Chasing After God: Pursuing God in a Fresh New Way
In Acts 11:26, we encounter a new word being used for the first time. It’s a word that identified someone as a disciple of Christ. That word was Christian. The term was used to distinguish someone as a follower of Christ, or someone who was becoming increasingly Christ-like.
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Christ will always meet us, as unbelievers, right where we are, but He does not leave us there. Once we come to Him, He begins a journey of transforming us into people who look more like Him. Just as a newborn child begins a journey through life, when we are born again, we begin a spiritual journey of our own.
God’s desire for us is much like a father’s desire for his children. We want our children to grow, mature, and become healthy, well-developed adults. In much the same way, our Heavenly Father desires for us to mature spiritually and become the people He has called us to be.
The purpose of this study is to examine how we can experience the kind of spiritual health and maturity that is pleasing to God. Together, we will explore the “nuts and bolts” of Christian living—the practical disciplines and choices that can help promote spiritual health in our lives.
I actually prefer the word health over growth. I never prayed that God would make my children six feet tall, but I certainly prayed that they would be healthy. I understood that if my children were healthy, growth would naturally follow.
The same is true spiritually. When we pursue spiritual health, spiritual growth becomes a natural byproduct.
This study is divided into four sections each week throughout our six-week journey. Our desire throughout this journey should not be conquest, but contemplation. I have intentionally kept each week's material brief enough for you to read in one sitting. My hope, however, is that you will spend the rest of the week meditating on what you have read.
The purpose of this study is not to condemn us for where we are, but to cause us to reflect on where we are going. It is designed to stretch us, encourage us, and challenge us to become who God has called us to be—who we could be and who we should be.
Lesson
Each week, we will explore different ways we can pursue God afresh and anew. We will take an honest look at where we are on our spiritual journey and consider practical ways we can begin chasing after God again.
Related Readings
Here, we will find Scriptures related to the current lesson and to the overall theme of this study. I encourage you to read these verses each day during your quiet time, allowing them to prepare your heart for meditation and reflection.
Don't simply read the words. Pause. Think. Pray. Ask God what He wants to show you.
Points to Pause and Ponder
This may be the most critical part of the study. This is our time to stop and reflect on what God is saying to us.
Have I kept the main thing the main thing? If not, what needs to change? Where have I grown spiritually, and where have I become distracted, complacent, or distant from God?
These are not questions designed to condemn us. They are questions designed to help us honestly evaluate our walk with God and discover where He wants to take us next.
Doing Something New
The purpose of this section is to give you an opportunity to try new ways of chasing after God. I encourage you to intentionally practice these suggestions each week. Some may be familiar, while others may be completely new to you. My prayer is that, as you try these different spiritual practices, you will discover fresh and meaningful ways to seek God, hear His voice, and grow closer to Him.
After all, the Christian life is not simply about knowing about God. It is about knowing God.
And there is always a deeper place to go.
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