“Don’t be upset by the results you didn’t get from the work you didn’t do.”

— Tommy Newberry

Live Intentionally as God’s Partner

As we head into the homestretch of this year, I want to challenge you to finish well by living intentionally—especially in your walk as a follower of Jesus.

Sanctification is the theological word we use for spiritual growth. In one sense, we are partners with God in that process. Not equal partners, mind you—we have only a minority stake—but we do have a stake.

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
— Philippians 2:12–13 (ESV)

Let’s be clear. Our spiritual growth is entirely a work of grace. It happens only through the power of the Holy Spirit working in our hearts. We cannot simply try harder or do more to become spiritually mature.

Yet God does not force His work upon us. He works as we submit ourselves to Him and desire His transforming work. In this partnership, we provide the willingness; God provides the power.

When Paul tells us to “work out” our salvation, he does not mean we work to earn or achieve it. He means we exercise it. Throughout this passage, he assumes his readers are already born-again followers of Christ.

People go to the gym to work out. They don’t create muscles they never had. They already possess them. Exercise simply develops those muscles by reducing what hinders them and making them stronger.

The same is true spiritually. Through the spiritual disciplines, our lives become healthy, Spirit-directed expressions of walking with Christ. We do not work for salvation, but our willingness to submit to God’s work is our part of the partnership.

Live Intentionally through Spiritual Discipline

An athlete embraces several disciplines to grow stronger. Likewise, God has given us basic spiritual disciplines that provide the platform for His work in our lives.

Nutrition.

Anyone who wants to get into shape begins with healthy eating. They avoid foods that hinder their goals and choose foods that nourish them.

The disciple’s diet is God’s Word. Read the Bible in two ways. Read larger portions to grasp the big picture of Scripture. Then study shorter passages more carefully to gain truths you can live out each day.

Exercise.

Physical fitness requires consistent effort. You’ve heard the saying, “No pain, no gain.”

We exercise our faith by serving—our families, our church, and our community. As we serve, we put into practice the spiritual nourishment we have received from God’s Word. That nourishment gives us both the knowledge and the motivation to serve.

Rest.

The body needs rest to recover and refuel. Without it, nutrition and exercise lose much of their benefit.

Prayer is the spiritual equivalent of rest. We need daily time alone with the Lord. This kind of prayer is more than presenting our list of needs. It includes quiet, reflective moments when we allow God to speak to our hearts. In those moments, He refreshes, reassures, and strengthens us.

I’ll say more about this kind of prayer in a future post. For now, spend time with the Lord in silence. Certainly tell Him what’s on your heart and pray for those you love. But also take time simply to express your dependence upon Him.

Live Intentionally…and Creatively

I could go on. We need community just as athletes need teammates. We also need accountability, coaching, and encouragement. But you have to start somewhere.

How will you nourish your spiritual life? What sins or unbelief are poisoning your walk with Christ? Will you confess them and receive His forgiveness? How are you exercising your faith? Are you intentionally allowing God to work through you as you serve others?

Don’t be disappointed by a lack of spiritual growth if you haven’t pursued it. Put in your work, and I can assure you that God will faithfully do His.

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School-zone speed cameras and Flock cameras have stirred up plenty of debate in my hometown. Some see them as an invasion of privacy; others applaud any effort to keep children safe. Wherever you land on the issue, one thing is undeniable: cameras are everywhere. They watch us in stores, at intersections, on front porches, from dashboards, and even from satellites. Remember Matthew McConaughey’s movie EDtv? Some days it feels as though we’re all living life on camera.

Under Divine Surveillance

Long before silicon chips, security systems, and livestreams, God was watching.

“The Lord looks down from heaven; He sees all the children of man; from where He sits enthroned He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth.” (Psalm 33:13–14)

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” (Proverbs 15:3)

“For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps.” (Job 34:21)

How does that truth strike you? Does it bring comfort—or make you feel exposed?

Living in a Fishbowl

Being watched all the time can feel like living in a glass aquarium. We instinctively squirm because we know there are things in our lives that do not please God. Yet nothing escapes His notice. Hebrews reminds us that “all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13).

Here’s the miracle: the eyes that see us are also eyes of grace.

“God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Grace never excuses sin, but it welcomes sinners into the light, where forgiveness and transformation are found. Jesus came “to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). And seeking always begins with seeing.

The God Who Sees Me

David prayed, “Keep me as the apple of Your eye” (Psalm 17:8). The picture is one of being so near to God that your reflection is visible in His eye. Hagar discovered that same truth in the wilderness. She called Him El Roi—”the God who sees me” (Genesis 16:13).

Whatever you’re facing today—illness, loneliness, financial pressure, a strained marriage, or a toxic relationship—you are not invisible. God sees. God hears. God knows. And in His perfect time, God acts.

Not Watching from a Distance

Bette Midler’s 1990 hit proclaimed, “God is watching us... from a distance.” Scripture tells a different story. God is not watching from afar. He is near, attentive, and compassionate. If you’ve wandered off course, He will lead you home. If you’re weary, He will lift you up.

Lord, thank You that Your eyes are upon me today. Search me, forgive me, steady me, and guide me. Amen.

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I love words, especially odd ones. Here’s one for you: slog. One dictionary defines slog as “to walk or plod heavily.” Have you ever had to slog your way through life? I must admit, I have been in quite a slogging season lately.

Athletes call it a slump. Out of nowhere, and for no apparent reason, a person seemingly loses the ability to do the most basic things that once came naturally. A basketball player suddenly can’t make a free throw. A golfer goes through a spell where even a tap-in putt becomes a disaster. A baseball hitter temporarily loses the ability to put the bat on the ball, and when he finally does, he hits it sharply—but directly at a defender.

One of the worst sports slumps I have ever witnessed involved Steve Sax, the All-Star second baseman who played primarily for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees before finishing his career with the White Sox and Athletics. Steve was as dependable a second baseman as you could find until one day he made a bad throw from second base to first. Suddenly, his confidence was shaken, and every throw afterward became an adventure. We call this phenomenon “the yips.”

No one really knows what causes slumps, and even worse, no one knows how to cure them. They appear unannounced and disappear just as mysteriously. The usual prescription for a slumping athlete is simple: stick to the fundamentals, keep doing the little things, and—if you will—slog. Then, one day, almost without warning, the switch flips, and the athlete returns to form.

I think that is sound advice for a spiritual slump as well. When God seems silent and we lack the spiritual vitality and power we have known at other times, the most beneficial thing we can do is remain faithful to the basics: Bible reading and prayer. When you find it difficult to read your Bible, spend some time in the Psalms. When your prayers feel dry and mechanical, use the hymnal as a prayer book, praying through the rich truths found in the great hymns of the faith.

The best cure for the spiritual “yips” is simply to slog. Keep showing up. Keep opening your Bible. Keep praying, even when it feels difficult. In His time, God will make His presence known again, and you will once more enjoy the rich fellowship of the Holy Spirit. But until then, remain faithful to the spiritual disciplines, patiently waiting for God to bring you through this dry season.

Hang in there—but hang in there actively. God hears His children, and in His perfect time, He will bring your slump to an end.

I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;
He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.
—Psalm 40:1–3

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The Good News is that through the death and resurrection of Jesus we can be ser free to live the life we were intended to live. Here are three things that change because of our identity with Jesus.

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July marks the halfway point of the year and provides us with a great opportunity to evaluate where we stand spiritually. The halfway point gives us a reference from which to gauge our progress while there is still enough time to make the necessary adjustments to get back on course.

Today, I want to suggest a few simple diagnostic questions you can ask yourself at this halfway point, along with some encouragement to help keep you moving along the path that draws you closer to Jesus. Take the time to consider these questions honestly, and ask God what adjustments He wants to make in your life.

Questions for a Halfway Evaluation

1. Am I closer to God than I was six months ago?

By “closer,” I mean: Am I more sensitive to His voice, more obedient to His Word, and more Christlike in my actions? Do I sense His presence and respond to life’s circumstances in a way that reflects the Holy Spirit guiding my emotions, thoughts, and actions?

If I am not closer to God, I must remember that He hasn’t moved—I must have drifted.

2. Is there a sin (or sins) I am allowing to continue unchecked in my life?

Often, the devil knows our vulnerabilities and launches an all-out assault on those areas of our lives. Sin spoils our appetite for the things of God, especially time in His Word and prayer. If I do not confess my sin to God and agree with Him that I have sinned, I create such spiritual static in my heart that I cannot clearly hear Him speak.

I need to keep short accounts with God regarding my sin. When I do sin, I need to stop, pray, confess it to God, and claim the forgiveness Christ has already secured for me through the cross. As I pray, I should also ask God to help me recognize temptation before it overtakes me and to give me the strength to avoid it.

3. Am I consistently making time to be in God’s Word?

Jesus taught us in John 15 that we can do nothing of spiritual value unless we abide in Him, allowing His Word to abide in us. Most Christians who admit they are struggling in their walk with the Lord also acknowledge they have become inconsistent in their Bible intake.

As I feed on God’s Word, it has the supernatural effect of transforming my heart, mind, and will. There is no substitute for regular time in Scripture. There is no path to spiritual growth apart from consistently feeding on God’s Word.

If I am not reading and meditating on God’s Word every day, I need to make it a priority by adjusting my schedule and habits so that I have meaningful time in the Bible each day.

4. Are my prayers routine and mechanical, or do I regularly enjoy a fresh, vibrant conversation with God?

One danger of scheduling a daily prayer time is that I can begin to see it as just another chore to check off my to-do list. It becomes all too easy to repeat familiar prayers and then walk away feeling satisfied simply because I prayed. Yet prayer can be far more intimate than that.

When I come before God, I need to engage not only physically, but also mentally and spiritually. I want my prayer time to be more than a routine—I want it to be a genuine encounter with my heavenly Father. May I come to Him each day with a fresh heart and an expectant spirit.

5. How have I stretched and challenged my faith so far this year?

In James 2, James teaches us that simply claiming to have faith proves nothing. Genuine faith reveals itself through action. I can repeatedly say that I believe God and trust God, but those words remain empty until I find myself in situations where I cannot rely on myself and must depend completely on Him.

If all I ever do is what I have always done, I will never experience God in new ways. I need to step outside my comfort zone and areas of familiarity so that my faith is stretched, challenged, and strengthened.

For those who feel the second half of the year looks hopeless, let me leave you with one encouraging truth. Sometimes the distance between where you are and where you need to be can seem overwhelming. Don’t let the size of the journey keep you from taking the first step.

A Chinese philosopher famously wrote, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

Today, ask yourself this simple question: What one thing can I do today to move closer to Jesus?

Then do it.

Those small, faithful steps, taken day after day, often become the path God uses to help us finish well.

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“Our Father who is in Heaven, let your name be name holy…” — May we turn our hearts back to God and His holiness. We revere way too many names more than the name of the Lord. May He bring us to repentance.

“Your kingdom come, Your will be done one earth as it is in heaven…” — My we realign our agendas with God’s. May we repent of building our puny little kingdoms rather than His. May we submit to seeking and doing HIS will rather than seeking own.

“Give us this day our daily bread…” — May God give us contentment with what He has provided. May He remove greed, covetousness, and self-seeking from our hearts.

“Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors” — May we own our own sin, seek God’s forgiveness, and the forgiveness of and reconciliation with others. May we be gracious and forgiving of others, remembering what a huge debt we have been forgiven.

“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one…” — May God give us spiritual sensitivity to recognize temptation when it arises, and grant us through His Holy Spirit the power to resist.”

Have a blessed and prayerful day!

Vs 21-22 → By the term “the righteousness of God,” Paul refers to the rightness of God in acting in redemption.

1. Sin is the CORE PROBLEM. vs. 23

2. Jesus is the SOLE SOLUTION. vs. 24-26

3. Faith is the EFFECTIVE RESPONSE. vs. 27-31

Application:

1. Understand that sin is indeed the core problem in our hearts and in our culture.
2. Stop trusting human attempts to solve the core problem.
3. Believe and proclaim that repentance from sin and faith in Jesus is necessary.