factors are enablers and they must be cultivated and developed deliberately. They must be present and active in you to facilitate your becoming a better Christian.

Here they are:

• Desire
• Passion
• Pursuit
• Dedication
• Determination
• Discipline

They are all “must haves” in order to grow as Christians. In the event that of any of these is absent, growth becomes unattainable. I will like us to examine these factors individually, so that we can understand them and apply them to the subject matter.

1. Desire

According to dictionary.com desire is; to wish or long for; crave; want

This is the very first thing that we must possess. The “want to” grow. It is the desire to grow that begins the entire process. God has already done all He needs to, but He cannot force you…He wants you to want it. Your desire sets it all in motion if you let it.

Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied! Matthew 5:6 AMPC (emphasis are mine)

2. Passion

Strong and barely controllable emotion. ~ Oxford dictionary
Passion transcends mere desire or enthusiasm.  When you cannot control or contain your desire to grow.

Jesus had a passion for God’s temple and kingdom that He could not control. He made a whip, went into the temple and drove all those who were buying and selling in it. When his disciples saw a display of His passion, this is what scripture says…

Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.” John 2:17 NLT

So how do you move your desire to become a better Christian into a passion?

Start talking to God about it. And also talk to your pastor or another growing Christian.

I talked about my desire to grow as a young fresh graduate and a member in the church I attended offered to sponsor me through Bible College. My desire grew into passion as I went through the courses offered.
So talk about it, especially to God, yourself and fellow believers.

One thing before we stop on passion. You must constantly, deliberately fuel your passion so it does not fizzle out.

How?

• Think about the benefits of becoming a better Christian.
• How it will affect your entire life and the people in your life.
• How it will affect God’s kingdom and above all, how it will affect your eternity.

3. Pursuit

An effort to secure or attain; quest: the pursuit of happiness. ~ dictionary.com
The action of following or pursuing someone or something. ~ Oxford Dictionary

Pursuit connotes seeking. Your passion should express itself in an effort to begin seeking how to grow and become a better Christian. Passion will fuel pursuit, it translates your “want to” to “have got to”.

David had a desire to abide with God all his life, it became a passion and he pursued it to the end.

One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. Psalm 27:4 KJV

4. Dedication

To dedicate means to devote wholly and earnestly, as to some person or purpose. ~ dictionary.com

You cannot become a better Christian if you are not wholly, absolutely and earnestly committed to it; with your spirit, soul and body.
You cannot be one foot into it and one foot out, it DOES NOT and CANNOT work that way. You are either completely devoted to becoming a better Christian or you are not.
If your whole heart is in it, your life will move towards it.

You cannot have it any other way.

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. Jeremiah 29:13 NLT

5. Determination

This means “firmness of purpose; resoluteness” ~ Oxford Dictionary

A determined person is firmly resolved and set in a purpose. In the context of our discussion, it means to be resolute in the pursuit of spiritual growth. It means never letting anything or anyone deter this pursuit. It means giving it all it requires.

…But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:12-14 NLT

6. Discipline

My favourite definition of this word is found in the Oxford dictionary, and it says discipline means “to train oneself to do something in a controlled and habitual way”.

A couple of years ago, one of my sons started lifting weights and training his muscles in exercise on a regular basis. It did not take too long after he started and he could lift me off my feet. Now, some of you who know me in person might not be surprised because how much can I weigh right? Right.

But, he could lift my husband too, how about that! He had strengthened his muscles so much so he could lift his dad.

The same way, when a believers discipline themselves to steadily go after becoming a better Christian, their spirit gains enough strength and stamina to put their flesh down. And we all know the flesh plays a major role in hindering the growth of a believer.

Just like we train ourselves to exercise regularly for muscle tones, fitness and health. We ought to discipline ourselves in a controlled and habitual manner to continue in the pursuit of becoming better Christians.

We must confront every form of distraction, every demand of the flesh, and every discouraging voice and situation. We must train ourselves to disregard every thing else and continue in becoming better.
Discipline is very important, so much that if it is not incorporated in our pursuit to become better Christians, all the other factors discussed will not hold up.

We live in a world of distraction. Right now, in my opinion, distraction is a major tool the enemy is employing in stagnating, deterring and hindering believers from becoming all they can be in Christ.

Apostle Paul in his first letter to his beloved son Timothy admonishes him:
…Train yourself toward godliness (piety), [keeping yourself spiritually fit]. For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come. 1 Timothy 4:7b – 8 AMPC

Discipline (Training) makes for consistency and Mama Gloria Copeland said that one time God told her “In consistency lies the power”

So there it is, the factors I believe must be in place to enable us succeed as we work to become better Christians.

So what do you think?

Do you know any more factors to add?
Do you have an experience you think would help?

Copyright© Ugochi Oritsejolomisan 2020
Photo Credit: Patrick Tomasso