PRACTICE YOUR FAITH

I often get lots of compliments about how beautiful my art is. While I'm so thankful for the talents and gifts God has blessed me with, I haven't always been able to create "Instagram-worthy art." It has taken many years of practice and hard work to get where I am today. God has gifted us all in some way, but we have to develop those gifts. My advice to any artist who is discouraged is to practice and practice! It takes lots of trial and error, but you will eventually make progress if you keep trying. ♡

I believe it's the same in our Christian life. To grow in Christ, we must practice holiness daily. It’s often hard and an uphill battle, but we need to be spiritually disciplined. To overcome sinful habits, we must develop new habits through the power of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4 talks about putting off the old and putting on the new. Remember, it is the daily choices that impact our lives the most. I'll be the first to admit I don't always feel like reading the Bible or praying every day, but I'm so thankful that I don’t give up when it's hard. We must be active in our spiritual walk. James 2:17 says that faith without works is dead. I want to ask you a deep question. Don't try to answer it immediately, but think deeply about it. From the time since your conversion, have you seen fruit in your life? Be honest. I know this is a hard question to swallow. It's actually the very subject that brought me to Christ. I always said I was a Christian growing up, but I never desired the things of God. I was spiritually dead and blinded to my sin. But God opened the eyes of my heart and convicted me and brought me to Himself. Praise the Lord! It's hard to admit you might not be walking with God, but once your eyes are opened, you can truly get right with the Lord and start walking with Him. Come to Christ and live for Him. I don't want to be a lukewarm Christian. Instead, I want to be on fire for Jesus and living every moment for His glory and the advancement of His kingdom! I want to be bearing fruit in my life. Our goal as Christians should be to be conformed to the image of Christ and to make Him known. To live this out, we must train ourselves in godliness. Spiritual maturity comes through practice and consistency. Make a habit of practicing what you have learned. Christianity is not just about information; it's about transformation. Remember, you can't do this on your own. You need the power of the Holy Spirit at work in your life. It takes time and practice to grow in Christ, just like being an artist. As my Pastor said, "You obey in a moment, but your overcome in a lifetime." Be encouraged, and don't give up! James 4:8 says," Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you."