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Working Out Your Spiritual Muscle

One of my favourite things to pray in the morning is, Lord, please help me to be patient, loving, kind and full of compassion, today. Help me to be considerate, put the interests of others above my own, and be a great reflection of you. I love saying these words so much because it's one of the most earnest desires of my heart.

But what I fail to think about, almost every time I pray this prayer, is just how God is going to help me be these wonderful, angelic-esque things. 

In my head, it goes a bit like this: God waves his wand around a few times (all the while thinking what an awesome kid He's got), and I'm all of a sudden immune to all the bad drivers out there, my shoulder is the perfect one to lean on, and I just can't help but spread sparkle and smiles all around this dark, dark world.

Yeah. Not really likely.

You see, when we ask God to change, mould or even break us, what He really presents us with is an opportunity to build that particular muscle in our lives.

Asking for patience? God is going to seat the most annoying person in the world right next to you on the morning commute to work. Want to gossip less? Someone's fiance will just have been spotted being A LITTLE TOO COSY with a mystery girl. Want to show more love? God may just present you with a situation where it's difficult to bring yourself to love someone.

That's how we grow. Your muscles only begin to show when you've worked them out - as do your spiritual muscles.

So do you want all the beautiful fruits of the Spirit (which are: Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, by the way)? Your favourite Personal Trainer, God, is on it!


Kunmi x




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