What are some applicable steps to help us train our lives to become thirstier for the Lord? How do we grow as Christians? How do we continue to grow when we’ve been a Christ follower for many years? What happens when you just feel stuck?

All of the questions above are ones I, and many people I know, have come across in their walk with the Lord. The problem I find with these questions, there isn’t necessarily a “one size fits all” solution. What works for one, may not work for another.

A couple weeks ago I was sitting in church, on vacation, with a couple friends…sidebar here…I honestly never really go to church when on vacation, but our friend invited us so we went and on that day the preacher brought an amazing message! He started off his message by quoting Yoda, which is right about where he lost half the crowd and gained the other, but while he was quoting a fictional character what he said was undeniably true.

“Do or do not. There is no try.”

The point of the entire message came from that one quote. You can’t just wake up one day and decide to run a marathon if you have never run before. You can’t lose weight and build muscle by sitting around. You don’t go to a foreign country and speak their language without learning it. The list could go on and on forever but the point was everything we do, every day, we have to work toward, why would our walk with the Lord be any different?

We commit our lives to Him and then wonder why we are plateaued, not learning anything, or just stuck. I understand there are several circumstances out of our control for why our lives are the way they are, but there are some things we can control.

Here are 3 applicable steps to growing your faith in the Lord even if it is in the smallest ways:

Get involved in church

I know that sounds like the “churchy” answer, but alas, it is true. How many of us have the routine of going to church every Sunday and even sitting in the same spot, but never actually getting involved in any ministries? Our pastor always says that circles are better than rows and encourages us to get involved in at least one thing at church so you can find people like you who have a common bond. Whether that be greeting, teaching kids, or running audio equipment, find something in your church that you can attend outside of Sunday’s and I promise, you will not regret it!

Start or attend a bible study

This one is admittedly really hard for me! I find that I truly do not have a lot of time to devote each week to go have a bible study at someone’s home or church. A lot of people have jobs with crazy hours and I completely understand that. If in fact you can get involved in a bible study, do it! You will be surrounded by some great people and learn some incredible things about the Bible. If like me, you are one of those people who truly does not have time to attend a bible study, I suggest finding some study books to do on your own. Doesn’t have to be every day, but something that keeps you questioning and thirsting for more answers. Find that book that you love with tattered edges and seemingly all the answers that you need no matter what you’re going through and let it lead you deeper into the Bible.

Pray.

This is a special one. People don’t like to pray. Yes, for meals or before they go to bed, but do you sit and talk to the Lord? I mean like talk out loud to the Lord like He is your best friend? I was taught this at a very young age - I cannot tell you how many times my sister and I would walk into the laundry room and my mum would be talking to herself and she would say she was praying and talking to the Lord. I think prayer is severely underrated. The Lord knows everything you do anyway, you are following Him with all your heart, why wouldn’t you want to talk to Him every day? If this is a new concept to you start small with little prayers; thank you’s for what he has done so far, questions about something not going right, worry about a problem. It doesn’t have to be this great long song, you don’t talk to your friends that way, just say what you’re feeling and thinking and before you know it, it will become more comfortable and you will see that you feel closer to the Lord.

Train Not Try