How Can You Blossom In Christ?

This month I have been reading Ellen G. White’s “Steps to Christ” , a book about building up your friendship with Jesus Christ.

A couple of years ago I started the book, but somewhere during chapter 3 or 4 I must have gotten distracted with other things, because I hadn’t opened it since. Last week, I thought it best to start from the beginning. Steps to Christ is a short 13 chapters, but I have been taking my time with it so I can truly absorb the knowledge I take in. This past Sunday, I as I sat by the Cumberland River, clearing my head of negative thoughts, letting that Fall breeze brush against my face, I decided to dive into the chapter Growing Up Into Christ.

This year, I have been continually praying to Christ that I can continue growing spiritually, moreso in him. Not just externally, but internally. How about you, are you looking to grow more in Christ? How can we assure we blossom day after day and not wither? Where does the growth in Christ begin?

Growth in Christ starts when we first accept him. We accept that he is the Son of God, that he came to this world and gave his life so we may have a chance at everlasting life, as John 3:16 says.

Faith in Christ is the seed of growing in him, but how does that seed sprout and bloom into something beautiful?

According to White’s writings, the following prayer should be spoken daily:

“Take me O Lord, as wholly Thine. I lay all my plans at Thy feet. Use me today in Thy service. Abide with me, and let all my work be wrought in Thee”.(White, 50)

White explains that by offering yourself to God daily, letting Him take you and use in you whatever way He sees fit, “your life will be molded more and more after the life of Christ”. (White, 51)

By consecrating yourself; by surrendering yourself to Christ you are putting your trust in him, rather than leaning on your own abilities. You unite with Him.

“Your weakness is united in His strength, your ignorance to His wisdom, your frailty to His enduring might. So you are not to look to yourself, not to let the mind dwell upon self, but look to Christ. Let the mind dwell upon His love, upon the beauty, the perfection, of His character. Christ in His self- denial, Christ in His humiliation, Christ in His purity and holiness, Christ in His matchless love- this is the subject for the soul’s contemplation. It is by loving Him, copying Him”(White, 51)

Accept Christ as the Son of God. Believe he loved you enough to die for you. Give yourself to him. By doing all of this you can grow in Christ.