First Steps – February 8, 2021

I am often asked, “How do I become closer to God?” or “How can I grow my faith?” Sometimes we over complicate it and think that we have to climb a large mountain to reach a different spiritual plateau. I like what Brother Lawrence suggested:

• Renounce everything that does not lead to God.
• Become accustomed to a continual conversation with him in freedom and simplicity.
• Speak to him every moment.
• Ask him to tell you what to do when you are not sure.
• Get busy with it when you plainly see what he requires of you.
• Offer your activity to him even before you do it.
• Give God thanks when you accomplish something.

As practical and wise as this advice may be, the best advice he gave was, “the depth of your spirituality does not depend upon changing the things you do but in doing for God what you ordinarily do for yourself. The biggest mistake is to think that a time of prayer is different from any other time.”

I like his advice because it reminds us that everything we do, even the ordinary, is done in the presence of God. Isaiah 66 says that Heaven is God’s throne and the earth his footstool, indicating that everything is God’s and nothing is beyond his presence; therefore, everything we do is in his presence. Ordinary or not, it is all spiritual. This week, approach every minute with the thought that all is spiritual and that all is done with him and in him.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6