Fwd: Encouragement for Today

Let's take a spiritual walk together and learn how to really get into
S.H.A.P.E.

Step One:  Begin your exercise with Surrender . You may be thinking,
"Isn't that what I did when I first came to Christ — surrender?" Yes,
you did. However, to stay spiritually fit, you and I must learn that
surrender is not a one-time action. We must learn to live it out
everyday by learning to say "no" to self and "yes" to God, in complete
obedience to whatever He asks of us.

Step Two: Apply Holiness to our daily routines.
For me, pumping up my holiness muscle is the hardest part of the routine. When I'm all by myself, I can be as holy as the day is long. Once the kids come home from school, my horns pop out, knocking my halo to the ground. This discourages me. The good news is that God never intended for us to be holy on our own. Apart from Christ, we can't achieve this attribute. It's only when we yield to the life of Christ in us that His holiness can be lived out through us. The more we exercise dependence on Him, the holier we will become.

Step Three: Train yourself to Abide. Abiding means to remain in
Christ; to stay connected to Him throughout the day. When you and I
cut ourselves off from Christ, we become powerless to avoid
temptations and sin. It's only when the branch stays connected to the
vine that the sap, the life-giving substance, flows freely through the
tree. Likewise, when we abide in Christ, we no longer have to struggle
to live for Him; He is free to live His life through us. Read the
Bible to learn how to abide in Him.  There you will find guidelines
for successful daily living.

Step Four: Practice Prayer. As you learn to stay connected to God
through studying His Word, prayer becomes a path to intimacy. As God
speaks, you may be led to confess sin or respond in praise and worship
as you learn who God is and what He desires of you. During this time
of communion with the Living God, you'll find that prayer eases your
worries and sooths your anxieties. It diminishes doubt and replenishes
your soul. Prayer is a vital step to your spiritual shape.

Step Five: Never lose your Enthusiasm.


http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/newresources_shapedPurpos e.htm