IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO BE SPIRITUALLY MATURE WHILE
REMAINING EMOTIONALLY IMMATURE
September 18, 2022
Nick Nelson
From The Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day To Day Book | Introduction Page 9:
“If you asked me to summarize what I’ve observed about the spiritual condition of believers today, here is what I’d say. We are…
- ● Feeling stuck in our spiritual journey with Christ;
● Living off of other people’s spirituality;
● Scattered, fragmented, and uncentered;
● Tired - physically, spiritually, and emotionally;
● Existing with only a one-inch-deep spirituality;
● Praying and communing with God very little;
● Busy and not very intentional in pursuing Jesus;
● Struggling to stop our “life on the run”.
The bottom line? Too many of us have a relationship with Jesus that is seriously underdeveloped. We talk TO God, or even perhaps AT God, but don’t actually listen to Him very much.”
Luke 13:5-9 NIV
“No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.” Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’
“The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’”
Simplest form:
- ● IDEAL SELF says “I’m still standing…I’m
● REAL SELF says “I might be still standing…but
“But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’”
You Might Be Planted
- ● Looking for a quick fix for you, your marriage, etc. - Gardner “GIVE IT A YEAR”
● We think when someone GETS SAVED all is better immediately…
● More focused on what others think about or project on you
● Focused more on what GOD in addition to OTHERS say or think
● Fertilizing yourself with a lot of God’s Word, books, worship music, and the same few friends that have enabled you to stay the same for years
~Judah Smith
From The Book: Pg 58 | Differentiation
“A person’s capacity to define his or her own life’s goals and values apart from the pressures of those around them” / “Involves ability to hold on to who you are and who you are not”
Key Action Statement:
WE
Genesis 1:1 NIV
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Today’s Closing Question:
In our EHS Day By DAY, Daily Office times when it tells us to be quiet for 2 minutes before and after…
Should we view the 2 minutes of quiet, not as a challenge, but as an
Will it take continued WORK to honor the 2 minutes? Remember:
What God wants to do in and through us will be limited by the work we are
HOPE AND HEALTH IN 22…BUT BEWARE…IT WILL COST